Horrible Karwa driver!

DebK - your first paragraph is spot on. Having seen my husband for all of 6 hours during the weekend due to him being at work to meet deadlines and starting a whole new working week tomorrow, well Karwa taxi drivers are expats just like us and the FIFO, applies!

I have lived in Qatar for three years now and I do not drive here as I spend my time between Doha and Saudi Arabia so it is not worthwhile having a car here. During my first 12mths here I used Karwa on a daily basis for work purposes and I got used to the fact that they would turn up an hour late or not turn up at all. Then I came to my senses and begun to call a limo company which proved to be much more reliable (no suprise there) Three weeks ago I caught a Karwa from Landmark to Al Waab area and he took me on the longest route possible home and drove like he was in a F1 race. There was a time where I had no idea where he was and he said neither did he. Once I could see the Aspire Tower I felt a little more confident that he knew where he was going. But it was the driving that bothered me more than anything - for the first time in Doha I actually feared for my life in this taxi. I have since laid a complaint - but I am sure it fell on deaf ears. The following day I was at Villagio and just wanting to go not far down the road I was refused a ride by five Karwa drivers before one would take me. I am aware of the minimum charge that now applies and this was no problem. But the drivers are refusing passengers who only want to go a short distance. These drivers are setting their own prices just to meet their daily amount of what they pay for the car. How will it look when the 2022 visitors are here and Karwa drivers are refusing to take passengers because they only want to go a short distance. Qatar is trying to promote their country as a tourist destination - what with no public transport readily available I don't think so.

Before one feels too sorry about the wages that the Karwa drivers make, you need to remember that even though their wages may be low by the standards of other countries they are making good money compared to what they would have the opportunity to make if they were to stay in their own home countries. They have come here for the same reasons that many of the rest of us have: the ability to earn more than we can in our own country. Secondly, when someone accepts a job they also accept the offered wage. If they're not happy with the offered wage than they should never have accepted the position in the first place. Therefore, the amount one earns should not determine the effort they put in to their job. Kiwispiers -- I too take Karwa taxis frequently as I don't have a car. The "horrible" drivers are not the majority. By horrible I mean rude and other outrageous behaviours. There are a high number of them that try to set the meter to the incorrect rate. I kept track of it for a month out of curiousity and about 80% of them tried to get away with setting the meter at "0" instead of "1." The majority of those though when called on it would quickly change it to 1, and about 1/4 of those would try telling me it was the "same." Here's the thing though, if they try to initially overcharge me by setting the meter incorrectly then I'm not going to be inclined to tip them. They will end up getting exactly what the meter says. However, if they set the meter correctly and help to put groceries in and out of the car, then they will receive a nice tip. I'm sure that there are others out there who feel the same way, and therefore their attempts at deception truly only ends up hurting themselves. You would think they would realize that if they approached the situation with honesty then they would earn more profit.

Either you ladies have been unlucky or I have been very lucky. I use Karwa cabs all the time (have done for 2 years) and the men are always polite, use the correct rate, tell me about their families back home, show me pictures even, always carry my pram and groceries to the door, even carry my baby in his capsule. I have only ever had one bad experience where the guy didn't turn the meter on. I just paid what it would usually cost minus the tip and left him unimpressed. Not to discount your bad experience, it sounds awful but I don't think they are bad in general so don't be too put off (and do complain to Karwa if you have a bad experience). My only complaint is the filthy state of many of the cabs and the fact that the rank at Villagio has been closed which is typical Doha logic with the cabs now holding up all the other traffic while people get in outside the entrance.

Sorry Baffled, thought you might not be aware of how it works - no offense meant.

The taxi system in Doha is one of the many things which needs sorting out pre 2022. Competition(heaven forbid) may even improve the service they feel the need to provide! Given the appauling wages the drivers reportedly get, it is however hardly surprising they are tempted to diddle the meter. Maybe another issue to be sorted by 2022 - migrant worker conditions, in the richest per capita country in the world - discuss! That said, there is no excuse anywhere for poor service.

I thought Karwa was state-owned?

Marycatherine, point taken - no need to antagonise any more than you need to!

I doubt if the Sheikh who owns Karwa would have allowed you to compete anyways. That's why there's only one taxi company here.

