S'pore taxi driver allegedly quotes tourist S$75 for 15-minute trip from Fullerton Bay Hotel to Orchard

A tourist visiting Singapore was shocked when a taxi driver told him he would need to pay S$75 to go from the Fullerton Bay Hotel to his hotel along Orchard Road on Oct. 1 afternoon.

According to Google Maps, the trip spans around 5km and would take about 15 minutes, even with some congestion.

Upon hearing the price, the tourist immediately backed off from the taxi and sought help from a worker who was helping to direct traffic outside Fullerton Bay Hotel, surnamed Wu (transliteration from Chinese).

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Wu said that the tourist decided to take a taxi from a taxi stand outside the hotel at around 2pm on Oct. 1 after visiting Merlion Park.

"He told me his taxi trip from his hotel at Orchard Road to Merlion Park only cost him around S$20, so he didn't understand why his return trip would cost so much more. He also asked me where else could he call a taxi," recounted Wu.

Taxi drivers seen cherry-picking passengers daily

In response, Wu told the tourist that taxis in Singapore must switch on their taximeters and charge passengers the final fare displayed at the end of their trips, reported Shin Min.

Later on, when Wu saw another taxi stopping by the hotel, he asked the tourist to get on board.

Wu shared that he also noticed several empty taxis touting for passengers near the hotel between 10am and 6pm daily.

Some of them would cherry-pick passengers, while others would request passengers to pay in cash only, added Wu.

Taxis travelling back and forth for passengers

When Shin Min reporters visited the taxi stand outside Fullerton Bay Hotel at around 9am on Oct. 2, they saw around 10 tourists waiting for their ride.

However, most of them decided to travel by private hire vehicles or charter vehicles, reported Shin Min.

Over the next two hours, the reporters saw at least three taxis picking up passengers from that taxi stand, and returning around 30 minutes later to ferry new passengers.

Shin Min reported that some of the taxis travelled back and forth as such up to three times.

Two taxis charge 'fixed price' to Orchard

When Shin Min reporters asked one of the taxi drivers how much it would cost to travel to Far East Shopping Centre along Orchard Road, the driver quoted S$35.

The driver also stated explicitly that they would not be switching on the taximeter for the trip.

However, after the reporters agreed to the price and tried to get in the taxi, the driver suddenly changed their mind and refused to ferry them, apparently claiming that "the road was difficult to drive on".

Another taxi driver who also told the reporters that they charge a "fixed price" for trips to Orchard Road and Bugis.

Not first instance of taxis overcharging, cherry-picking passengers

The problem of taxi drivers overcharging and cherry-picking passengers does not only affect those travelling from Fullerton Bay Hotel.

Earlier in April, a taxi driver told Shin Min that private hire vehicles, and possibly taxis, were touting for passengers at Gardens By The Bay (GBTB) and offering rides to destinations for fixed fares between S$65 and S$70.

In June 2024, a passenger also complained in a Facebook post that taxi drivers did not want to ferry passengers heading to Sengkang or Serangoon from GBTB even though the taxis were empty.

The drivers allegedly told the passenger that they were all waiting for passengers heading to locations near Changi Airport instead.

This triggered an investigation by LTA.

LTA statement

In a statement to Mothership in June 2024, a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesperson said LTA "takes a serious view" of overcharging and taxi drivers cherry-picking passengers.

The spokesperson added that LTA had issued "stern reminders to taxi drivers through taxi operators that refusing to pick up and ferry passengers without reasonable excuse is an offence".

"This includes refusal to pick up and ferry passengers who prefer e-payment (i.e., asking for cash payment only)," the statement read.

Errant drivers taken to task

According to the spokesperson, 14 drivers were caught for overcharging or attempting to overcharge between September 2023 and May 2024.

47 drivers were also caught for refusing to convey passengers without reasonable excuse.

"Those convicted paid composition sums between S$100 and S$500 and were also handed between 3 and 21 demerit points depending on the severity of the offence," said the spokesperson.

For more serious offences, their vocational licences have also been suspended or revoked, the statement read.

Taxis picking up passengers at taxi stands via street-hailing 'only allowed to charge metered fare'

The spokesperson emphasised that taxis picking up passengers at taxi stands via street-hailing are "only allowed to charge metered fare".

"Passengers should ensure that the taximeter is switched on and that the final fare displayed matches the amount charged at the end of the trip," the statement read.

Taxi drivers should also issue receipts for the trip, regardless of whether the passenger asks for one.

Report incidents to authorities

The spokesperson also encouraged members of the public to report incidents of overcharging, taxi drivers refusing to use the taximeter or refusing to convey passengers without reasonable excuse via LTA's website or the OneMotoring website.

To facilitate investigations, they should provide relevant information, such as the vehicle's registration plate number (where possible), date, time, and a brief account of the incident, added the spokesperson.

Top image via Shin Min Daily News