Discount ads on taxis illegal, says LTA

[vince123123]

Check out this ST article:

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News/Singapore/STIStory_193750.html

Discount ads on taxis illegal, says LTA

Marketing tactics and soliciting are against company rules and the law

By Maria Almenoar

A CABBY'S attempts to get more passengers by advertising his discounted rates has been shot down by authorities.

Trans-Cab driver A.L. Tan had placed a handwritten cardboard sign at his windscreen offering to waive the new peak hour surcharge, which is 35 per cent of the metered fare, compared to old rate of a $2 flat fee.

According to cabbies, since the fare increase last month, many passengers are avoiding taking cabs during the peak hours of 7am to 9.30am, and 5pm to 8pm.

Mr Tan's cab company has warned him that his marketing tactics run against Trans-Cab's company policy.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday backed the taxi company.

'If these drivers advertise, there will be an increased tendency for them to solicit for customers based on lower fares advertised if no commuters board their taxis,' said the LTA spokesman.

After that, take a look at this comment:

http://singaporepatriot.blogspot.com/2008/01/fear-not-cab-companieslta-to-rescue.html

This is simply amazing! On one hand, the Govt says that the taxi market has been liberalized, so taxi companies can set fares as high as they like and the govt won't interfere. Yet the moment a taxi driver tries to be a bit more entrepreneural, the LTA suddenly swoops in from nowhere to censure the poor man.

The LTA spokesman said, "If these drivers advertise, there will be an increased tendency for them to solicit for customers based on lower fares advertised if no commuters board their taxis." (Read: If we let one fella do it, EVERYONE will do it and we'll end up with ridiculously low taxi fares.)

SO?! That's better for consumers, right? Oh sorry, I forgot the interests of companies come before citizens. After all, companies pay taxes, but most of us lousy plebians hardly pay any income tax. How naive of me.

And pray tell how is something like this illegal? Is LTA going to justify this or are we supposed to take their declaration as the Gospel truth? ST reader grognard, who commented on this article, wrote:

It may be against company policy, but it is hardly illegal.

The Public Transport Council Act (CAP 259B) states:

Bus, taxi and rapid transit system fares
23. —(1) No person shall be entitled to demand and take any bus, taxi or rapid transit system fare in excess of that approved by the Council.
[29/95;29/99]

(2) Subsection (1) shall not prevent any person from demanding or taking a lower fare than that approved by the Council.
[29/99]

Perhaps LTA officials need to ask themselves: Am I a transport company regulator or a transport company advocate?

Quite interesting how the hikes led to this turn of events.

 

[di0nysus]

sad really, our dear Singapore....

 

[BBTM]

Taxi fare up, bus size SHRINKED!

I went out yesterday morning, drop at another bus stop n wait to change bus. I overheard 2 woman talking over the phone claiming they late. I thought, maybe they taking the bus which I going to take. One claim that she wait for an hour, the other, said 45 mins n also told the other party that 3 buses are full, driver rejected to stop.

Then came the bus, I think better let them go first since they are late but in the end, they are taking another bus and that bus always are long type but came normal one. Of course full house for buses as a lot of taxi are EMPTY! Damn transport company, increase the fare on one side, reduce the capacity on other. :thumbsd:

Really :angry: to see this type of situation as we earn not much and we still have to pay more. Force us to take public transport but not enough for us. In the end, some might took cabs n ended up paying more. Stupid/idiot ppl who think of fare hike on taxi, really hate n curse them. Pity those cabs drivers n let's see how the next election goes. :sticktong

 

[Astin]

LTA reports to which minister btw ?

 

[raincool2005]

nowadays, it is better to live and work within walking distance ! anything that runs on a thing called PETROL is a financial burden !:embrass:

 

[redstone]

LTA reports to which minister btw ?

Transport ministry.

Taxi companies are going to kill themselves. Maybe we should boycott taking taxis.

 

[iskofil]

i seldom take taxi since the fare increase... and i notice there's a loooooong Q of taxis everywhere... and the MRT is always packed :sweat:....

 

[Reno]

Not only the bus, even on the mrt. The waiting duration has increased, the mrt took 10 mins to arrive on the N-S line which i have encounter twice during weekend, well, maybe it is offpeak period, thats why the waiting duration is that long. :bsmilie:

 

[raincool2005]

i seldom take taxi since the fare increase... and i notice there's a loooooong Q of taxis everywhere... and the MRT is always packed :sweat:....

fewer people are pubbling late on weekends.

do u know ? it cost as much as 30 dollars from Boat Quay to Yishun ! :sweat:

 

[conquer500]

Transport ministry.

Taxi companies are going to kill themselves. Maybe we should boycott taking taxis.

can you leave without taxi?

 

[redstone]

fewer people are pubbling late on weekends.

do u know ? it cost as much as 30 dollars from Boat Quay to Yishun ! :sweat:

I took taxi from one end of campus to the other, cost me $5!

Few years ago, before all the hikes I could take taxi from AMK to Toa Payoh with $4. :sweat:

 

[raincool2005]

very soon we will be like Japan !

only the rich can take taxis.

 

[conquer500]

very soon we will be like Japan !

only the rich can take taxis.

haha

but the rich does not take a cab.

 

[kelccm]

fewer people are pubbling late on weekends.

do u know ? it cost as much as 30 dollars from Boat Quay to Yishun ! :sweat:

My mum just took a taxi from Changi Airport to Jurong after midnight and her total costs is $32. Guess the killer cab fares are those starting from CBD during the peak hours.

 

[leejay]

Boon Lay to Peninsula Plaza = $17 :bheart:

 

[conquer500]

taxi rental is going up to match the increase in fares.

 

[redstone]

Boon Lay to Peninsula Plaza = $17 :bheart:

Try Orchard to Labrador for $20 and Changi to Orchard for $25.

Once I was cheated by this fella who drive til dunno where and I got charged $20 cos I fell asleep. :angry:

 

[Astin]

I think this time the price hike may work, those lazy taxi drivers who only want to earn quick money and hide during the not-so-much-money hours will get tired and give up driving taxi eventually. After that only the hard working taxi drivers will survive and by that time passangers will get used to new fare and back to normal liao.
We still need taxi but we dont need those "bad quality" taxi drivers.

 

[leejay]

Try Orchard to Labrador for $20 and Changi to Orchard for $25.

Once I was cheated by this fella who drive til dunno where and I got charged $20 cos I fell asleep. :angry:

:angry: Yeah! Feel the same anger with you.

The steep rates are one matter, but I detect some inconsistencies in the rates as well.

 

[redstone]

I think this time the price hike may work, those lazy taxi drivers who only want to earn quick money and hide during the not-so-much-money hours will get tired and give up driving taxi eventually. After that only the hard working taxi drivers will survive and by that time passangers will get used to new fare and back to normal liao.
We still need taxi but we dont need those "bad quality" taxi drivers.

I've had my share of hiding taxi drivers :nono: