When Phyllis travelled home to southern India last year, he was so overloaded with luggage. Students receive a special luggage allowance, about 60/133. While Kosov was going with him to the airport using public transport, they would have to leave two hours earlier than if they took a cab. I felt sorry for them and ordered a Didi at my cost, which is like Uber but better in my opinion.
As we walked out the front door of the building, the Didi pulled up, luggage was loaded, goodbyes said, and off they went.
A email receipt arrived promptly with a breakdown of the charges, and there was a $1.10 waiting charge. That was annoying as there wasn't any waiting. I should have complained but for $1.10? Doing so would be a bother.
Then came an expose of scandalous activity by taxi drivers and those who manage them. This is good timing to complain about the $1.10.
I received a flight refund rather than a flight credit when Ray died, I believe partly because I made the request right when there were scandalous headlines about airline companies. (Bit of a pattern here, no?)
I looked at the Didi website and lord help you if you need to contact the company. I could not find a way to do so. The next time I used a Didi, I noticed on the app, a button to dispute charges, so I did so with a brief written line or two. Within a minute or so, my phone alerted me to a bank transaction, and sure enough, the $1.10 had been credited to my account. Yes, it is nothing to me, but if a driver does this multiple times, it can add up. It seems Didi's driver monitoring systems are vastly superior to our taxi industry.
While for a different reason, a similar thing occurred to a friend when he disputed a charge.
I've used Didi a few times since, usually when I go to a pub to meet friends for dinner, and there hasn't been a charging problem.
The email receipt gives a good break down, and the app works very well. This was from Sunday night when I was coming home from a pub, hence no Monday Mural post. I was going to catch a tram but it was just too hot and a bit of a walk.
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Well, all I can say is you seem to have very cheap taxi fares compared to ours. But then we don't have quite the population size that you have.
ReplyDeleteJayCee, proper taxis are more expensive but no better. Didi excels with its app.
DeleteThat does to be a very reasonable price.
ReplyDelete$1.10 doesn't seem like much until, as you say, it happens over and over again. If they do that only three times a day and work 20 days a month, in the course of a year, it's almost $800 extra dollars. Eight times a day means over $2000/year extra.
Pixie, it certainly could mount up. While I did have to go to the effort of disputing the charge and received the credit, it should not have happened.
Deletethecontemplativecat here. We have Uber and Lyft here in Calif. Have used Uber several times, always good.
ReplyDeleteCC, I've heard of Lyft, but I am not sure if it operates here. My experience of using Uber in South Africa was good. Just not here where we surcharged a huge amount, changing a taxi fare for about $65 to the Uber over $100.
DeleteThat is rather cheap! I spent over 100 dollars each way through taxi.
ReplyDeleteRoentare, I was pro taxi until I tried Didi. So far, so good.
DeleteDidi may be superior, but you inadvertently have made me reluctant to try it.
ReplyDeleteI understand Kirk. All companies can try to cheat you at times.
DeleteWhat the hell is a didi? It sounds like a character that might dwell in fairyland with the elves and the pixies.
ReplyDeleteYP, go and play with your didi.
DeleteAh, now I understand what you meant when you said you had ordered a didi for Phyllis and Kosovo. I guess that it involves contacting a male escort agency.
DeleteI am amused that after two weeks of no genuine comments going to spam, these two of yours above have gone to spam.
DeleteBtw, private overseas student rent boys and girls abound here. No need for middlemen escort agencies. I've suggested that to Kosov as gainful employment but he is not keen. It would be outcalls only.
I'll stick with daytime buses and staying home at night.
ReplyDeleteRiver, I generally like to be home at night too, sitting right here and writing this, but I push myself to remain socially connected.
DeleteNever heard of Didi, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I'd say there is a good chance you don't have Didi in your city.
DeleteWe use Uber here. It is always very good and I quite like the excitement of tracking them down on the iphone as they make their way towards you. Childish I know.
ReplyDeleteThelma, tracking the Didi car is on the app, along with the driver's name, the car model and colour, and registration. I take no notice of the finer detail, but drunken young women really need to check the finer detail.
DeleteWe can hire Uber out here in the sticks, not sure about Didi. Sounds very reasonable but is probably a city based scheme
ReplyDeleteI really don't know about the Didi coverage Cathy. It seems pretty good where I live, perhaps better than Uber.
DeleteSometimes the little things are worth speaking up about.
ReplyDeleteTP, as the old saying goes, 'Look after the pennies....'.
DeleteI've never used an Uber or Lyft here. Or food delivery. They're out of my budget. I used a taxi once to get to the ER when my knee blew out. Taxi driver told me a lot of people use them to get to ER. I don't remember what it cost, but the driver was so kind, helping me get in, but also to then get into the ER. I couldn't walk.
ReplyDeleteStrayer, you shouldn't expect less. It is just human kindness, even if he did not have to help.
DeleteI have never used uber and instead use taxis. Got a good cheap ride to and from the airport within the last few weeks. And the money stays in Canada rather than going to uber in the US which is a big issue here right now.
ReplyDeletePat, I guess the train doesn't suit you. The Pearson Express had just opened when we rode it, it was good, until it broke down. Actually, the aircon wasn't worked and I guess it was shut to reset the aircon, and it did work then. It really suited us as we were staying at the Royal York.
DeleteDidi is a Chinese company I believe. I don't know who I'd rather not give money to, China or Uber.
Glad you spoke up and received your prompt refund. I will not be having to use Uber much in the future as we just bought a Subaru!
ReplyDeleteA nice new car for you, Cloudia. Great fun.
DeleteAll the ride share drivers have both Uber and Didi capability, and switch throughout the day. Didi is usually cheaper.
ReplyDeleteWell J, I did not know that.
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