Grab, which is facing investigations for alleged abuses of its customers, yesterday failed to attend a hearing set by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regarding the ride-hailing firm’s controversial surge fee.
The LTFRB sent an invitation to Grab after receiving complaints from commuters of being charged with surge fees even in ordinary hours. The surge fee is supposedly applied only during rush hours.
Grab was asked by the LTFRB to explain the surge fee controversy, but the company’s representatives were a no-show in yesterday’s scheduled hearing.
Grab has yet to react to the issue as of posting time.
A radio station anchorman also complained to the LTFRB that his regular fare for a Grab taxi was supposed to be P180 only but was made to pay P200 plus due to surge fee, although it was not yet a rush hour.
The LTFRB assured the complainants and commuters yesterday it would diligently investigate the issue and immediately produce a solution to protect the riding public, which is already overburdened by the inflated cost of basic commodities.
Lawyer Ariel Inton, president of Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection (LCSP) also appealed for the immediate action of the LTFRB against “the abuses of Grab,” especially this holiday season, as ridership increases.
Inton also questioned Grab’s “automatic” fare increase to P85 even if it’s only for a short trip.
“Dapat isubpoena ng LTFRB ang Grab para ipaliwanag nila kung bakit may nakakarga agad na P85 sa short trip gayung wala naman yan pahintulot sa LTFRB (LTFRB must subpoena Grab to clarify how they came up with an P85 fare on a short trip, which is not authorized by the LTFRB,)” Inton stressed.
Inton appealed to the riding public to immediately report to the LTFRB “if they fell victim to Grab’s abuses.”