Why such things happen here all the time? Its not only me, lot of persons are going thru this everyday..
1. there is not adequate public transport to all places
2. not enough taxis for the existing population
3. car lift - illegal
so all people tend to get their own cars which again leads to traffic congestion. its such a bottleneck situation and i am not sure if the rulers are atleast aware of these problems? is there anyway we all can convey this to them .. thru' mass mailing, posts or some kind of messaging
I could have complained against this driver easily, but then he was very old and I didnt feel like. Its not his mistake alone..even I would've got angry if my lunch money is going becos of such a trip..With his income and living standards its natural to be so bitter in life. What is wanted is a huge change in the transport system in this country...more public transports, more pedestrian crossings, and less single driven cars.
But taxi drivers tend to be like this everywhere around the world. It's a pretty stressful occupation and the fact that one random fare can get you stuck in traffic with no money and another fare can get you a day's income will guarantee d*cks where ever you go.
[not that I know if you are a women or not, but] I am a large male so I can usually deal with any hostility with drivers, but I feel sorry for women who feel intimidated by them. There are women only taxi's available but I'm sure you would have to wait ages for one.
[Personal best taxi carma story: I once hopped in a taxi in Sydney, Australia to go home after a big night and the driver refused to take me because it was only a $10 (40 dhs) fare (usual is $30+). Rude bugger, so I got out of his cab and found $50 (200 dhs) on the ground outside his cab. ha! ] Captain Australia to add more: Anyone ever caught a cab in Paris? They have a taxi mafia over there. For the outer suburbs there seems to be only a few taxis that operate and as soon as you call them they chuck on the meter.
We had them rocking up with €20 on the clock! That's 100AED! Then the 20 minute fare was another €20. Rude bastards there too. Red Chief
- Mayflower wrote:
1. there is not adequate public transport to all places
2. not enough taxis for the existing population
3. car lift - illegal
Good reply to all those Kannelli, Sir Onion and Co. on their advice giving up somebody's dream of driving license in the other tread.
I'm sure that all those ppl. received their licenses for their beauty western eyes without any exams... FTD If you are making a the same journey regularly, when you get a cabbie you like get his number and make an arrangement to collect you always. sage & onion
- Red Chief wrote:
- Mayflower wrote:
1. there is not adequate public transport to all places
2. not enough taxis for the existing population
3. car lift - illegal
Good reply to all those Kannelli, Sir Onion and Co. on their advice giving up somebody's dream of driving license in the other tread.
I'm sure that all those ppl. received their licenses for their beauty western eyes without any exams... - Mayflower wrote:
What does this rant have to do with me and my driving license? kanelli
- Red Chief wrote:
- Mayflower wrote:
1. there is not adequate public transport to all places
2. not enough taxis for the existing population
3. car lift - illegal
Good reply to all those Kannelli, Sir Onion and Co. on their advice giving up somebody's dream of driving license in the other tread.
I'm sure that all those ppl. received their licenses for their beauty western eyes without any exams... - Mayflower wrote:
You should complain in the other thread then! And by the way, only a really crap driver fails driving tests for 3 years, and only a moron supports someone who wants to pay off police to get an undeserved license because they don't have the skills to pass like everyone else.
