Deal with Bad Taxi drivers

[Chatty]

Have you ever had bad experience with the taxi drivers?

1. Over price fee, I always get that problem cuz they thought I was a chinese tourist. I tried to get taxi in front of MBK once, it was rain storm there... he had no "Namjai" at all... he spoke English to me "200 baht". and same situation happened to me around tourists area, Sukhumvit, Silom, Siam. Makes me think how many tourists deal with that problem, unfair!!

2. They deny to pick us up. It always happened to me after they knew that I wasn't tourist, and my place is too close or too far. Some of them wait for only foreigners. I had experience after I got back from dinner on the river cruise (can't remember) I wanted to get off at Si praya pier. It's some where near a luxury hotel, might be Sheraton. Every taxi denied me. Some drivers didn't look at me at all cuz I spoke Thai with Thai accent. So my Thai baht is worthless. May be.

Once in front of Siam Paragon, I went to see a concert with my friend, it was after midnight, there was raining. Forget sky train, it stop running after midnight. We just wanted to go to our workplace at Soi Nana, it wasn't that far... I couldn't believe no one take us. I remember I smashed a Taxi with something... I lost my tempure. I asked him where did he wanna go and why did he drive on the street if he didn't wanna take any passenger... he didn't answer.

I just got a number from a nice taxi driver, he said he never deny, he go to any place that passengers wanna go. He told me if I have any trouble, don't let them get away cuz they are breaking the laws.

take the plate number, the time that you take taxi or the time that situation occured, call 1584

[nzguy]

I guess getting overcharged by a taxi driver is most peoples first experience of amazing thailand.

by most people, you mean tourists...

quote]

Yes I do mean tourists. If you were born in thailand your first experience was probably a maternity ward.

I mean anyone coming in through the main airports.

That reminds me, i took a taxi to the movies with my gf and the driver insisted that we go to a different place to watch the movie, he started calling the theatre to find out movie times etc. it was weird and pissed her off a lot (something i avoid doing XD) I'm still not that sure why he did that either.

[Stramash]

ahh got it. I should move my topic to the Thai forum.

It's a good question to ask foreigners. We see with this a lot more than Thais, and its a lot more difficult for most of us to deal with since most of us don't speak the language well enough, nor do we know how to react properly to this kind of BS (in most of our countries, this would not last more than a minute once reported).

PJack's comment, though sarcastic, was fine. These drivers don't really get the long term effects of what they are doing. They are thinking about now now now, and don't think they are hurting their industry and country image by trying to to make an extra 100 baht. I blame this on education as well.

So you agree if they have well educated they will be good people?

You know what in the past I thought education is everything. Right now I have learnt that good IQ doesn't mean that person has good EQ.

Have you ever seen well educated ppl act like a**hole. They might be the worst person you have ever deal with on earth. I have deal with those kind of PPL. and from the newspapers, how many Ph.D. ppl are the criminals?

So better don't look down the uneducated ppl with the high moral.

Plus, I don't think well education ppl will take this kinda job.

bCool I dont think the term 'educated' was meant in the way you describe. Taxi drivers dont need a degree or even any tertiary education. But they should have some training, and that training should involve helping them see a bigger picture than just themselves and the next TB50.

For example, in the UK they have a training scheme called 'the knowledge' for all taxi drivers. I dont believe a taxi driver can get their license to drive without passing that course.

Perhaps there could be *some* training here for drivers because surely it does affect tourists and Thais alive. In fact, I would propose that if all taxis put their prices up just a few percent, and then the taxi companies used that extra money to provide customer service and knowledge courses, 2 things would immediately happen. 1) More people would get better services and less hassles and 2) taxi drivers would have more pride in their work and themselves and maybe even make more money in tips from happy customers.

If places like Starbucks can train their staff and pass the cost of that training on to the customer, then Im sure taxi companies could do the same.

The knowledge is only necessary to drive a black hackney cab in London. This does not include the masses of mini cab drivers, in cars that are often unregistered and below acceptable saftey standards. They tout at stations and airports for customers with promises of cheap fares which often disappear once they get on the road and realise you don't have a clue what routes he should take. Meters are rarely used on longer journies but any pre agreed fare can often change due to unforeseen diversions or hold ups...

same same but different??

[beej]

The trick....

If they don't want to take you or say a stupid price just push the door shut lightly so it isn't properly closed, this pisses them the **** off, especially if its raining.

