I HAVE noticed an increase in touting by cabbies, especially drivers of white Mercedes limousines and silver Sonatas.

They can be seen at the Harbour Front taxi rank or accosting people as they come out of immigration, touting limousine rides at special prices.

I am an expat and live in the Dover Road area. When I approached a cab and asked what the fare was, I was told it was $20. I declined politely.

The driver then approached an Indonesian family - consisting of two adults and two children - with four bags. I overheard the driver say 'No problem, we can give you a special price and two cars'.

Through a friend of mine, who speaks fluent Bahasa, we told the Indonesians to decline as they were being ripped off. The family thanked us and went to the taxi rank. The drivers got agitated and angry.

The latest incident occurred on Wednesday night at Boat Quay. My client was in town and we went there for dinner. When it came time to leave, there were many Mercedes limousines and cabs from Silvercab parked at the roadside waiting for passengers. Asked where we were going, I said my friend was going to the Mandarin at Suntec. The price quoted was $15. For myself heading to Dover Road they demanded $25. None would agree to charge by the meter.

I went to the taxi rank on South Bank Road near OCBC Bank where 10 Mercedes cabbies stopped and asked me where I was going. The price quoted was either $25 or $10 plus the meter fare. There were five of us waiting at the taxi rank but no cabby would agree to charge by the meter. This does not give a good impression of Singapore to visitors.

Maybe personnel from the taxi companies should go to these tourist places and see for themselves how visitors are getting ripped off.

What can be done to eliminate this problem of touting? I recommend that errant drivers have their licences suspended. There doesn't appear to be any other deterrent.