IT may be the season for goodwill toward other people but that does not mean you should completely let your guard down and be less vigilant.
My friend invited a dozen of her closest and dearest to a dinner party in a well-known restaurant that has managed to maintain its good reputation for decades despite a change of ownership. But the convivial evening was almost ruined when, at the end of the meal, my friend found out that the restaurant staff?she thinks the waiters did it?padded her bill by adding a few pricey main courses that were not ordered.
Fortunately, her niece discovered the discrepancy. If she did not, they would have paid almost P2,000 for items none of the guests ordered. Needless to say, the waiters claimed it was all an honest mistake.
The moral of the story is when you dine out this holiday season, and even after, whether it is in a fancy restaurant or a fast-food joint, make sure you check your bill closely and carefully to ensure you are paying only for the things you actually ordered and consumed.
Bus and taxi receipts
Reader Earl Victor Rosero wants to share a happy trip he had.
?Many months ago, I took a bus from Baclaran to Tagaytay City to visit my friends at the seminary of the Society of the Divine Word. While on the bus, I was pleased to learn that the bus [was] already using a handheld PDA-like (personal digital assistant) device that printed out a ticket, which served as a receipt. The printout had the TIN (tax information number) and details of the bus trip: time of issue of ticket, destination, fare, etc.
?Just last week, [another] bus I took from Tandang Sora to EDSA-Kamuning (in Quezon City) also had a similar PDA-like device, but the receipt it issued was a bit different and smaller.
?The LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) and the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) should mandate its use because it is one effective way to collect more taxes from the transport sector.
?Finally, we will know how much these firms really earn. The bus and taxi firms also benefit because the data from those devices can be mined (gathered, collected and analyzed) to generate valuable information that will help improve or make their operations efficient and thereby [help] cut costs. Commuters will welcome [the devices] because they will have receipts they can use for tax purposes and reimbursement of expenses.?
I know that Xaviervillle, one of the newer taxi companies, installed meters already capable of issuing receipts. The drivers volunteered this information on the few occasions I took the company?s cabs.
And speaking of taxis, I am glad to see that several of the newer units now have the meter at eye level. I hope the LTFRB will make this a requirement?having the meter where the passenger can readily read it?in registering new taxis.
Going back to an earlier column about being safe in a taxi, I forgot to mention that, if you think you do not have the right fare like the coed who had a harrowing experience, call someone in your destination to have the money ready. A mobile phone may be an annoyance sometimes but it also offers a lot of conveniences so take advantage of them.
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail lbolido@inquirer.com.ph.