I got my license in Dubai and it was a joke. It isn't difficult to pass if you have practiced enough (33 lesson hrs for me, 1 written test, 1 parking test) and follow the rules of the road. There is of course inconsistency in the testing. For example, 4 of us were being tested that morning. The Arab lady drove for 1 minute,- made a right and left turn and parked. (She did those easy tasks fine and passed.) The two Indian ladies drove for about 4 minutes each - made right and left turns, had to change lanes and park. (Terrible, scary driving - we almost got into an accident when the one lady was driving. Was their 2nd and 3rd time failing. I think they kept going to tests without doing more driving practice to improve their skills.) I drove for over 10 minutes, turned left and right a few times, crossed 3 lanes of traffic, u-turned twice, parked. (Handled car confidently and followed all rules, so passed.) But, then again, maybe the policewoman was lesbian and only passed me for my beautiful Western eyes. :roll:
Back to the topic. It is terrible when taxi drivers are rude and don't want to do the job they are paid to do. I don't understand how they expect you to get to your destination if taxi drivers aren't willing to do it! My answer to taxi drivers who don't like their job is to find a different job! People need to get to their destinations and don't deserve to be denied service or hassled for more money than what is fair. They wouldn't want it done to them, so they shouldn't do it to others. K-Dog
- Captain Australia wrote:
to add more: Anyone ever caught a cab in Paris? They have a taxi mafia over there. For the outer suburbs there seems to be only a few taxis that operate and as soon as you call them they chuck on the meter.
We had them rocking up with €20 on the clock! That's 100AED! Then the 20 minute fare was another €20. Rude bastards there too.
I guess it really depends on your experience. We were staying at the Disneyland Resort about 60 minutes from Paris. We took the subway to Paris but on our way back it was too late with the kids and all and decided to take a cab instead. I didn't have enough cash so I asked the driver if they took credit cards, he replied yes. He was a black gentleman who spoke very little english. When we got to our destination I gave him my credit card but it turned out that his machine couldn't read it because my card didn't have a particular chip or something. He called his HQs and was on the phone for almost 30 minutes giving them my card number, exp. date etc. During this whole time he was very professional and curteous. Yes I didn't feel comfortable about my credit card number being broadcast over the airways but I didn't have a choice. It all ended well. Red Chief Kaneli, Did you read the message in this thead? Yes, there are differances in exams between Sharjah and Dubai, between men and wemen, whites and browns, now and 4 years ago. I also passed the exam 4 years ago. Before me another Indian had the exam and I didn't find any mistakes although I has had my license in my country from 1984 but he didn't pass... Despite all those difficalties ppl. in Sharjah drive much worse than in Dubai. What a conclusing did I make? About Sharjah taxi and rudeness of their drivers I can tell you only a fact that explainds everything: there were 20 000 private taxis 3 years ago and there is only 50000 new companies taxis now after termination privat ones for the City with a few hundred thousand inhabitance. So in the afternoon it's merely impossible to take one of them...
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Snow Why are car lifts illegal? It doesn't make sense... Mayflower car lifts are illegal becos u r indirectly blocking the money going to the government. see u give money to the person who is doing car lift to u rt? so thats a business..there are some people who r doing this on a regular basis. but any business should pay part of its profit to govt thru' license fee, sponsor fee --- they just give different fancy names to get back whatever money u earn here...which is why car lift is illegal? even if u drop ur friend in airport, there are chances that the police may stop you and fine you that you are doing illegal car lift! i am sure lot of people in this forum would have gone through that experience . how does it sound? :x huh xty I think the problem lies in the taxi company itself. How strict they (the management) want to apply the policy, discipline, and rules on complaints made by passengers against the drivers. In my home country, particularly the capital city, there are several taxi companies. One company is highly recommended and reputable as the service is very good, always takes the customer to the destination, no rip-off, secure, polite, no stealing of left belongings, no bullsh*t. That is because for almost every complaint made by passenger to customer service dept, it results a disciplinary action against the driver or sometimes termination. I suspect that maybe because the taxi companies in Dubai have invested onto the driver's license. They can't fire the driver because they will loose the money. So the drivers act whatever they want. KINGLOKI haha if it whuz me in that situation i wouldve smacked the guy and told him to shut up haha but yeah thats me :P RobbyG If a cab driver did that too me, like you described it, I would wholeheartedly ask him to do what I, the client, expect him to do since I pay for it. If he doesn't do that, I file a complaint at his company with the proper angry tone, since this is really unacceptable. They would surely lose me as a customer. And I would tell them that!! No matter how old he is, how warm he's got, how low/high he gets paid. He can always quit and find a job that suits him more. His first priority in a cab is to make sure the client gets to his location!!! Always. File a complaint Mayflower! Otherwise the quality of drivers never get better since customer care will NEVER be informed if nobody complains! This world doesn't work on emotion. You need to address your own quality of life and your study that got influenced by his behaviour... Think about it. Habibi
- RobbyG wrote:
If a cab driver did that too me, like you described it, I would wholeheartedly ask him to do what I, the client, expect him to do since I pay for it. If he doesn't do that, I file a complaint at his company with the proper angry tone, since this is really unacceptable. They would surely lose me as a customer. And I would tell them that!!