Marycatherine & Wuffles, I guess that's business idea out of the window then :(!

Be careful what you wish for Baffled, they do have a ladies only taxi service (or did) in Dubai. If you think the fellas are surly and uncooperative - try putting a sourpussed cow behind the wheel. I tried them a couple of times, went back to using the regular cabs. The other problem is the ladies have restricted times and places they can drive to-and one is the airport-which is a bit problematic as they often won't help with putting heavy suitcases in or out-otherwise have had no problems with their driving or attitude

Be careful what you wish for Baffled, they do have a ladies only taxi service (or did) in Dubai. If you think the fellas are surly and uncooperative - try putting a sourpussed cow behind the wheel. I tried them a couple of times, went back to using the regular cabs.

You know ladies, the more I read about the performance of some Karwa drivers, the more I feel that we need a taxi service for ladies only with female drivers only. Sadly, the time it will take to set it up and get all the paper work sorted, we would have reached retirement age :(. There is definitely a need for it!

I had just about a bellyfull of Karwa taxi drivers yesterday, why oh why are they always trying to rip me off? All I wanted to do was get home after a bit of shopping in Villagio and it took me 3 attempts so here goes my rant. 1st Karwa cab I asked him to change the meter from 0 to 1 which is the Doha daytime rate to which he insisted, "No no, same same" after a few minutes I got out and walked back to where I started at Villagio entrance. Happy Bird, I've had Karwa drivers use the line "same, same" with me. My response is always: "If it's the same, then you won't mine changing it to 1 to make me happy." I myself had another doozie of a Karwa driver from Landmark the other day after work. He told me it was my "lucky day" and that he would only charge me 25 QAR. I told him he was even luckier because I would let him use the meter and I'd pay him what it says. (It only cost me 14 QAR to get to where I was going.) However, I made the mistake of paying him before I got out of the vehicle. As soon as I got out he started to pull away with all my groceries still in the trunk of the car! If I hadn't started yelling and waving my arms, and the security guard in my apartment building hadn't come out I think the driver would have been gone with my groceries. So from now on, they don't get any money until I've gotten out of the car and retrieved any packages I might have. Live and learn!

ladies, you must not let those guys intimidate you. IF you get into a car, tell them what to do in no uncertain terms, and tell them to go where you want to go. If they give you trouble, get your mobile out , take a pic of them and their registration tell them you'll talk to their boss. See, if they see you being intimidated or uncertain, they will use that to their advantage. all this does not sound nice or civilized, but sometimes it it necessary to put your foot down. after all, all you want is a service they are offering.

I had just about a bellyfull of Karwa taxi drivers yesterday, why oh why are they always trying to rip me off? All I wanted to do was get home after a bit of shopping in Villagio and it took me 3 attempts so here goes my rant. 1st Karwa cab I asked him to change the meter from 0 to 1 which is the Doha daytime rate to which he insisted, "No no, same same" after a few minutes I got out and walked back to where I started at Villagio entrance. 2nd Karwa cab I asked again to change the meter from 0 to 1 then he began to tut and huff and puff.Then he pulled over at the side of the mall, got out of the car, looked around, totally ignored me when he got back in and then spoke into his radio.I asked if he had another passenger to pick up and should I get out to which he said yes.So yes, there I was again back outside the same entrance where I had originally stood.By this time it was getting a little like Grounhog Day and I was getting very hot and bothered not to mention very angry. 3rd Karwa cab had the wrong rate set on the meter again and I kept insisting he changed till in the end he said just give me what you usually pay.I watched the meter tick over 25 riyals every 8-10 seconds so it was way over what it should have been by the time I reached home but I just paid what I thought fair as I was to tired to bother any more.I took all 3 taxi numbers down but judging by what one of the other ladies said, it seems pointless to phone so I will send an E mail as Kados suggests and see where I get. I feel so much better now for that rant, sorry everyone but it really gets me riled every time I get in a blue cab and have to do battle.I just want a quiet life and be able to get from A to B when I want!

I had the exact same experiences when I first arrived in Doha and was yet to get a hire car. I am so relieved I don't have to take Karwa very often now. Everytime I would have to have an argument with the driver to turn the meter on. I wrote a complaint to Karwa by fax. I got a sympathetic email in return. Write to Mohammed Khoga [email protected].

Thanks for the update Maple, am so sorry that no one has dealt properly with your complaint. Utterly pathetic (and more than a bit frustrating too!!!) And thank you for alerting us EW ladies, you absolutely did the right thing there :)

Hi Maple, I was wondering if you had any update on this??

I second Blini on this - if my husband fails to follow an instruction given to him by his manager at the office and to make matters worse, turns abusive towards the latter and threatens not to come to work, not to do any work, etc, etc ... I think we all know how his employer will react. It is not because a taxi driver probably does not earn very much, has a family to support, etc, that he should feel that he is above the law and can do anything that he wants to a female passenger on her own, at that time of the night and therefore vulnerable. No Maple, your duty is first and foremost towards yourself. Good luck in what you decide to do.

Let's for moment forget that we are in Qatar, that he may be deported. If this happened in the UK or any of our home countries, we wouldn't hesitate to report someone for this behaviour. We have to get out of this way of thinking that we are somehow responsible for this man losing his job or being sent home. He is the only one responsible for that, which he seemed to ignore when he behaved like he did.

Maple, that must have been quite scary.. He had no right to treat you like that. Please go to the police. I don't care what his reasoning was, I would have been quite scared. Good on you for being strong and not taking his rubbish.

Gosh Maple, that is a truly awful experience for you :( You must report him to the police, otherwise the standard of Karwa is going to slide and leave more of us at risk from similar incidents. Even if he does get deported, so what? He obviously doesn't feel like he has much to lose, otherwise he wouldn't have acted like that.

DebK - QR10 is the minimum fare now as per newspaper article I posted a while back, so you did right in that sense. Maple, I am relieved you got away from the driver safely and unhurt. However, should you not have been able to get off when you did, it could have turned very nasty. So kindly, do not feel sorry for somebody who had no reservation about being rude and certainly causing you great anxiety at that time of the night when you were alone, please report him to the police not only for you but to ensure that somebody else does not have a worse experience with him, in future. So far, I think we all agree that Doha is relatively safe and we should not allow anybody to get away with that sort of behaviour which if not dealt with, can deteriorate.

I agree with Rachel. Her point 4 is the reason for that. He should never have moved his car if he had no intention of taking you to your destination. But to drive someone off late at night in the opposite direction is disgraceful. Imagine if it was your daughter or son this happened to? It might be someone's child next time, who wont be brave enough to open the door and get out. I would never use Karwa to be honest. When this company first started they were amazing, with polite drivers, neatly turned out who drove safely. Not anymore. I would say that 3 times out of 5, when I have to avoid a dangerous driver, it's a karwa. Don't even get me started on their bus drivers. Judging by the standard of the men they employ now, I would doubt a complaint will even reach the ears of the driver. *edited to add - when I say child, I mean teenager :) <em>edited by blini on 14/05/2011</em>

I think he did a few illegal things from what the OP wrote: 1. He told her he would not take her to her destination as it was too close. 2. He made up an inflated fare. 3. He refused to turn on the meter. 4. He threatened to take her far from her requested destination and began driving her in the opposite direction. I think you should report him to the police, and I don't say this lightly. He behaved in a completely unacceptable way.

First, I am in no way blaming you for the treatment you received from this driver but I do feel that this is a lesson for all of us that if the driver is "difficult" from the get go that we should not be getting in to the car at all. We had a similar experience with a Karwa driver last night that was also leaving from Landmark because we wanted to go to Lulu to pick up a few things. The driver actually snorted at us when we said where we wanted to go and he had already refused to take several passengers who were already lined up. Hubby just simply told him where we were going as he got into the car. I guess the driver decided that he wasn't going to argue with my husband and after taking a painfully long time to finish his cigarette got in the car and proceeded to Lulu. He didn't set the meter, and I was really tempted to point out to him that according to the sticker on the window if the meter isn't operational the trip was free (just to make a point) but hubby gave him his 10 QR. I am not sure that I would report the driver you had to the police as I don't think he technically did anything illegal, but I do understand why your husband is wanting to do this as it sounds as though you were travelling alone, and therefore I can understand that your husband is/was concerned about your safety. I would be interested in hearing how Karwa proceeds with your complaint.