If they don't want to put the meter on just stay silent and don't agree a price till you get there, the police ******* hate taxi drivers and you'll get a free ride, they normally get angry at your silence and put the meter on after a kilometer though.

[PeeMarc]

ahh got it. I should move my topic to the Thai forum.

It's a good question to ask foreigners. We see with this a lot more than Thais, and its a lot more difficult for most of us to deal with since most of us don't speak the language well enough, nor do we know how to react properly to this kind of BS (in most of our countries, this would not last more than a minute once reported).

PJack's comment, though sarcastic, was fine. These drivers don't really get the long term effects of what they are doing. They are thinking about now now now, and don't think they are hurting their industry and country image by trying to to make an extra 100 baht. I blame this on education as well.

So you agree if they have well educated they will be good people?

You know what in the past I thought education is everything. Right now I have learnt that good IQ doesn't mean that person has good EQ.

Have you ever seen well educated ppl act like a**hole. They might be the worst person you have ever deal with on earth. I have deal with those kind of PPL. and from the newspapers, how many Ph.D. ppl are the criminals?

So better don't look down the uneducated ppl with the high moral.

Plus, I don't think well education ppl will take this kinda job.

bCool I dont think the term 'educated' was meant in the way you describe. Taxi drivers dont need a degree or even any tertiary education. But they should have some training, and that training should involve helping them see a bigger picture than just themselves and the next TB50.

For example, in the UK they have a training scheme called 'the knowledge' for all taxi drivers. I dont believe a taxi driver can get their license to drive without passing that course.

Perhaps there could be *some* training here for drivers because surely it does affect tourists and Thais alive. In fact, I would propose that if all taxis put their prices up just a few percent, and then the taxi companies used that extra money to provide customer service and knowledge courses, 2 things would immediately happen. 1) More people would get better services and less hassles and 2) taxi drivers would have more pride in their work and themselves and maybe even make more money in tips from happy customers.

If places like Starbucks can train their staff and pass the cost of that training on to the customer, then Im sure taxi companies could do the same.

The knowledge is only necessary to drive a black hackney cab in London. This does not include the masses of mini cab drivers, in cars that are often unregistered and below acceptable saftey standards. They tout at stations and airports for customers with promises of cheap fares which often disappear once they get on the road and realise you don't have a clue what routes he should take. Meters are rarely used on longer journies but any pre agreed fare can often change due to unforeseen diversions or hold ups...

same same but different??

yeah last time i was in london a friend got me a mini cab and I had to go clear across the city. And yes, even my friend said the pre-arranged price for he trip was a good deal. But the nightmare started soon enough along the way when the route had to change because of traffic conditions... and new negotiations. The guy was a true prick.

My point was really about basic training for all cab drivers here, paid for by adding a very small amount to the existing fares. But, unfortunately any new system put in place in Thailand automatically means new ways for some to skim it.

[Chatty]

I wonder how many Thai's have got into a taxi in Bangkok and asked to go to the airport and got the 'no meter' discussion.

You wanna know? It was me. It happened when my BF came to Thailand, he had seen every night I tried to get taxi from Soi 4 (If I not drive there). Sometimes no taxi take me home. Actually, it's not far, just Ratchada, many times I gave up.

So the day he left Thailand, I went to Suwannabumi to see him off... I was so surprise, he worried about me, afraid if I couldn't get any Taxi back home, he made a deal with the driver 700 baht for round trip (my jaws dropped) sure no meter turn on.

[Chatty]

I guess getting overcharged by a taxi driver is most peoples first experience of amazing thailand.

by most people, you mean tourists...

Taxis make more money out of tourists, which obviously tourists would not mind to pay a little more for convenient, taxis get bigger tips, plus they get a cut or tea money if they are able to take tourists to happy ending destination like massage parlors, wherever adult entertainments are or even diamonds shop.

What happened to hard earned money Thai people?

In some areas, they do not even take Thai customers at all... Along Silom road in evening is notorious, if you are Thai you can forget to hail a cab from there at all. or if lucky, you get one with no meter on after waiting for an hour, non negotiable.

Love your post sis.

I think Thai and foreigners had problem with the Taxi drivers for sure, in the difference ways, it's easy to say just shut the door and find the others taxi.

Yes, when it happen we have no choice, we have to do that.

I think if you are Thai you will get what I said. (I'm so sorry, i'm not racist but seems it happen to Thai ppl mostly) You can't imagine, you see the taxi line up, you open every taxi doors, no one accept you, some give you a look like "Are you kidding me? you are Thai, I don't need Thai passenger" Someone laugh at you and say "no" someone just don't look at you at all. Someone move there cars, show that "I'm not interested.

