- Haley Dasovich documented her encounter with a taxi driver who refused to use the meter.
- The taxi driver also charged her a fixed rate of Php 500.
- She refused but stated that she will give him a tip if he turned on the meter.
Filipino-American Haley Dasovich recently went home in the Philippines. She, then, experienced a taxi driver who scammed her and refused to turn on the meter. However unbeknownst to the driver, she documented everything what happened. The taxi driver charged a flat rate of Php 500.
In the video Haley uploaded, she titled it with, “DEALING WITH TAXI SCAMS IN MANILA (PHILIPPINES).”
“Taxi scams happen often in Manila, Philippines. You know you’re being scammed when the taxi driver does not turn the meter on, or asks for “fixed rates.” I would recommend to never use taxis while in Manila. Stick with GrabCar or Uber.”
The video started with her getting off the plane and entering a regular white taxi. At the start, the driver seemed nice and even joked around for a bit with Haley. However, when Haley asked the driver to start the meter. He only responded with:
“How about ate, P500?”
Haley, obviously shocked and annoyed, responded:
“No, I’m not gonna- I’m not gonna do this with you.”
He offered to transfer Haley to another taxi. The driver also revealed how long he had been waiting in the airport taxi bay.
“Okay. I’ll transfer you to another taxi, ate. I’ve been there for almost two hours.”
Haley noted that she is aware of some drivers do offer fixed rates and there are those who stick with the real deal by following what’s the meter is going to dictate. She also negotiated that she will give him a tip but refused to give him a Php 500. He, then, turns on the meter and advises her not to take a taxi in the airport next time. He also noted that he only serves ‘good passenger and out-of-town passenger’.
“If you want cheaper taxi, you take Grab next time.”
The driver claimed that metered taxis don’t have that much passengers anymore and usually waits for passengers for a long time.
“Sana naman next time, tulong na lang.”
Haley noted about Uber and Grab taking over transportation.
“Kuya, this is why Uber is taking over because of this kind of stuff that happens in taxis.”
At the end of her encounter with the driver, she turned the screen black and wrote:
“I was too exhausted to comment on this when I got home. This is a taxi scam that happens often in Manila. I’ve been kicked out of multiple taxis and left on the side of the road to try finding another taxi, only to get kicked out of the next one, too. Tourists and out-of-towners, be weary of “broken meters” and “fixed rates”. I would recommend always and only ever use Uber or GrabCar. NEVER a taxi.”
Taxi operators whose drivers charge fixed rates may be fined with up to P120,000.
