How To Avoid Getting Overcharged in The Philippines

[@TheSavvyExpat]

✈ 1-1 EXPAT RELOCATION SERVICES (APPLY HERE): form.typeform.com/to/fFUWvL1I 🇵🇭 FREE 15 STEP CHECKLIST FOR MOVING TO PHILIPPINES: dedicated-inventor-8723.ck.page/f816fe345b

[@DDucksOne]

This happened to me when my wife and I were in the Philippines last month. She needed a lawyer to fix an error on some vital records. She told my wife it would cost 75,000PHP. Then I walked into the office and the cost changed to 150,000PHP. We declined and found an honest lawyer who charged 30,000 PHP.

[@IB4U2Cme]

That is not skin tax. Those are government employees trying to charge for access to government.

[@DDucksOne]

@@IB4U2Cme well I don’t understand why the price all of a suddenly increased to ₱150,000 once I walked through the door. I was waiting outside until it was time to pay. The lawyer we hired has the same need and access to the government and only charged ₱30,000.

[@IB4U2Cme]

@@DDucksOne Like the guy who told me, it would be a terrible thing if something should happen to your application. These people pretend they are helping you and you are paying for their service. Your lawyer is considered the compensation. You do not understand that due process and rule of law is lacking.

[@sunmand6136]

@@DDucksOne It is called corruption. Even parasides have their flaws. As beautiful and Phillipines and Thailand are they are cursed with corruption.

[@DDucksOne]

@@sunmand6136 yeah I understand the corruption part what I’m just trying to say is skin tax does exist. Because my wife and her family can get in a taxi for a certain price. And she can get services for a certain price. But when I show up the price changes, that’s skin tax

[@AutisticMorty]

Yesterday I was walking in Makati. A taxi pull up and honk, I waived and got in. He didn't turn on the meter, wanted 200php to go down the street. I said "no, pull over, we're getting out." So he then turn on meter. Trip cost 65php. I paid him 85php and he got mad, ask me why I didn't give him 200php, said he wouldn't have picked me up if he knew I would use meter. I laughed, and laughed, and laughed. His taxi was falling apart, no seatbelts, and he slammed the breaks hard 2 or 3 times during a trip going straight down one street. He is even the one who offered me a ride before I signalled for a taxi. What a dummy. And he tried to make me look like an idiot in front of my Filipina, so disrespect.

[@kennethsalstrom5542]

My last trip was four months. I usually asked a local how much a trike should cost. Lots of times my friends would tell me to wait outside so they pay less. One time a trike got a flat tire and they charged him double or triple to fix it because there was a foreigner in the car. I was renting an apartment in Manila for a couple of weeks. One time we took a trike to the Manila Zoo and it was 100 pesos. Coming back the trike driver said "whatever you want sir". boy was he surprised when I gave him only 100 pesos.

[@sdrsdr1176]

That's why I don't listed to foreigners trying advertised Philippines as a cheap living. Then go by it depends on location. You want CHEAP! Go Thailand, Vietnam. Cambodia or Laos. Housing is cheap & food. The only cheap in the Philippines is food. Maybe.

[@JimboandGhen]

Great info here. Thanks for the share!

[@EsthersMedia]

Philippines be still and be strong ❤God bless you all

[@alcab4855]

It’s also an accent tax. They charge you higher when they hear your accent. I’m Filipino but I got an American accent.

[@tollbridgeahead1034]

Then use your lolo’s accent, problem solved 😂

[@nandorblue]

Why not just sing Nanay tatay gusto Kong tinapay

[@jamesburns-u6t]

Thank you for the information and god bless you

[@mvttjacob]

Super valuable guide as always

[@TheSavvyExpat]

Salamat Jacob 🙏

[@garyhamilton9186]

Another great video Evan.

[@Keithsview898]

Yea I had this happen a few times, the taxi meter turned off during the ride. And after a trip I wanted a van to get back to the city, due to the bus I took to my destination was too small for me making the right uncomfortable(I'm 6'3). Me and my gf(Filipina) were told 1500php to later finding out every one else in the van were paying 600. It was a very trigging moment for my gf after and they refused to speak English to us.

[@sdrsdr1176]

Actually, it's not only the foreigners are being targeted. It's mostly the expats kababayan. Anyone coming from abroad has always been a target in the Philippines.

[@vidong1704]

Expat kababayans have the same face as the locals.

[@00Dahusalah2]

I believe what you're doing is brilliant. One day I forward toshaking your hand. Keep up the great work. Many blessings to you and your loved ones. Jah King Nine

[@cyndig1670]

So true! Watch out!

[@paxxop]

Great tips here! After only a few months in the Philippines I agree with everything you say. As for traveling with a local, the key word is "trustworthy". I once had a paid guide in Manila who turned out to be lazy and incompetent. By contrast, when with my good friend in the province, who I only knew online for a decade before my first trip to the Philippines, everything goes smoothly and nothing is too much trouble. A word of caution about taxi meters too. They can also be set to measure distance, not actual pesos. They won't automatically convert that to an actual price at the end of the ride. Fell for this once, paid about double what it should have cost. Was much cheaper than it would have been in my home country (the dollar mentality mistake) but being taken advantage like that still hurt.

[@larrye2679]

Maybe we should have a filipino traveler tax over here.

[@josepanicucci8591]

Even in Italy Italians charge more white English speaking foreigners (& Italians are also whites) therefore its not out of this world that such happens in PH where the locals are not whites (skin tax)

[@vidong1704]

Two wrongs do not make a right.

