Social media user says P200,000 camera taken away by delivery rider
A social media user accused a rider of delivery service app Lalamove of taking away his camera worth P200,000.
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Cyrus Joshua Bon said that he was supposed to send his DSLR camera and bag to his friend on the morning of Nov. 18 via Lalamove for convenience. Bon instructed the rider, a certain Rizalino Garcia, to just return the bag to him if the friend doesn't respond. He also offered to double the fee. “Okay naman sa kanya,” he recalled.
But things got sketchy when the delivery was completed in 20 minutes, even if it was bound for Novaliches. Bon is from Pasay.
Bon called his friend to confirm but said they didn’t receive anything. “I still was able to contact the rider and that time, on the way pa lang daw siya doon,” he said. “Sabi niya kay Tish (friend) na nadeliver na raw and nung sinabi ni Tish na mali ‘yung dineliveran, nagsabi si rider ng ‘Ay,’ at saka binaba niya ‘yung tawag.”
Bon tried calling Garcia, who supposedly told him he was delivering something else first in another place.
While he first gave the benefit of the doubt since “double booking” is a practice of some riders who wish to earn more, Bon said his suspicions were confirmed when Garcia allegedly blocked Tish after Tish sent several text messages about the camera.
Bon said he was still able to talk to Garcia, promising to pay him for the entire day as long as he’d return the item. Garcia allegedly told him he was still in Fairview and then in Commonwealth, headed back to Novaliches.
“I even asked my friend to come over and bantayan ‘yung unit ko just in case bumalik si rider,” Bon said.
But hours passed, and Garcia still hadn’t arrived. Garcia then allegedly blocked Bon later on.
Bon said he reached out to Lalamove for help and assistance, but to no avail. “It irritated me kasi they kept on closing my live chat with the agent even if nasa app lang naman nila ako,” he said, adding that it took him hours to finally be able to talk to an agent to air his grievances.
Bon said they checked the closed-circuit television footage in his area until the early morning of Nov. 19.
On Nov. 21, Bon visited Lalamove’s headquarters in Parañaque, accompanied by his mother from Bicol. He, however, claimed that the management told him it would exercise its “best effort” to resolve his case and reimburse him P2,000. The amount is based on Lalamove's terms and conditions when it comes to liability.
“It felt so offensive and insensitive,” he said, noting it only covers his mother’s bus ticket.
Bon said he also tried talking to the driver management but was being redirected to customer service.
Bon told L!fe he also got a message from a Facebook account named Rizalino Garcia, who claimed his account got hacked. The latter, Bon alleged, called him on the phone on Nov. 22 and asked him to take down his already-viral post. “I told him I reserve my rights until my lawyer is contacted,” he said, noting he was “intrigued” since he got a call even if he didn’t send out any number. Bon claimed the account owner also threatened to sue him.
Later in the day, Bon said he got a call from an alleged representative of Lalamove but with no caller ID. The caller supposedly offered him P50,000, but Bon said he declined it.
Lalamove condemns rider over alleged theft
Jean Aquino, Lalamove's public relations lead, told L!fe that they "strongly condemn this untoward behavior of the partner driver, which is against the principles and values that Lalamove upholds."
According to her, Garcia has also been permanently banned from the platform.
Aquino shared that they've communicated with Bon and have made arrangements regarding this incident.
She added that they have also turned over all relevant information from their end "to aid in the investigation on the whereabouts of the partner driver involved."
"We will continue to cooperate should the authorities require further assistance," continued Aquino.
To avoid situations like such, Aquino urged customers to "input notes and package details in the remarks section before placing an order, document the delivery upon pick up of the item with photos sent through the in-app chat, and double-check the driver’s details indicated in the order and upon arrival of the partner driver."
"Lalamove is doubling its efforts to ensure safe and simple delivery is what our customers experience from our trusted partner drivers," she added.
As for his next steps, Bon said he's going to ask for help from the police and the Department of Trade and Industry, and file a case against the rider.
“I'm feeling helpless because I'm just a 21-year-old student,” Bon said. “I’m already depressed as is.” (with reports from Brooke Villanueva)