View Full Version : Cab driver tricks to get more money out of you
Hi,
Have you ever encountered cab drivers who either,
a) Tell you that his wife/children/in-laws are sick and needed money to pay for their medicals
b) Claims that he got no small change to the Rp.50k note that you gave him.
How do you deal with such ppl?
a) no.
but tell him Insha Allah, or that your family is sick too
b) yes.
always have change, always.
I had one scamming sod in Yogya try to tell me there was an extra fee if he picked me up at the road side.
He got a 'bugger off' tablet.
donatbollonk
07-08-09, 13:54
A. No
B. yes, many times. I usually find small warung to buy cigarettes and pay him afterwards.
Hi,
Have you ever encountered cab drivers who either,
a) Tell you that his wife/children/in-laws are sick and needed money to pay for their medicals
b) Claims that he got no small change to the Rp.50k note that you gave him.
How do you deal with such ppl?
Hi Tingkap, my advise is to always go with Blue Bird Taxi or Gamya Taxi. However if you still encounter the above situation:
a) Tell the driver that you're sorry for his condition but there is nothing you can do to help him. Maybe you can tip him and tell him hope it will help. I did this.
b) If you're with Blue Bird taxi, tell the driver that you'll wait for him to get you the change. I always do this whenever it happens. The driver will always be the one who should be responsible for small change and you can confirm this with the Blue Bird customer service.
Hi
Both my experiences are with Blue Bird taxi and both journey ends at the Airport...
Either I push my luggage around to get change or leave it with the cab driver while i get change (No WAy!)...
FYI - it was a Rp.110k fare and i got only Rp.50k notes... well hope he use the extra Rp.40k well...
Anyway, I've learnt my lesson to be fully prepared with small change before boarding any taxi... :(
Hombre de Maiz
07-08-09, 16:44
a.) No. Never.
b.) make him go get change.
Hi,
Have you ever encountered cab drivers who either,
a) Tell you that his wife/children/in-laws are sick and needed money to pay for their medicals
b) Claims that he got no small change to the Rp.50k note that you gave him.
How do you deal with such ppl?
a) No
b) Ask him to get small change from his driver mates or from small mint/cigarette kiosks
For me the most important thing is that you need to know the language. If i can speak indo i wont allow any corruption or tricksters get past me. I had a taxi driver cheat my wife out of 50k for a mere 2km ride. It started at the terminal as we got out of the airport bus. My wife was sick and had to go running for the toilet, then all of a sudden 3 ppl just came and confused the hell out of me speaking indo all at the same time. "taxi, taxi" amoungst many other words while carrying my luggage away without my permission. The only way to stop them would have been to beat them up which probably wouldnt help my residency permit so i had no choice but to follow and make english verbal attempts to stop them. They locked my luggage in the trunk of a taxi and refused to take it out until we went for a ride. When my wife came back she too was powerless to solve the situation. The ppl apparently told her that i was the one asking for a taxi and they were now "getting pissed" at me for the "inconvenience" and language misunderstanding. to "solve" the argument we should just drive home with him and he of course didnt use the metere and once again refused to open the trunk of the car until my wife paid him 50k rupiah. The whole trip i didnt know what was going on because i couldnt speak indonesian and at that time had no idea what 50k rupiah was untill i found out later. If there was ever a day in my life i wanted to injure someone it was that day. So that was the last taxi i ever used and i will never use taxis again. They always stop on the road in front of me whenever im in the city as if im asking for a ride. At first i would tell them NGAAAAA! While rudely gesturing them to buzz off, But now i find it more enjoyable to "pretend" that i cant notice them there and see their methods of getting my attention from the corner of my eye.
For me the most important thing is that you need to know the language. If i can speak indo i wont allow any corruption or tricksters get past me. I had a taxi driver cheat my wife out of 50k for a mere 2km ride. It started at the terminal as we got out of the airport bus. My wife was sick and had to go running for the toilet, then all of a sudden 3 ppl just came and confused the hell out of me speaking indo all at the same time. "taxi, taxi" amoungst many other words while carrying my luggage away without my permission. The only way to stop them would have been to beat them up which probably wouldnt help my residency permit so i had no choice but to follow and make english verbal attempts to stop them. They locked my luggage in the trunk of a taxi and refused to take it out until we went for a ride. When my wife came back she too was powerless to solve the situation. The ppl apparently told her that i was the one asking for a taxi and they were now "getting pissed" at me for the "inconvenience" and language misunderstanding. to "solve" the argument we should just drive home with him and he of course didnt use the metere and once again refused to open the trunk of the car until my wife paid him 50k rupiah. The whole trip i didnt know what was going on because i couldnt speak indonesian and at that time had no idea what 50k rupiah was untill i found out later. If there was ever a day in my life i wanted to injure someone it was that day. So that was the last taxi i ever used and i will never use taxis again. They always stop on the road in front of me whenever im in the city as if im asking for a ride. At first i would tell them NGAAAAA! While rudely gesturing them to buzz off, But now i find it more enjoyable to "pretend" that i cant notice them there and see their methods of getting my attention from the corner of my eye.
