The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has received an anonymous complaint against JoyRide, a ride-hailing app provider, claiming that it is overcharging passengers for as much as P1,000 per booking.
In a now-deleted statement sent via Viber, a copy of which was already saved by the BusinessMirror, the LTFRB said JoyRide was charging passengers a “priority boarding fee,” which could easily rise up to P1,000.
The LTFRB then reposted a different statement on Viber, saying that it has sent letters to all other transport network companies (TNCs), reminding them to have their transport network vehicle service (TNVS) providers—more commonly referred to as peers of partners—to follow the fare matrix listed under a 2019 memorandum circular.
Under the said memo, sedan-type TNVS are allowed to charge the following: P40 flag down rate, P15 per kilometer rate, and P2 per minute travel rate. Premium cars are allowed the following: P50 flag down rate, P18 per kilometer rate, and P2 per minute travel rate. Lastly, hatchback or sub-compact type TNVS have P30 flagdown rate, a P13 per kilometer fare rate, and P2 per minute travel fare.
“Based on an anonymous complaint submitted to the LTFRB, it was found that a TNC was charging as much as P1,000 representing one-way ride due to what is called ‘Priority Boarding Fee.’ The LTFRB is currently investigating the said complaint,” LTFRB Executive Director Tina Cassion said.
She explained that the agency revised the earlier statement as it “saw it fit to already write all TNCs warning them against the imposition of excessive fare contrary to current guidelines on TNVS fares.” Screenshots of booking requests with JoyRide’s priority fee were also secured by the BusinessMirror from a credible source.
Based on one of the four screenshots, a 9.9-kilometer trip from an All Day Convenience Store in Las Piñas to Concentrix Philippines Office in Alabang originally costs P139 for the “trip fare.” However, the total fare went up to P1,139 due to another line item called “priority fee” on the fare breakdown.
Sought for comment, JoyRide SVP for Corporate Affairs Noli Eala belied the claims of LTFRB, saying that “JoyRide is completely unaware of any such findings made by the LTFRB up to this date.”
“What is factually known to us is that JoyRide was requested to explain by the LTFRB on May 24, 2022 the so-called vague and unclear allegations of an anonymous complaint for a supposed P1,000 fare, the details of which including points of pickup and drop-off, were totally omitted and unexplained,” Eala said.
However, he acknowledged that JoyRide does provide an “optional” priority fee “that customers can freely add to the total fare of the booking. It is an industry used term and practice in case a customer would like to tip or incentivize a driver-partner in advance.”
“JoyRide would like to reassure the riding public, our driver-partners and our regulators that JoyRide will always comply and follow the terms and conditions of the certificate granted to us as a bona fide Transport Network company,” he said. -30-