Amid the backlash of the pranking delivery riders made by some netizens and high demand for service during the coronavirus pandemic, a bill seeking to penalize those who cancel food delivery orders is being pushed in the Philippines.
If the bill is passed, customers who cancel their delivery orders after a driver has already paid for the food could be at risk of hefty fines and prison terms.
ALSO READ : Big Coronavirus Puzzle: Is It Still Safe to Use Food Delivery Services? How Are They Managing To Deliver?
How is that possible?
The proposed Food and Grocery Delivery Services Safety Act aims to protect delivery riders and service providers from canceling orders the last-minute and people who won't pay up. The bill implies that paid orders by the drivers and that are already in transit to the customer can not be canceled.
Pranksters who do not intend to use the delivery services and those who humiliate delivery riders on any platform will also be punished.
Customers could face at least six years in prison after a bill was filed last week to stop 'unscrupulous' cancellations of delivery. They can be jailed from 6 months to 6 years for those who demean riders.
"This covers instances wherein customers order food and/or grocery items for pranking or those who have no genuine intention of availing of the service [that] causes damage and undue duress to the Delivery Riders and their corresponding services,' the bill reads.
The food and delivery service providers shall require their customers to present valid proof of identity and residential address or proof of billing under the bill.
The customers' identity shall also be verified via a video call before proceeding with the delivery transaction.
The bill exempts consumers who use the credit card as a repayment mode, provided the charge is still credited to the food and delivery company.
Those found guilty of the offense would be forced to compensate drivers for the canceled order and pay PhP 100,000 (US$2,000) fine under the act. However, shoppers who paid the items before canceling will not be penalized.
AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin, the author of the bill, told CNN Philippines the penalty can be lowered if it's "too harsh."
Congressman Garbin noted that doing pranks on deliveries has been widespread nowadays. He said the bill should serve as a warning and sink into the consciousness of people that Congress is serious about the situation.
Are there other options for the meantime?
Most popular delivery services, such as GrabFood in the Philippines, do not permit cancelations once the order is placed.
Grab told Rappler in the case of no-show customers they have a refund policy in place, which enables drivers to get full payment for unclaimed orders.
"Delivery partners just need to submit their claim online and get their reimbursements as early as 4 hours, within the same day, Grab said in a text message. Hence, the delivery person won't need to sell unclaimed orders for safety purposes.