Beebop, 'makasi Pak' {'thank you Sir', which is the respectful way of saying no thanks}, with a polite smile and then a disinterested look is the way to refuse anything you are offered.
For me the most important thing is that you need to know the language. If i can speak indo i wont allow any corruption or tricksters get past me. I had a taxi driver cheat my wife out of 50k for a mere 2km ride. It started at the terminal as we got out of the airport bus. My wife was sick and had to go running for the toilet, then all of a sudden 3 ppl just came and confused the hell out of me speaking indo all at the same time. "taxi, taxi" amoungst many other words while carrying my luggage away without my permission. The only way to stop them would have been to beat them up which probably wouldnt help my residency permit so i had no choice but to follow and make english verbal attempts to stop them. They locked my luggage in the trunk of a taxi and refused to take it out until we went for a ride. When my wife came back she too was powerless to solve the situation. The ppl apparently told her that i was the one asking for a taxi and they were now "getting pissed" at me for the "inconvenience" and language misunderstanding. to "solve" the argument we should just drive home with him and he of course didnt use the metere and once again refused to open the trunk of the car until my wife paid him 50k rupiah. The whole trip i didnt know what was going on because i couldnt speak indonesian and at that time had no idea what 50k rupiah was untill i found out later. If there was ever a day in my life i wanted to injure someone it was that day. So that was the last taxi i ever used and i will never use taxis again. They always stop on the road in front of me whenever im in the city as if im asking for a ride. At first i would tell them NGAAAAA! While rudely gesturing them to buzz off, But now i find it more enjoyable to "pretend" that i cant notice them there and see their methods of getting my attention from the corner of my eye.
:lol: Reminds of when i first came here waiting for my friend and got hounded by every taxi driver and sales kid but i just said tida terima kasih saya tungu teman. You have to be carefull or they will wait with you just to make sure your not lying about waiting. Back to topic when i have had a problem with a small taxi other express i have threatened to get the cops involved or make them wait for me to get change. When they family needs money i just say Tak ada masalah saya or tida lagi uang.
My first attempts at Bahasa Indonesia led me to try and literally translate English directly to Indonesian therefore I would say Tidak Terimakasi which just confused the hell out of them.
Then I moved on to Tidak Mau and couldn't quite understand the negative reactions until she who must be obeyed explained that in effect I was saying, no I don't want your goods or services...
Now I know better and Makasi pak with sometimes a slight wave of the hand and it always works and no one is ever confused or offended.
:lol: Reminds of when i first came here waiting for my friend and got hounded by every taxi driver and sales kid but i just said tida terima kasih saya tungu teman. You have to be carefull or they will wait with you just to make sure your not lying about waiting. Back to topic when i have had a problem with a small taxi other express i have threatened to get the cops involved or make them wait for me to get change. When they family needs money i just say Tak ada masalah saya or tida lagi uang.
If I as a bule, ... :whistle: say tak ada uang Pak, they always know I'm pura2 and not being jujur so for me it doesn't really help, better to try another strategy in my book.
If I as a bule, ... :whistle:Looking for trouble, are we?
Looking for trouble, are we?
Apa? :drama: ... Tidak, dik... but I never run away from it.
... Tidak, dik...The name is Pak to you. <g>
Paman Gober
12-08-09, 12:18
If you use the toll road, pay the toll with your 50k note and you'll then have smaller bills to pay for the taxi.
ScooterIndo
02-09-09, 09:36
The obvious solution here is for bules to learn the language, misunderstandings due to politeness, confusion, and an added language barrier makes you an easy target for the con artist taxi drivers out there that rely on the fact you cant speak the language and are also too polite to confront them.
Thik yourselves lucky that president taxis no longer operate on the mean streets of JKT they were the worst with many cases of the driver actually working with thugs to rob the passengers.
Normally my wife handles the paying of all bills...I 'let' her be in charge.
However, when I went to language school I would keep the exact fare in my pocket. When we reached the school I would offer a big note and try for change. If change was offered I would give a tip. If not offered I would give the exact amount...no tip!
David
Normally my wife handles the paying of all bills...I 'let' her be in charge.
However, when I went to language school I would keep the exact fare in my pocket. When we reached the school I would offer a big note and try for change. If change was offered I would give a tip. If not offered I would give the exact amount...no tip!
David
.
Same here Davita tho' I do get some pocket money... :lol:
Off thread but relevant to the theme of being ripped off. Whenever I buy small stuff by myself, I usually have a fair idea of the cost beforehand so I never ask berapa harga?, instead I just hand over enough to cover the cost and usually I get the exact change... I'm sure that asking for the goods in Bahasa Indonesian helps.
The only taxis I have never had any problem with are Silverbird, but of course you pay richly for the priviledge of riding their new Mercs. With Bluebird the only problem has been that frequently the driver doesn't know the area very well and rather than admit this they will go a stupid route just to get to a landmark that they can navigate from.
I never use the various 'Tarip Bawah' taxis because I don't want the hassle.
Actually I find Jakarta to be a taxi oasis compared to many other cities in Indonesia or indeed Malaysia. I tire very quickly of bartering and negotiating and generally arguing the toss for ten minutes when the jourmey itself probably doesn't even take that long.