It happened to me in front of Central World, over 10 taxi line up, I was in the company uniform with high heels, carried some huge bags. Finally, I got a really nice driver at the end of the line. He told me he watched me for a while and wondering where I wanted to go... might be far, I said just Ratchada, he was so surprised cuz that wasn't far at all, the meter was about 60 baht, but I gave him 100 baht... and he was lucky that he got tourist passengers cuz I lived not far from luxury hotels. He told me next time ask those Taxi to go to Pattaya they might wanna go.

[dannyboy]

Without sounding like a prick, I stopped having problems with taxis when I learned to speak Thai to a coherent level. I won't even get in a cab if the meter isn't on. I don't get offended and I don't make a scene. Just, thanks but no thanks and go to the next cab.

But I can understand how tourists get ripped off.

[beej]

Without sounding like a prick, I stopped having problems with taxis when I learned to speak Thai to a coherent level. I won't even get in a cab if the meter isn't on. I don't get offended and I don't make a scene. Just, thanks but no thanks and go to the next cab.

But I can understand how tourists get ripped off.

I stopped having problems with Taxi's when I turned into an ignorant *****.

Just get in and tell them where you want to go, nothing more needs to be said.

[babyoiy]

They (taxi drivers) *heart* farang indeed.

That sticker is sponsored by DTAC right? Jeeez....

When I went to Tapas I always walked through soi Convent to Sathorn road to get a Taxi Meter... Luckily I rarely go there.

[Admin_2]

They (taxi drivers) *heart* farang indeed.

That sticker is sponsored by DTAC right? Jeeez....

When I went to Tapas I always walked through soi Convent to Sathorn road to get a Taxi Meter... Luckily I rarely go there.

Yeah, it's just a DTAC call center that has someone who speaks both languages on the other end...won't help too much if she says, "he's ripping you off...is there anything else that I can help you with?"

[babyoiy]

They (taxi drivers) *heart* farang indeed.

That sticker is sponsored by DTAC right? Jeeez....

When I went to Tapas I always walked through soi Convent to Sathorn road to get a Taxi Meter... Luckily I rarely go there.

Yeah, it's just a DTAC call center that has someone who speaks both languages on the other end...won't help too much if she says, "he's ripping you off...is there anything else that I can help you with?"

Even I do speak Thai, sometime I can't really stay cool talking to them either. Yes I'm talking about DTAC call center as I'm using DTAC and I would say any call center are not so useful anyway.

[Chatty]

They (taxi drivers) *heart* farang indeed.

That sticker is sponsored by DTAC right? Jeeez....

This one??

When I went to Tapas I always walked through soi Convent to Sathorn road to get a Taxi Meter... Luckily I rarely go there.

I really hate to go to Silom, after I stood there for an hour at Soi 4 to find "jai dee" taxi to take me home... I prefer to drive, and after I had problem with dark parking space, I avoid to go to Silom at night.

[Admin_2]

They (taxi drivers) *heart* farang indeed.

That sticker is sponsored by DTAC right? Jeeez....

When I went to Tapas I always walked through soi Convent to Sathorn road to get a Taxi Meter... Luckily I rarely go there.

Yeah, it's just a DTAC call center that has someone who speaks both languages on the other end...won't help too much if she says, "he's ripping you off...is there anything else that I can help you with?"

Even I do speak Thai, sometime I can't really stay cool talking to them either. Yes I'm talking about DTAC call center as I'm using DTAC and I would say any call center are not so useful anyway.

Yes...they are sitting there reading from a book and don't actually listen to what you are saying.

They just match the words that are coming out from your mouth and try to find a corresponding answer in the book.

:evil:

[Chatty]

They (taxi drivers) *heart* farang indeed.

That sticker is sponsored by DTAC right? Jeeez....

When I went to Tapas I always walked through soi Convent to Sathorn road to get a Taxi Meter... Luckily I rarely go there.

Yeah, it's just a DTAC call center that has someone who speaks both languages on the other end...won't help too much if she says, "he's ripping you off...is there anything else that I can help you with?"

Even I do speak Thai, sometime I can't really stay cool talking to them either. Yes I'm talking about DTAC call center as I'm using DTAC and I would say any call center are not so useful anyway.

Yes...they are sitting there reading from a book and don't actually listen to what you are saying.