[@PassportDialectic]

Im Robert. I’m an Afro-American man, 44yrs old, clean criminal record, single, no kids, currently in Las Vegas receiving a pension of $3,737.85/ month. I received my passport last month. Although my 1st stop is CEBU July 23rd 2024, I’m considering IloIlo for long-term residence. Id like to submit for your services. I never want to come back to America. Can you help?

[@joshuarizalforeman816]

I go to the market stalls with my wife. I ask a price, she asks a price. If I get skin-taxed we go elsewhere. We bought our property directly from the sellers, no broker or agent. We offered a price and then came to an agreement. It is hardly rocket science.

[@tollbridgeahead1034]

For real man. This is not an issue. You can get overcharged anywhere

[@dean8087]

It's why I prefer Malaysia.

[@123456tyuhgfdse]

Ageee

[@sunmand6136]

But Isn't Malaysia Islamic and that comes with its own challenges?

[@mattdaman892000]

What is the best way to move funds to the Philippines? Last time my dad checked we were limited on the amount we were allowed to transfer.

[@Tron2002]

It's true! Listen to this. everyone.

[@nandorblue]

I got the feeling that the Philippines is a shark tank. If you don’t know how to swim with the sharks, you can end up their food.

[@MikeyCanuck123]

​@@matrices3987 - Make that *Catholic.

[@Ethan7s]

Bro, you can’t pass as a local? Even with that haircut?

[@hi-tych]

No, they can still tell. Like if an African or European comes to the states. I can tell before they open their mouth. 😂

[@tollbridgeahead1034]

He got undercharged this time.

[@tollbridgeahead1034]

😂😂😂

[@ExpatNTraining]

👍🏻👍🏻’s up!

[@vidong1704]

Trike drivers overcharged a Bangladeshi student. And his country is poorer than the Philippines.

[@williammaverick]

Hey Even, you sound sick. Are you ok?

[@BlutoBlutarski-z3v]

Just get your pinay gf/ wife to interact with vendors. When I am alone, and I think I am being overcharged, I ask them if they have a better price. If it is not significantly lowered, I send my wife the next day to get it at a lower price.

[@MrRight-fu1gf]

Exact reason I don’t leave the house without my wife. Don’t believe that bullshit they know English. I had her help me with translation when I needed to get back home. She was angry and didn’t go to the hospital with me. Did show up for my surgery.

[@119jle]

My 29 yr old spouse handles negotiations and tips. They try and rip her off and she becomes a 100lb firecracker swearing in five dialects they understand.

[@michaeloherlihy2418]

Hi Savvy I am going back to Manila Feb 26 2025

[@sgtusa90]

HOW DO EXPATs PAY RENT in PH ( Cash- INTERNET Pymt & ETC ) ???

[@briangc1972]

Either you convert cash and pay cash, wire transfer to a GCash account, or open a bank account to transfer to it then transfer to GCash or use debit. Most US banks do not wire transfer Internationally. There are third party companies you can access via the internet. Google transfer USD to Philippines, pic one and set it up before leaving the states. You can't set it up once you are here.

[@brucehuddler7518]

@@briangc1972most pay cash, always get a receipt keeping them in order.

[@AutisticMorty]

Create a Wise account. Then you can easily send money to Maya or Gcash or PH bank account. You can also create a Maya account, confirm registration with a foreign passport, and order a Maya visa; now you can transfer from Wise and withdraw cash for 18php at the ATM. Instead of paying 250php using foreign card + your bank fees.

[@michaeloherlihy2418]

Would you like to meet up for coffee in bgc march 8

[@user-bg2ig5xc3e]

2025??😮

[@commonsenseisntcommon1776]

Hot, humid, massive poverty, pollution......etc etc

[@queerfusion]

We know that. And?…

[@commonsenseisntcommon1776]

@achtungphilippines -I'm happy in America, like I said, I hate the Govt. You can love your Country and hate the Govt.

[@commonsenseisntcommon1776]

I was in the Navy, so I visited PI a lot.

[@RollinCoco-Nut]

Noise, you forgot noise. Lots, and lots of noise!

[@nat0106951]

basically like LA. or california or new york except its 20x more expensive 🤷🏽🤣

[@Ken-bz7kj]

Philippines is no longer cheap don’t lie 😂

[@TheSocioPat7786]

This can be a non-issue only if you are intelligent enough to make it one.

[@opsecclassified6469]

Are you sick today my friend?

[@hi-tych]

Nah, bro working too much and not relaxing that voice of his.

[@ljd5120]

Evan is so damn cute!

[@tollbridgeahead1034]

Just ask for estimates or quotes first. What’s the big brouhaha? This is not even an issue.

[@tollbridgeahead1034]

Pare! You underpaid your barber! Go back and overpay him pronto!

[@ChristopherSwartz-f1f]

You are rude ..try having some manners

[@tollbridgeahead1034]

@@ChristopherSwartz-f1f he’s a big boy now, he doesn’t need your help. He’s gonna be alright.

[@FRANCISPOLLARD-r3p]

I just got the hell out if the Philippines, and will never go back. In Vietnam with my friends, then home. They are racist, arrogant and beggars. The women are nice to you, but watch out. The list goes on and on. I got sick with flu 3 times from them caughing in my face. I got a skin infection from the bathing water, which is filthy well water in most cities. Had it for 2 months. Got to HCMC, VN, and immediately got better each day, with anti-biotics. No prescription and a lot 7:28 cheaper.