There is only one illegal Taxi in Qatar... and that is KARWA. Recently they painted the top Maroon and started a new office so they become "2nd Taxi fleet operator".
Everything about Karwa is illegal.
1. They have GPS they dont use it.
2. The Drivers are unfit to drive Taxi (as they dont know the way).
3. They manipulate the meters at will with the fricking "1" & "0" charge.
4. The price for petrol Vs the price for ride is completely absurd (compare it with other countries) and expensive by 10 times.
5. Karwa have few cars... so they are not even eligible to be called "Taxi Fleet Operator" I guess Budget Rent a Car has more car in their fleet than Karwa EVER had.
6. Many Karwa Taxi drivers have molested women traveling alone(when they find the women have had a drink or two).
7. Karwa drivers trick people into taking the longer route.
8. Al Million Taxi & Drivers are rented from Karwa indirectly... this is completely illegal for fleet owners operating as a COMPLETELY different company.
What many forget is the legal implications. A friend used an "illegal" taxi in a GCC country. The taxi was involved in an accident. The friend was held part responsible and since the driver did not have insurance, had to pay from his pocket.
And seeing as most of the big and most important businesses are monopolies they can get away with appalling customer service and sky high price's!
Just look at how Qatar controls the price of tickets for every airline that fly's to Qatar to ensure that Qatar Airways is a similar price. The Civil Aviation Authority even banned Emirates from doing a sale in Qatar....
Most businesses here are legal monopolies, it's how you concentrate money, power and favours in the hands of the very few.
Who cares about some expat standing in the sun waiting for a taxi, but illegal taxis reduce the revenue of Karwa and hence the expense accounts of the owners. Best to use the govt forces to get the illegal taxis off the street and force people back to Karwa even if they have to wait hours.
If you did a poll of people who actually USE taxis, and asked them to fix the mess that is Karwa, or fix the mess that is illegal taxis, I'm pretty sure that most, or may all, people would say that the problem that needs to be fixed is Karwa.
Amazing that in Dubai, their taxi service is ranked 3rd in the world. THIRD!!!!
i agree in principle about penalizing those flouting the laws..however, in practice, the authorities would do well to first set the legal public transport system straight before they address the symptom. The messed up and very few in number legal taxis are the disease which the underground taxis are a symptom of. Deploy enough legal cabs with reasonable fares and no one would look for a private cab.
What I can't work out is here is an article from today's paper saying that taxi drivers are soliciting for passengers with fares to Al Khor for 20 Riyals. But if you want to take a taxi from Villagio to Ramada they will charge you 30.
This stuff about how the taxi drivers are 'struggling' to pay their daily rent of QR265 sounds like a huge lie to me. They are just thieves, stealing money from passengers who have no choice but to use the taxis.
And now that there are 200 fewer private taxis on the roads, they will be able to steal even more.
“Illegal workers are a threat to social security”. Lol. I totally agree. Sometimes I can't sleep at night. I lie in bed, all night long, terrified about the impact of illegal workers to social security.
I guess now that they are sending the message to unemployed visa absconders that driving a car for 10 riyals a trip isn't safe, they can go back to begging, stealing and cheating.
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There is only one illegal Taxi in Qatar... and that is KARWA. Recently they painted the top Maroon and started a new office so they become "2nd Taxi fleet operator".
Everything about Karwa is illegal.
1. They have GPS they dont use it.
2. The Drivers are unfit to drive Taxi (as they dont know the way).
3. They manipulate the meters at will with the fricking "1" & "0" charge.
4. The price for petrol Vs the price for ride is completely absurd (compare it with other countries) and expensive by 10 times.
5. Karwa have few cars... so they are not even eligible to be called "Taxi Fleet Operator" I guess Budget Rent a Car has more car in their fleet than Karwa EVER had.
6. Many Karwa Taxi drivers have molested women traveling alone(when they find the women have had a drink or two).
7. Karwa drivers trick people into taking the longer route.
8. Al Million Taxi & Drivers are rented from Karwa indirectly... this is completely illegal for fleet owners operating as a COMPLETELY different company.
I could really keep going...
What many forget is the legal implications. A friend used an "illegal" taxi in a GCC country. The taxi was involved in an accident. The friend was held part responsible and since the driver did not have insurance, had to pay from his pocket.
so, "Insurance" ... is the buzzword here.
Well said QDC
And seeing as most of the big and most important businesses are monopolies they can get away with appalling customer service and sky high price's!
Just look at how Qatar controls the price of tickets for every airline that fly's to Qatar to ensure that Qatar Airways is a similar price. The Civil Aviation Authority even banned Emirates from doing a sale in Qatar....
Most businesses here are legal monopolies, it's how you concentrate money, power and favours in the hands of the very few.
Who cares about some expat standing in the sun waiting for a taxi, but illegal taxis reduce the revenue of Karwa and hence the expense accounts of the owners. Best to use the govt forces to get the illegal taxis off the street and force people back to Karwa even if they have to wait hours.
that's a good point you make; however, that's not a good way to make a good point
Exactly, QDC.
If you did a poll of people who actually USE taxis, and asked them to fix the mess that is Karwa, or fix the mess that is illegal taxis, I'm pretty sure that most, or may all, people would say that the problem that needs to be fixed is Karwa.
Amazing that in Dubai, their taxi service is ranked 3rd in the world. THIRD!!!!
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-taxis-third-best-in-world-says-study-483362.html
Whereas we have to put up with the crap Karwa service from hell, in the "richest country on Earth".
None of you get it, it's about protecting a legal monolopy so the people owning the taxis can make a fortune.
i agree in principle about penalizing those flouting the laws..however, in practice, the authorities would do well to first set the legal public transport system straight before they address the symptom. The messed up and very few in number legal taxis are the disease which the underground taxis are a symptom of. Deploy enough legal cabs with reasonable fares and no one would look for a private cab.
What I can't work out is here is an article from today's paper saying that taxi drivers are soliciting for passengers with fares to Al Khor for 20 Riyals. But if you want to take a taxi from Villagio to Ramada they will charge you 30.
This stuff about how the taxi drivers are 'struggling' to pay their daily rent of QR265 sounds like a huge lie to me. They are just thieves, stealing money from passengers who have no choice but to use the taxis.
And now that there are 200 fewer private taxis on the roads, they will be able to steal even more.
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/221065-cabbies-solicit-passengers-at-bus-station.html
all f them shud be caught.. they charge higher even if they are illegal here..
Hang em!
Hang em High!
lol fubar.
“Illegal workers are a threat to social security”. Lol. I totally agree. Sometimes I can't sleep at night. I lie in bed, all night long, terrified about the impact of illegal workers to social security.
I guess now that they are sending the message to unemployed visa absconders that driving a car for 10 riyals a trip isn't safe, they can go back to begging, stealing and cheating.
yes n the disease is wanted in every country
most illegal workers and taxis are usually Indian.
Typical, one rule for Qataris and different one for expats and monkeys.
dont know qatari but many australians
How many were Qatari?
no wonder rizks is missing ard ql