Last week a friend of mine was telling me how he’s recently been getting into cabs and the drivers use the taximeter instead of making up their own fee up and yesterday the same thing happened to me. I took a cab and when I got in, the driver right away turned on the taximeter. Is this like a normal thing now? Because nobody was using the taximeter previously.
30 replies on “Taximeters”
Maybe preparing for the inevitable arrival of Uber?
Remember taxi drivers have a legal trick with the meters… One is the meter calculates based on distance or time.. If he presses it once, it would be distance and if pressed twice it is for time.. So for a short journey with heavy traffic what they do is press for time.. And hence u will be overcharged.. So they switching on meters is not always a good thing…
Are you sure?
S I m.. Or next time you use a taxi.. Ask him to tell u what those buttons do.. And notice how many times he presses when u r in he taxi…
this is funny.
Taxis charge per distance travelled, and in case of heavy gridlock, the “waiting” period gets activated AUTOMATICALLY.
unless they tampered with the meters, there should be nothing else to press after turning it on.
In my neck of the woods, taxis with tampered meters used the turn signals as “triggers”.
did you pay as per the taximeter or was it a fixed amount agreed before getting in the cab ?
per the taximeter but i tipped him as well
+1
I suppose when the meter is turned on, the Taxi available sign goes off. That way when spotted by a cop, he will see there is a passenger inside the cab and the sign says occupied.
You are right lolguy….. Authorities will stop them if they will be seen with passengers and their signs were not properly lit.
What I really hate is when some drivers have their own rates. One time I took a taxi from Avenues to Jabriya and he wanted 4KD!! I always pay 2KD, and he was adamant about it too, saying how there’s too much traffic, THERE’S ALWAYS TOO MUCH TRAFFIC, and he didn’t even use his meter either (most Taxis I’ve been with, never use their meters) but eventually he cut the priced down to 3KD and I insisted 2, but he still wanted 3, Unbelievable!
I thankfully haven’t had to use a taxi in years but the best strategy was always saying “Yeah ok I’ll pay you 4” then tossing him a 2 KD and leaving
thats cheating, its like hiring for kd 500/ monthly and paying after a month only 250/-
i would fix before i take the ride.
+1
Didn’t they make it a law last year that taxis had to use a meter now and the drivers are supposed to wear white shirt and trousers! The ones I was using all changed and put the meter in to avoid deportation
I was happy when I saw a meter in a taxi I took from Shuwaikh to Jabriya only to be told sike that’s not the right price. I just gave him the inflated amount and let it go.
That’s what happens most of the time
Airport taxi’s take 6kd to Jabriya which absolutely sucks. From Sheikh Saad, its 8 bucks. Such a rip off. And those are like the Govt issued rates!
Airport taxis around the world have insane rates, $100 to leave an aiport is normal these days :/
“Govt issued rates”
Isn’t that the precise reason why it’s a rip-off?
Taxi drivers will charge you depending on your nationality and the way you look, especially if the taxi driver is Egyptian.
Agreed 100%.
Charge is based on your nationality and how you look.
Just got into a Gulf Shields Taxi and no such thing happened….
CAN’T WAIT FOR UBER!
only if it’s coming.
Quick question Mark?
Was the trip cheaper than the usual fix priced?
Yup, 850 from shuwaikh to kuwait city
Cool.
If I’m not mistaken, by law, taxi drivers are obligated to turn on the taximeter, and if they refuse just kindly ask them to drive you to the nearest police station to report the incident. I’m guessing there is a fine
Taxi rates in Kuwait are low, stop moaning!
well, i don’t want to generalize; but from experience the taxi drivers are one of the most arrogant lot.
90% of the taxis sting; not at all maintained, i wonder they clean it atleast once in a month.
The taxi meter is another new trick, i feel that they are tampered and exceed the normal rates. For example, for a commute which used to cost 3KD by verbal agreement, costed 4KD by the meter…I hope the authorities look into this and there should be some regulations regarding the taxi’s be made “Non Smoking” and should have basic cleanliness..
Taxi Driver now days a big cause of Accidents and traffic jams. Its Seems Headphone is a must as long as they are on taxi they keep talking on the viber or Imo, all time, there concentration mostly on the phone. They will stop the car where ever they see passenger without thinking who is behind. They will take fast lane and driving on speed of 80KM. I believe other countries they are not allowed to enter in Fast lane, Taxi Driver from all nationality are Arrogant and ready to fight and argue. Some of the taxi drivers don’t want to open the Air-condition, There should be special campaign against the Taxi Drivers. You see a more taxi than private cars. They need to respect the country law and safety of other drivers.