In Solo a driver claimed there was a huge surcharge for having picked me up at a hotel (of course, this was only mentioned at the end of the journey) and I just gave him the proper fare (with my left hand) and told him to go whistle.
Padang is a nightmare as you are expected to barter in much the same manner as in an Arab souk every time you want to take a cab: Driver wants Rp50k, you tell him he is a thief and swear you will catch a bus, as you walk away muttering he runs after you insisting that 'Special for you pak' Rp30k is the fare and grabs at your bag, you snatch the bag back and tell him that Rp10k is enough, he then offers Rp25k and after further negotiation you settle on Rp20k which is, after all, what the fare should be. I mean... c'mon! Life is too short for that kind of hassle.
The only taxis I have never had any problem with are Silverbird, but of course you pay richly for the priviledge of riding their new Mercs. With Bluebird the only problem has been that frequently the driver doesn't know the area very well and rather than admit this they will go a stupid route just to get to a landmark that they can navigate from.
I never use the various 'Tarip Bawah' taxis because I don't want the hassle.
Actually I find Jakarta to be a taxi oasis compared to many other cities in Indonesia or indeed Malaysia. I tire very quickly of bartering and negotiating and generally arguing the toss for ten minutes when the jourmey itself probably doesn't even take that long.
In Solo a driver claimed there was a huge surcharge for having picked me up at a hotel (of course, this was only mentioned at the end of the journey) and I just gave him the proper fare (with my left hand) and told him to go whistle.
Padang is a nightmare as you are expected to barter in much the same manner as in an Arab souk every time you want to take a cab: Driver wants Rp50k, you tell him he is a thief and swear you will catch a bus, as you walk away muttering he runs after you insisting that 'Special for you pak' Rp30k is the fare and grabs at your bag, you snatch the bag back and tell him that Rp10k is enough, he then offers Rp25k and after further negotiation you settle on Rp20k which is, after all, what the fare should be. I mean... c'mon! Life is too short for that kind of hassle.
quite true,
The only taxis I have never had any problem with are Silverbird, but of course you pay richly for the priviledge of riding their new Mercs. With Bluebird the only problem has been that frequently the driver doesn't know the area very well and rather than admit this they will go a stupid route just to get to a landmark that they can navigate from.
I never use the various 'Tarip Bawah' taxis because I don't want the hassle.
Actually I find Jakarta to be a taxi oasis compared to many other cities in Indonesia or indeed Malaysia. I tire very quickly of bartering and negotiating and generally arguing the toss for ten minutes when the jourmey itself probably doesn't even take that long.
In Solo a driver claimed there was a huge surcharge for having picked me up at a hotel (of course, this was only mentioned at the end of the journey) and I just gave him the proper fare (with my left hand) and told him to go whistle.
Padang is a nightmare as you are expected to barter in much the same manner as in an Arab souk every time you want to take a cab: Driver wants Rp50k, you tell him he is a thief and swear you will catch a bus, as you walk away muttering he runs after you insisting that 'Special for you pak' Rp30k is the fare and grabs at your bag, you snatch the bag back and tell him that Rp10k is enough, he then offers Rp25k and after further negotiation you settle on Rp20k which is, after all, what the fare should be. I mean... c'mon! Life is too short for that kind of hassle.
If there are other drivers around watching I just laugh, at a ridiculous quote like that and start walking. When the guy comes after me I don't even acknowledge his existance and keep walking. Next guy asks where Im going. I tell him and he gives me a price. If the price is the same as the other joker, I walk some more. Either the second or the next give me the going rate or they start in and around the same planet. Sometimes another driver will overhear my first conversation with the other driver and immediately wise up to get my business. I figure if you bargain with people that give outrageous beginning prices, it just encourages them to do it time and again. Whether my way teaches them not to, I doubt it because I am probably very much alone in doing that but if all were to do it he would change or be out of work. In some cases there is no one else around and one has to put in the time and effort to get a fair price. I have actually sat down near that spot and started chatting with someone as if I have all the time in the world, whether i do or not. It often happens if I spend five to ten minutes doing so, the drivers join in, see me as a human instead of walking money and offer me the price or in and around the price an Indonesian will pay. I speak Indonesian pretty good and that certainly is a bonus but when I first came here I did my utmost to communicate with people who didnt speak english at all or had a very limited vocabulary. I was creating connections by being myself. Even though they are brief encounters, they are meaningful, rewarding for all involved and unrealistic money demands vanish. I usually am not in a hurry btw. If I am then that is my problem and I pay what I need to with some to little bargaining. Plan ahead, leave earlier than you think you need, relax, talk (bargain) less, and pay less.
I figure if you bargain with people that give outrageous beginning prices, it just encourages them to do it time and again.
Exactly, how dare these drivers think to ask for $2 ..... ! Next they'll be wanting 5 day working weeks and lunch breaks and all sorts of things....
Funny and unrelated to my point.
Ive actually had no trouble with the blue / silver birds in Jakarta - I found out that you can actually set up an account with the company and pay at the end of the month. If you register with them and call for cabs less likely to get ripped off since it would go through their system
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