No matter how old he is, how warm he's got, how low/high he gets paid. He can always quit and find a job that suits him more. His first priority in a cab is to make sure the client gets to his location!!! Always.
File a complaint Mayflower! Otherwise the quality of drivers never get better since customer care will NEVER be informed if nobody complains!
This world doesn't work on emotion. You need to address your own quality of life and your study that got influenced by his behaviour...
Think about it.
You really think that from far away. If you would experience things like that on a non stop daily base, you would be best advised to let go and move on, otherwise your day (which there is really no time for) would be filled with paperwork;-) RobbyG When will you finally stop telling me that I don't live in Dubai like that. I have a very broad knowledge of my world where I live in, and the bureacracy is a hell in every country. Dubai is no different than that. Maybe ten times slower than in Holland, but then you haven't been to India yet. What I'm saying, is to simply call the Company, ask for the highest manager around and say your prayer. He will get the point and your complaint was accepted by the highest authority available. No need for paperwork. Dubai is built on the same principles they use here in Europe. Its not ackward that so many expats are showing the Arabs how a business is run/setup in the last 50 years of trade and cooperation with them. Get real. Habibi About Taxi drivers, one story experienced still stuck very close or deep to me. I try to make this as short as possible. I arrive at DXB airport at 11 pm, q'ing the long q at Terminal 1 (yes, it was last year). I finally got green sign from the supervisor to move on to a taxi and started to move my stuff into the trunk when suddenly a black woman with a child on her shoulder started to shout out very loud ... "why do you take him and not me?" I was stunned what happened around me. Appearently the taxi driver didn't accept her (my guess because the cab drivers guess was her route would led him into troubled downtown traffic). The supervisor approached, asked what was going on and subsequently snapped the taxi license off the taxi drivers chest. He said the guy should bring me home, then come back to discuss his license plate to get back. On my way on SZR, the driver thinking too much became quite nervous and half way he told me he got "too much tensions" and would like to go back to the airport immidately to get his license plate back. What do I do? I told him he's a f$#@ not taking the black girl before me and it's his own fault. Anyhow, he stopped, got me another taxi to move on and he went back. That all on SZR in the middle of the night... I didn't feel any sorry for him, comes around goes around .... ironically a bunch of racists those cab drivers ... Habibi
- RobbyG wrote:
When will you finally stop telling me that I don't live in Dubai like that. I have a very broad knowledge of my world where I live in, and the bureacracy is a hell in every country. Dubai is no different than that. Maybe ten times slower than in Holland, but then you haven't been to India yet.
What I'm saying, is to simply call the Company, ask for the highest manager around and say your prayer. He will get the point and your complaint was accepted by the highest authority available. No need for paperwork.
Dubai is built on the same principles they use here in Europe. Its not ackward that so many expats are showing the Arabs how a business is run/setup in the last 50 years of trade and cooperation with them.
Get real.
Cool down, I was just to type down a story which you really can't experience when not living here. It's posted now;-)
Can you see that little difference of living and reading something from far away.... you got to admit. Nothing personal, but really true when it comes to give an opinion first hand.
I lived myself in Holland for many years and my mum is Dutch, nontheless, I have never experienced something like this in Holland..