They just match the words that are coming out from your mouth and try to find a corresponding answer in the book.

:evil:

If you work in Training field you will understand how hard to make ppl said proper wording without sounds like robots. I have been working on Training field more than 10 years, I'm still find out "how to"

[SweetieBabie]

Just get in and tell them where you want to go, nothing more needs to be said.

A lot of time, that method don't really work.

Once sitting your ass down in the passenger seat, telling the name of destination, then they even kick you out of the car if they decide they do not want to go!. The lines usually are "sorry, i have to return the car to the owner" or "too much traffic, can not go." or just a simple hand wave suggesting rejection. This happens so frequently that i don't bother thinking of getting a cab when 1.it's rush hour 2.between the rain and after its rained 3.around tourist areas. It happened to my friend one time after we had tried for hour, he finally had it, and slammed the unlucky taxi's door so hard so loud, it stopped and went down to engage a fist fight until the police came.

So what do Thais usually do? Hailing a cab, open the front side door, asking (sometimes begging) if they would drive you to where you want to go, if not, you hail the next cab. Is this legal to reject passengers? Of course, it is not. It is written in the law that they can not refuse the passengers to drive to where they want to go. But the problem is tolerated, nobody really bother to complain. That's right, Thai taxi drivers TELL you where they will go, and where they will not, however they feel like it.

[sinderella]

I don't have fare problems with Taxi for along time now.

If no meter I just don't bother to get on.

Sometimes it's difficult to get Taxi cause of the destination is bad traffic area,

I try to understand them and say "thank you" to the one that pick me up at last.

Once I get in, after 1min I will ask the driver, which direction you plan to use?

If I had one that planned in my head, I will tell him to use that road and that road etc.

If he thinks he has better idea, he would tell me,and WE decide.

The only thing that seem to annoy me with Taxi drivers are

They freaking tell me their "whole life story"

Errrrr......

After my long day of works and with many people to deal with.

Sometime I just wanna stay quiet, and really wanna tell them

"I'm your freaking customer not your shrink, unlikely to be your friend.pls stop"

That's seem to be my only problem with Taxi drivers.

[SweetieBabie]

The only thing that seem to annoy me with Taxi drivers are

They freaking tell me their "whole life story"

Never talk to your taxi driver, especially politic.

You never know if they are red or yellow.

[sinderella]

Tip for Silom area: Do not hail Taxi in front of Soi 2 , Thaniya, Soi 4 or Patpong

Just cross the road and get Taxi from Soi convent or California fitness side.

They mostly go by meter. :wink:

Reason: to be able to get on Patpong side, Taxi needed to have customer within or gotta pay "the guy in brown suit"

One of the reason they don't wanna use meter. :roll:

[Admin_2]

I don't have fare problems with Taxi for along time now.

If no meter I just don't bother to get on.

Sometimes it's difficult to get Taxi cause of the destination is bad traffic area,

I try to understand them and say "thank you" to the one that pick me up at last.

Once I get in, after 1min I will ask the driver, which direction you plan to use?

If I had one that planned in my head, I will tell him to use that road and that road etc.

If he thinks he has better idea, he would tell me,and WE decide.

The only thing that seem to annoy me with Taxi drivers are

They freaking tell me their "whole life story"

Errrrr......

After my long day of works and with many people to deal with.

Sometime I just wanna stay quiet, and really wanna tell them

"I'm your freaking customer not your shrink, unlikely to be your friend.pls stop"

That's seem to be my only problem with Taxi drivers.

Yes, it normally comes down to both people deciding with the passenger having the final say.

AHHH...I feel your pain about taxi drivers that want to tell you their whole life. The worst part about it is that THEY ARE REALLY NICE!! So you can't tell them to be quiet or that you don't care. The worst are the ones that start off with a really interesting story.

For example, last week I was in a guy's taxi who claimed to have 18 children! Most of them were twins, triplets, or above. Oh my god, absolutely amazing and I can't understand how life would be like that...2 minutes pass...

Now he is on the fourth child and explaining that she works as a nurse and married this guy who blah blah blah...and she never got along with the first child and blah blah blah...why did I ever show interest in his story?

At points like that, I "get a phonecall" and turn into the loud foreigner who doesn't have time to listen. Maybe not very grengjai, but as sinderella said, I'm not a damn shrink!

[Admin_2]

Tip for Silom area: Do not hail Taxi in front of Soi 2 , Thaniya, Soi 4 or Patpong

Just cross the road and get Taxi from Soi convent or California fitness side.

