Cabbies still overcharging

KUALA LUMPUR: A number of taxi drivers in the Klang Valley continue to "commit daylight robbery" by refusing to use the meter and overcharging passengers.
A two-day check by theSun last month showed that taxi drivers, especially those in the city, continue to impose "flat rates" on passengers.
A taxi driver, who operates at the Puduraya Bus terminal, charged a flat rate of RM30 for a ride to KLCC. When this writer pointed out a sign on the taxi's door that reads "This is a metered taxi, haggling is prohibited," the taxi driver said it was standard practice to charge a flat rate within the city.
A check on the MyTeksi Apps showed the normal rate using the meter is between RM6 and RM9 for the 5km journey.
After getting down at Suria KLCC, theSun team approached another taxi who charged RM15 for a ride to the Pavillion shopping mall.
The actual fares are between RM5 and RM8 for the 3km journey.
After paying RM2 at the taxi counter in Pavillion to hire a metered taxi back to Puduraya, the bona fide taxi driver revealed that taxis that are always on the move usually charge by meter.
"Most taxis that stop at a roadside and wait for passengers will charge flat rate. They also take advantage of passengers who are rushing to go somewhere.
Passengers should approach taxi moving on the road," he said adding taxis using meters will provide receipt.
"I believe those taxi drivers who charge flat rate will earn money more than me as I earn average RM2,000 per month by working 15 hours a day," he said.
Clodie Lim, a 25-year-old blogger related her bad experience with a taxi driver who refused to use the meter.
"One taxi driver charged me RM50 from Komuter Station Subang Jaya to Subang Airport when the rate for the 14km ride was between RM16 and RM24," she said.
Lim Soo Li, 29, a secretary said when she visits her sister in Serdang, taxi drivers at komuter station there always charges a flat rate.
"Most of the time, I am forced to pay minimum RM5 for a journey less than 5km which is usually cost much less," she said.
Linda Mohammad Said, 28, a marketing executive said a taxi driver at Bukit Jalil charged her RM30 to go to KL Sentral.
"I asked why he is not using the meter, he replied that the flat rate was cheaper than using meter. He said using the meter would be more expensive if there was traffic congestion towards the destination," she said.