- Habibi wrote:
- RobbyG wrote:
When will you finally stop telling me that I don't live in Dubai like that. I have a very broad knowledge of my world where I live in, and the bureacracy is a hell in every country. Dubai is no different than that. Maybe ten times slower than in Holland, but then you haven't been to India yet.
What I'm saying, is to simply call the Company, ask for the highest manager around and say your prayer. He will get the point and your complaint was accepted by the highest authority available. No need for paperwork.
Dubai is built on the same principles they use here in Europe. Its not ackward that so many expats are showing the Arabs how a business is run/setup in the last 50 years of trade and cooperation with them.
Get real.
Cool down, I was just to type down a story which you really can't experience when not living here. It's posted now;-)
Can you see that little difference of living and reading something from far away.... you got to admit. Nothing personal, but really true when it comes to give an opinion first hand. - RobbyG wrote:
First of all, I didn't quote you, so it was aimed at ALL people.
Your latter reply though is indeed partially true. First hand experience is valuable. But I know all to well, that a whole lot of people don't know where to get 'real' information in the foreign country they live in, be it unavailable due to restrictions or language barriers. A community network (like I have) is way more valuable. I can tell you that.
We have embassies around the world to get acquainted with expats and situations that others already experienced (part of my preparations), so I don't have to fall in those holes when I arrive...if I find work there. (Thats another story though) Habibi
- RobbyG wrote:
- Habibi wrote:
- RobbyG wrote:
When will you finally stop telling me that I don't live in Dubai like that. I have a very broad knowledge of my world where I live in, and the bureacracy is a hell in every country. Dubai is no different than that. Maybe ten times slower than in Holland, but then you haven't been to India yet.
What I'm saying, is to simply call the Company, ask for the highest manager around and say your prayer. He will get the point and your complaint was accepted by the highest authority available. No need for paperwork.
Dubai is built on the same principles they use here in Europe. Its not ackward that so many expats are showing the Arabs how a business is run/setup in the last 50 years of trade and cooperation with them.
Get real.
Cool down, I was just to type down a story which you really can't experience when not living here. It's posted now;-)
Can you see that little difference of living and reading something from far away.... you got to admit. Nothing personal, but really true when it comes to give an opinion first hand. - RobbyG wrote:
First of all, I didn't quote you, so it was aimed at ALL people.
Your latter reply though is indeed partially true. First hand experience is valuable. But I know all to well, that a whole lot of people don't know where to get 'real' information in the foreign country they live in, be it unavailable due to restrictions or language barriers. A community network (like I have) is way more valuable. I can tell you that.
We have embassies around the world to get acquaintedwith situations that others already experienced, so I don't have to fall in those holes when I arrive...if I find work there. (Thats another story though) - Habibi wrote:
well yes, of cause you can try all of this, my personal advise although would be, don't go that route. There is no room to always get your right as you would be used to back home. It really is just too much hazzle on a daily base. Don't forget, this is the Middle East, although a very semi soft one;-) RobbyG You don't really understand what I'm saying, following your reply... The embassy thing (my expat preparation) is totally seperate from the advice I give to Mayflower to file a complaint at the taxi company by calling the highest available manager. Make the divide, and were there. Points made. Experience AND knowledge are both valuable. ;) Habibi
- RobbyG wrote:
You don't really understand what I'm saying, following your reply...
The embassy thing (my expat preparation) is totally seperate from the advice I give to Mayflower to file a complaint at the taxi company by calling the highest available manager.
Make the divide, and were there. Points made. Experience AND knowledge are both valuable. ;)
Listen Robby, my wife is not white, and I could file a complaint every other day about how she get's treated, now we are only talking about taxi drivers. Do I do it? No, of cause not ... there is simply not enough time in a single day in day out to do so ...
As soon as I raise my voice and show my silly white face all is good suddenly (sorry sir...we didn't mean it that way)... don't approach me with backup embassy stuff ... I all went through it before living here for a few years and I got a friggn kilo of paperwork copies at home...
