Ordinary Gweilo

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KG 1378

Sep 13, 2005

Has anyone reading this ever complained about a taxi driver in Hong Kong?

I had a very bad experience with one driver, who asked me (in Cantonese) which way I preferred to go. Being an idiot, I gestured to indicate that it was up to him to decide. What I hadn’t figured on was the possibility that he would take a route that was significantly longer, slower, and more expensive than normal. Faster and more expensive I can live with, and slightly more expensive is OK, but 25% extra is just not acceptable.

To be fair, I have to say that this is one of a mere handful of bad experiences over several years, and I use taxis quite a lot. It should also be balanced against several very helpful drivers I have encountered, notably one who returned my mobile phone to my apartment and refused to take any money.

Posted in Life in Hong Kong

6 responses to “KG 1378”

fumier

Sep 14, 2005

Yes, I have. Fax your complaint to 2824 2176. this is the official complaint number, but feedback is patchy.

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Bromgrev

Sep 14, 2005

Haven’t used taxis in years, but I used to have a lot of trouble getting them to take me back to where I lived in the New Territories. My single complaint met with a 100% failure rate.

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weenie

Sep 14, 2005

From what I recall of HK taxis, taxis of only certain colours will go back to the New Territories – not sure if this is still the case? I think I recall seeing green ones around NT, red ones everywhere else.

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Bromgrev

Sep 15, 2005

Yep, that was a pain in the ass. Red taxis where I worked, green ones where lived. And no overlap coverage. “Dahn’t gauw saaf affa rivva, guv!”

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Jonathan Stanley

Sep 15, 2005

Should have put your foot down… “touring the town” with taxi drivers do happen occasionally, though if it’s a route you do regularly, just tell them you usually pay $X and refuse outright to pay $Y. Since you’ve got their licence plate number… send an official complaint.
There are good men obviously, such as friend whom left his wallet and got it back without anything missing… however we tend to remember bad things better than good things. 😉
As for taxi coverage (red = urban, green = NT, blue = Lantau)… red taxis can go everywhere (obviously not Lantau before the bridge was built! ;)) and now with Disneyland HK open… all three taxis can cover that spot. Gotta’ keep the punters happy.

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Chris

Sep 15, 2005

Yes, red taxis can go to the New Territories. In my experience they are normally happy to go there.

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