Another day, another joke by a GrabHitch driver.

For the uninitiated, GrabHitch is a link-up service ride-hailing app Grab offers that pairs up regular drivers (people with cars) and passengers who happen to be going in the same direction.

It differs from GrabShare and GrabCar, which are more like taxi rides that have a clear driver-rider business distinction.

In the case of GrabHitch, in return for giving the person a ride to an agreed-upon destination from an agreed-upon pickup point, a GrabHitch driver will accept a small token fee that might perhaps offset the fuel consumed in the course of the journey, for instance.

This amount is significantly lower than even a GrabShare (or even a JustGrab) ride, but at the same time, it isn't always as easy to net a GrabHitch ride.

Enter Aaron

So now that's been established, we meet Twitter user Terine Ng, who booked a Hitch ride from Boon Lay to Woodlands just before 1am.

Lucky her, she snagged herself a ride for a cool S$12 -- of course, far cheaper for the distance that would be covered than any other ride service she could possibly get:

Until she received this text message from the Hitch driver, Aaron:

This is the message, in case you can't read the text in the image:

"Hey Terine, just to check if you ok [sic] with cash payment of $25 flat to Woodlands.

As I will be going to Woodlands to drop a parcel and returning back [sic] to Jurong area, unlikely I [sic] will pick up another passenger. If you are ok with the arrangement, I am able to do the grabhitch [sic] for you. It will be definitely [sic] cheaper than regular cab.

Do let me know if it's fine with you."

Naturally, Ng was confused, responding with, "What do u mean by $25?"

And the driver had the gall to repeat his request:

"As in instead of cash payment of $12, will it [sic] be ok with $25 for the single trip?"

We doubt "it" was okay with this. Ng later tweeted these screenshots, and tagged Grab's Twitter handle in a reply-tweet:

.@GrabSG

— ?黄芊蕙? (@ItsAllSoTerine) April 2, 2017

Just so you know, this is tantamount to touting, which is against the law.

We've also contacted Grab, and a spokesperson for the company informed us that this is clearly not permitted in its Code of Conduct for Hitch drivers.

Here's what clause 2c in the code states:

"Collect the correct fare as dictated by the Grab application. Be aware of any ongoing promotions, and methods of payment i.e. cash or GrabPay. Setting of your own fares are strictly prohibited."

They've also said they are investigating the case.

So yes, in case you don't already know this, GrabHitch drivers -- and well, any driver of any private-hire ride-hailing service you might use, including taxis booked under the JustGrab scheme — are not allowed to deviate from the agreed-upon fare.

Especially not upwards.

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Top photo: Screenshots from Twitter user @itsallsoterine

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