Peace and out! ;-)
..pls, RobbyG
- Habibi wrote:
- RobbyG wrote:
You don't really understand what I'm saying, following your reply...
The embassy thing (my expat preparation) is totally seperate from the advice I give to Mayflower to file a complaint at the taxi company by calling the highest available manager.
Make the divide, and were there. Points made. Experience AND knowledge are both valuable. ;)
As soon as I raise my voice and show my silly white face all is good suddenly (sorry sir...we didn't mean it that way)... don't approach me with backup embassy stuff ... - RobbyG wrote:
Peace and open;
I didn't. I just said that you must see the embassy thing (my expat preparation) should be viewed loose/divided/separated from the complaint advice for Mayflower.
You are mixing it up now, or you reading is very poor. Focus please! Thank you. Peace Out. ;) Habibi
- RobbyG wrote:
- Habibi wrote:
- RobbyG wrote:
You don't really understand what I'm saying, following your reply...
The embassy thing (my expat preparation) is totally seperate from the advice I give to Mayflower to file a complaint at the taxi company by calling the highest available manager.
Make the divide, and were there. Points made. Experience AND knowledge are both valuable. ;)
As soon as I raise my voice and show my silly white face all is good suddenly (sorry sir...we didn't mean it that way)... don't approach me with backup embassy stuff ... - RobbyG wrote:
Peace and open;
I didn't. I just said that you must see the embassy thing (my expat preparation) should be viewed loose/divided/separated from the complaint advice for Mayflower.
You are mixing it up now, or you reading is very poor. Focus please! Thank you. Peace Out. ;) - Habibi wrote:
Yes, focus ;-)
As long as you take a little snippet of what I told you is happening here, I'm fine with it.
I go back and focus on the next taxi to order and let's see .. I might post yet another amazing story;-) RobbyG I took a big snippet of recollection from you. Thanks for the reminder. ;) Red Chief
- RobbyG wrote:
If a cab driver did that too me, like you described it, I would wholeheartedly ask him to do what I, the client, expect him to do since I pay for it. If he doesn't do that, I file a complaint at his company with the proper angry tone, since this is really unacceptable. They would surely lose me as a customer. And I would tell them that!!
Well said, Rob, as usual.
I tried to follow the procedure a few times. At my experience it's not easy even to register a complient.
The pnone for complient was allways busy. Once upon a time I got through and they started asking me many stupid detals. They needed not only the plate number, personal number of the driver but also the name of taxi company I didn't have because taxi driver had been gone at that time.
At the other hand it looks like all those drivers haven't been affraid very much of all those complients as soon as nobody wanted to go from Dubai to Sharjah in rush hours despide a thread of the complient before December 2008. It wasn't one case, but a few drivers in a row didn't want to do so.
I think it's mainly demand-supply ratio, and complient is an optional matter here. Red Chief Edit: double post xty
- Habibi wrote:
The supervisor approached, asked what was going on and subsequently snapped the taxi license off the taxi drivers chest. He said the guy should bring me home, then come back to discuss his license plate to get back.
that's one disciplinary action i'm talking about. Chocoholic Yeah some of these cab drivers, really need taking down a peg or two, their attitudes are awful. sage & onion I believe that anytime one receives bad or wrong service, whether it be Taxi Driver, Bank Clerk or whatever, a complaint should be lodged. This is the only way that the Management can improve service, it serves absolutely no purpose bleating on about bad service when you cannot be bothered to follow it through with a proper complaint. Speedhump
- RobbyG wrote:
I took a big snippet of recollection from you. Thanks for the reminder. ;)
Robby, I understand what habibi is saying. You heard the phrase 'don't sweat the small stuff'? Basically life in Dubai is full of so many small irritations that you are not used to in a regulated western society (or maybe the same but magnified), that it's impossible to take them all on, you will finally have to let some things slide, or you'll end up a mental wreck.
Your day would not be long enough to speak to all the managers and customer service departments that you want to roast.