They mostly go by meter. :wink:

Reason: to be able to get on Patpong side, Taxi needed to have customer within or gotta pay "the guy in brown suit"

One of the reason they don't wanna use meter. :roll:

Same with MBK...cross the street outside of the only 7/11 on that road. Drivers still suck there, but they are not as bad as the rush hour thieves that stand right outside of the mall.

[bigKus]

There had once happened to me about taxi driver which i found it very funny and innocent .. :roll:

Once i told him my destination at the airport ( Don Maung ) he asked domestic or overseas, I said overseas.. it should have ended conversation. But he still asked / guessed that 'you must go aboard often chai mai because you dont have your relative go to airport with you ?? ' pai ha fan ler ?? tam ngarn arai ??

:shock:

[SweetieBabie]

There had once happened to me about taxi driver which i found it very funny and innocent .. :roll:

Once i told him my destination at the airport ( Don Maung ) he asked domestic or overseas, I said overseas.. it should have ended conversation. But he still asked / guessed that 'you must go aboard often chai mai because you dont have your relative go to airport with you ?? ' pai ha fan ler ?? tam ngarn arai ??

:shock:

Nosy Taxi

[Chatty]

I don't have fare problems with Taxi for along time now.

If no meter I just don't bother to get on.

Sometimes it's difficult to get Taxi cause of the destination is bad traffic area,

I try to understand them and say "thank you" to the one that pick me up at last.

Once I get in, after 1min I will ask the driver, which direction you plan to use?

If I had one that planned in my head, I will tell him to use that road and that road etc.

If he thinks he has better idea, he would tell me,and WE decide.

The only thing that seem to annoy me with Taxi drivers are

They freaking tell me their "whole life story"

Errrrr......

After my long day of works and with many people to deal with.

Sometime I just wanna stay quiet, and really wanna tell them

"I'm your freaking customer not your shrink, unlikely to be your friend.pls stop"

That's seem to be my only problem with Taxi drivers.

Yes, it normally comes down to both people deciding with the passenger having the final say.

AHHH...I feel your pain about taxi drivers that want to tell you their whole life. The worst part about it is that THEY ARE REALLY NICE!! So you can't tell them to be quiet or that you don't care. The worst are the ones that start off with a really interesting story.

For example, last week I was in a guy's taxi who claimed to have 18 children! Most of them were twins, triplets, or above. Oh my god, absolutely amazing and I can't understand how life would be like that...2 minutes pass...

Now he is on the fourth child and explaining that she works as a nurse and married this guy who blah blah blah...and she never got along with the first child and blah blah blah...why did I ever show interest in his story?

At points like that, I "get a phonecall" and turn into the loud foreigner who doesn't have time to listen. Maybe not very grengjai, but as sinderella said, I'm not a damn shrink!

After I got in a talkative taxi (told me about his life all along the way, and a nosy taxi who really wanna know about my life and my BF life... after I got in Taxi (If I'm lucky enough) before he start conversation, I pick up my phone, call to a friend, or my mom.... and talk to them along the way....

Sometimes before you talk about politic just check the radio channel they are listening. 97.75 or 92.25 are yellow ones.. I forgot about the red ones...

[Chatty]

Tip for Silom area: Do not hail Taxi in front of Soi 2 , Thaniya, Soi 4 or Patpong

Just cross the road and get Taxi from Soi convent or California fitness side.

They mostly go by meter. :wink:

Reason: to be able to get on Patpong side, Taxi needed to have customer within or gotta pay "the guy in brown suit"

One of the reason they don't wanna use meter. :roll:

Same with MBK...cross the street outside of the only 7/11 on that road. Drivers still suck there, but they are not as bad as the rush hour thieves that stand right outside of the mall.

I'm thinking about a taxi who picked me up at Silom Soi 4 told me... He said it was my lucky day that I could get the taxi from where I was standing... no one would take me if I didn't pay 200 baht ++ to them.... He said "yes" to me cuz he wasn't taxi around that area, he just dropped a farang somewhere not far from me. He said taxi around Silom must pay about 2000 - 3000 baht to get in. I asked him "Pay who?" He said "The owner, every place has owners" I guess he meant "Mafia"

[palmyfan]

When i am at silom or MBK i usually take the BTS to go back home.IF it is after midnight i simply take the bus.Some lignes work all night long .So ok i have to wait for my bus and sometimes they are crowded.But it dont cost me a fortune,and i dont have to argue with some stupid driver to get to my destination.