By Myris Lee
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has deployed “mystery riders” to catch Joyride drivers charging “excessively.”
In the June 4 Laging Handa briefing, LTFRB Director Maria Kristina Cassion said the agency deployed “mystery riders” to catch transport network companies charging excessive fares beyond the set structure.
Cassion said one of its “mystery riders” tried booking a ride with Joyride without a priority boarding fee and no one accepted his ride, but when he tried to add a boarding fee, the driver immediately accepted it.
“‘Yung isang mystery rider natin ay nag-try mag book na hindi magbayad ng priority boarding fee pero it took him awhile and wala talaga driver na kumuha ng kanyang booking, but when he tried to have the priority booking at nagbayad siya ng P100, agad na may driver na kumuha ng kanyang booking at the destination,” Cassion said.
The driver, who overcharged their mystery rider, was arrested in the pinned drop-off location, according to Cassion.
On May 24, LTFRB wrote a letter to Joyride, asking the ride-hailing app to explain why its accreditation as a transport network company should not be suspended or revoked within 10 days from the receipt of the show cause order.
Cassion said the punishment for the violation of Joyride will be evaluated by their board.
“We will be submitting to the board kasi ‘yung ating validation on the ground through the mystery rider and the apprehension. The board will assess kung anong penalty,” she added. – gb
