Assaulted by a cab driver?

[canuk cpl]

i was only ever tempted to to get in a white plate offering a ride once, but i told the driver thanks but my parents taught me never to get in a car with strangers, plus we were only walking down seastar lane to LTU. I think we would all be safer if we used the good advise offered by Rob, the seasoned visitors to the places we like to visit , remember the wisdom passed down by our elders, and listened to our gut. Thanks again Rob for inviting to give Karen and I a lift, the only car I ride in is one with someone I trust. Cheers!

[Maryann]

Lol, Rob! Didn't mean to make light of either, but bad things happen to good people, and not necessarily because they didn't do their research. Sounds like these ladies had visited Negril many times.

[lisapat]

Hope I didn't stir up a hornet's nest posting/sharing this TA review....just figured it warranted some discussion......interesting...is it just me, or when you go back to page 1 of this thread and click the link(or browse through several pages of Coco reviews)..the review is GONE?....hell I don't see it anymore....I thought that TA didn't remove reviews, or at least didn't post them if they didn't like em

[Blake]

I thought that TA didn't remove reviews, or at least didn't post them if they didn't like em

TA isn't the bastion of freedom of speech people think it is, I've had multiple reviews removed that were both fair and extremely detailed, and they're known for allowing hotels to game the system.

Heck in the UK they've banned Trip Adviser from stating their reviews are real:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...-are-real.html

My guess is TA removed the review because it didn't "review" the hotel and thus wasn't valid.

I'm just curious but do the police or Jamaican authorities crack down on "cab drivers" that don't have red plates?

[Bnewb]

I'm just curious but do the police or Jamaican authorities crack down on "cab drivers" that don't have red plates?

Yes, they do crackdown on illegal "cab drivers"...but unfortunately like anywhere, there are always those that try to sneak around the system. They also check red & white plate drivers quite regularly to make sure they are legal to be driving on the roads....these are called spot checks.

[garysteph1018]

Dang.. it is gone! Interesting!!!

[Bnewb]

Yup...review has been pulled off TA! Hmmm...interesting!!!

[dash]

Wow Blake, I don.'t doubt that they have removed many of your reviews. As in the Telegraph byline you omit the word " all" They are banned from saying that ALL their reviews are real.All their reviews cannot be verified they are an open forum for travellers critique and can be manipulated by unscrupulous subscribers. Tripadvisor is still a good way to research a destination and you can usually pick out the frauds. By saying that T.A allows hotels to game the system suggests that they condone it. They do not. The open reviewing system that allows honest comment unfortunately leaves the door open for self serving reviews.

[Weathermon & Mi Lady]

I complained to Trip Adviser yesterday about this report and that it didn't belong in a review of a property that had nothing to do with it. Apparently, they agreed and pulled the comments.

[Bnewb]

Always wondered who complained to TA, Weathemon...!

The concerns that I have...
...that this excellent reminder to everyone to use common sense & caution even when on vacation...has sadly turned into an internet fiasco with reviews & threads being shut down on TA.
...the validity of it being a red plate or not...the original poster has never stated it was a red plate, it only comes as second hand information & still appears questionable....
...also, that someone is now saying on TA there was an attack in March with a red plated driver...which is completely untrue if they're referring to the widely discussed incident that happened earlier this year. Unless there's one I don't know about...but I live here & there's not much you don't find out in this very small town.


Unless your extremely knowledgeable of the transportation system here (ie. live here) and have no desire to throw caution to the wind....it is always best to have your own/recommended driver(s) that you can call anytime or have the establishment you're visiting call a driver for you....then they'll at least know who you're riding with.
The pennies you're going to save by hopping into route cabs or strange vehicles...is simply not worth the risk.