Rude bumboat service at Changi ferry terminal
Straits Times Forum 7 Mar 09;
LAST month, I boarded a bumboat at Changi ferry terminal and had to put up with rude service by the steersman, just because I did not have the exact fare.
I handed him $10 for the $2.50 fare. He told me to leave, mouthing vulgar insults at the same time, if I did not have the exact fare.
I am a frequent ferry commuter to Pulau Ubin and this is not the first time I have encountered such rude service. Other customers are treated the same way, including tourists visiting the island.
Do the authorities conduct checks on bumboat operators and crew? Or are such services always overlooked and compromised?
Jervis Lim
Some comments left on the ST online website to this letter:
"The requirement to have the exact fare is posted on the a sign board somewhere near the jetty.
The reasons for using a exact fare with no change offer are many, but I guesss some of them will be:
1. Safety, if the steermans keep changing fare with passengers wil he have time to steer the boat?
2. Saving time, same argument, do you want to waste time at the jetty for everyone to get their change before the boat leave.
Even on our buses if you pay cash you need exact fare.
This is all in the interest of efficiency.
So next time you take a bumboat again get the exact fare."
Posted by: novicereporter at Sat Mar 07 20:19:55 SGT 2009
"Aiyah Jervis Lim, hire or buy yourself a luxury yatch complete with crew so you need not have to put up with these steersmen. Get the exact fare in future. Be considerate. I do not find them rude."
Posted by: Melifont at Sat Mar 07 09:16:23 SGT 2009
"You said this is not the first time you are encountering this. In the past also you probably faced it. Then why it didnot occur to you to bring correct change? You people never learn lesson, uh..? If everybody produces a $ 10 note for $ 2.50 ticket where will the guy go for change?
Posted by: unewokle at Sat Mar 07 08:44:16 SGT 2009"
See also Ubin bumboat and rude visitors on the wild shores of singapore blog.