;) Speedhump
- sage & onion wrote:
I believe that anytime one receives bad or wrong service, whether it be Taxi Driver, Bank Clerk or whatever, a complaint should be lodged. This is the only way that the Management can improve service, it serves absolutely no purpose bleating on about bad service when you cannot be bothered to follow it through with a proper complaint.
The taxi driver takes you the wrong way
the bank loses your 'automated' monthly payments
the bank clerk serves ordinary cutomers in the priority account queue
the food delivery service brings the wrong order
the workman fixes something in your home and it goes wrong again as soon as he leaves
the car service department take a week for a simple service
the car service department dont even fix your fault but say they have
etc...etc...etc...the list is endless
all these things seem to be REGULAR occurrences here. do you really have the time to make formal complaints about them all?
chill. RobbyG
- Speedhump wrote:
- sage & onion wrote:
I believe that anytime one receives bad or wrong service, whether it be Taxi Driver, Bank Clerk or whatever, a complaint should be lodged. This is the only way that the Management can improve service, it serves absolutely no purpose bleating on about bad service when you cannot be bothered to follow it through with a proper complaint.
The taxi driver takes you the wrong way
the bank loses your 'automated' monthly payments
the bank clerk serves ordinary cutomers in the priority account queue
the food delivery service brings the wrong order
the workman fixes something in your home and it goes wrong again as soon as he leaves
the car service department take a week for a simple service
the car service department dont even fix your fault but say they have
etc...etc...etc...the list is endless
all these things seem to be REGULAR occurrences here. do you really have the time to make formal complaints about them all?
chill. - sage & onion wrote:
Clearly I'm not made for Dubai. I would clearly be susceptable to incompetent MoFo's that can't do anything right!
But I would definately 'instruct' them how to properly manage a F@ckin' business service. And if they don't listen... then I'll 'kick the crap' out of them, Europe style :lol:
Ahhh, the relieff :wink: Speedhump
- RobbyG wrote:
- Speedhump wrote:
- sage & onion wrote:
I believe that anytime one receives bad or wrong service, whether it be Taxi Driver, Bank Clerk or whatever, a complaint should be lodged. This is the only way that the Management can improve service, it serves absolutely no purpose bleating on about bad service when you cannot be bothered to follow it through with a proper complaint.
The taxi driver takes you the wrong way
the bank loses your 'automated' monthly payments
the bank clerk serves ordinary cutomers in the priority account queue
the food delivery service brings the wrong order
the workman fixes something in your home and it goes wrong again as soon as he leaves
the car service department take a week for a simple service
the car service department dont even fix your fault but say they have
etc...etc...etc...the list is endless
all these things seem to be REGULAR occurrences here. do you really have the time to make formal complaints about them all?
chill. - sage & onion wrote:
Clearly I'm not made for Dubai. I would clearly be susceptable to incompetent MoFo's that can't do anything right!
But I would definately 'instruct' them how to properly manage a F@ckin' business service. And if they don't listen... then I'll 'kick the crap' out of them, Europe style :lol:
Ahhh, the relieff :wink: - Speedhump wrote:
I hear you :D
Just bring a little Zen with you if you come, just my suggestion.....
I once stopped an English guy going ballistic at some poor little Filipino shop worker because his mobile wasn't fixed in time! OK it's really annoying, but it's not the shop assistant's fault. The customer just started to shout and swear. I got my phone out and said we can call the police as he was getting abusive. The guy wasn't happy at me stepping in but I got an SMS mssg from the shop worker later thanking me (they had my phone number as I'd bought a phone there a week before) :D
So you can see how this place affects some people. They get the little god syndrome whe dealing with service staff and the like. RobbyG Allright, I'll bring my Zen with me...
Everytime an 'incompetent' comes disrupting my life vigorously...
I'll show em this Zen artifact:
And after showing this to the 'incompetent one', I will tell him that the water I spit by ranting is less harmful than the fire thats within me. ;)
I think he gets this picture :lol: