ComfortDelGro taxi driver ‘dumps’ 88-year-old woman with dementia at the wrong place and leaves, charges S$30 for trip

A concerned daughter took to social media to highlight a taxi driver’s irresponsible behaviour after leaving her mother with dementia along with their new helper at Toh Tuck Drive instead of Toh Yi Drive.

Complaint Singapore Facebook page member Agnes Ho had booked a ComfortDelGro taxi on June 25 for her 88-year-old mother and their new helper. They were supposed to have lunch at her auntie’s house at Blk 7 Toh Yi Drive. “But the irresponsible driver dumped them at a wrong destination, Toh Tuck Drive, and left,” wrote Ms Ho.

“I monitored the journey on my mobile and noticed that the driver took a longer route before he went on to PIE (Pan-Island Expressway),” said Ms Ho.

Furthermore, she couldn’t reach the driver on his mobile number listed in the app.

Ms Ho then contacted a ComfortDelGro call centre operator, who later said that the driver dropped off the passengers at the intended destination.

“I told the operator to look at the route in their system and check where the ride ended; then she admitted it was wrong.”

Ms Ho and her cousin walked to Tok Tuck Drive to search for her mom and their helper. They eventually found them seated at a bus stop.

“The driver charged me S$30.33 for the journey. To the driver, ‘Do you have any conscience at all?’” she asked.

Members of the online community have since criticised the taxi driver’s behaviour, noting it was “totally unacceptable.”

“With the government educating the public about dementia patients…this cab driver still doing such a cruel act and being irresponsible,” said Facebook user Letts Shari.

“What (could have) happened if the daughter was not following the route to realise they were being dropped off?” she added.

“This kind of drivers are dangerous. His right to drive and have a driving licence should be compound for a term determined by the authority,” said Facebook user Patrick Awang.

Netizens urged Ms Ho to file a police report and ensure ComfortDelGro takes action.

Meanwhile, Facebook user Oliver Burton had a message to taxi drivers in general:

/TISG

Netizen says taxi drivers ‘show too much attitude’ and ‘just want to hire drunkards with long distance on Friday night!’