Ever found yourself in a bizarre game of cat and mouse with your ride-hailing driver? Well, you’re not alone.
A recent social media post highlights the all-too-common scenario: a driver accepts a ride but doesn’t proceed to the pickup location, leaving the passenger in a state of limbo.
The driver neither cancels the trip nor asks the passenger to do so, presumably to avoid penalties or a dent in their ratings.
The post, a mix of humor and exasperation, recounts how a driver, perhaps in a bid to save their own rating, turns a straightforward pick-up into a prolonged affair.
The frustrated passenger shared their ordeal online, noting how the driver circled around, adding unnecessary minutes to an already delayed journey.
She also shared that she later forced to take the public bus instead.
This isn’t an isolated incident; many app users have echoed similar experiences, where drivers are reluctant to cancel for fear of repercussions from the ride-hailing service.
Speaking to WeirdKaya, the customer confirmed receiving a RM5 voucher from Grab as compensation, appreciating the gesture.
She also expressed frustration about frequent similar issues, noting, “Before this it was very RARE for it to happened, so I don’t really mind. But now, it keeps happening to me and it’s frustrating especially when there’s no driver at the time, worse when I need to go somewhere urgently.”
She shared one poignant example in her video that involved missing a last moment with a terminally ill parent due to a driver’s delay.
Many experienced same issue too
The post garnered significant attention, resonating with thousands who have faced similar inconveniences.
Many are questioning the logic behind this behavior, pointing out that drivers are just burning fuel aimlessly.
One netizen’s comment perhaps sheds light on a potential loophole being exploited: drivers might be collecting cancellation fees while hopping onto another fare, earning them “free money.”
One comment humorously suggests if the driver refuses to cancel, one might as well take a bus, while another shares a tale of a driver who asked to cancel because they didn’t want to go to the specified destination.
One user laments that ultimately, it’s the customers who are penalized, often shouldering the cost of cancellation fees.
