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

[PJack]

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:

and never, never, ever take a taxi that is parked waiting for passengers. it is a clear sign they are looking for something more than just a simple fare.

[beej]

and never, never, ever take a taxi that is parked waiting for passengers. it is a clear sign they are looking for something more than just a simple fare.

Thats very very very true, you should always hail one down.

[English_Bob]

I find the prices reasonable for taxis in Bangkok - I always get the meter and have never really had a problem (since about two weeks after my arrival here)

Safety is the biggest issue for Bangkok taxis.

Some of them drive very badly, too fast, dangerously, talking on the phone, while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

A few months ago, a girl I know very well disappeared for four days. After several phone calls and sms's, she returned. She had been raped by a taxi driver on her way home from work.

She is a young mother of two kids, working as a waitress. She has a steady boyfriend and doesn't dress provocatively.

After the ordeal, her whole personality changed. So sad to see.

When I see people off in a taxi, I make a big point of reading the number out loud - (Tor Tahaan, Mor Mar 23) - so the driver knows his number has been noted.

Also when friends go home early from a party, I get them to call me and do the same thing, call out the number so I can make a note.

I spoke to several Thai people about this issue and discovered that taxi drivers raping passengers is actually pretty common.

[beej]

I still think it should be law that they have working seat belts in the back, they all have them but they just tuck them away for some f**ked up reason!

[PeeMarc]

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"

No, not mafia. Call it what it is. Thats your trusty, upstanding Bkk police making piles money from that strip of Silom. Arseholes.

[English_Bob]

On the positive side, I've met some really nice taxi drivers.

I remember one who had the 'I heart Farangs - we can speak English" sticker.

So my friend and I started a conversation with him in English.

And he was great! He was a big fan of 70's and 80's rock music and could discuss Jefferson Airplane, Van Morrison, Wings, Hall and Oates, Genesis etc

And there's another guy who knows all the premiership statistics in his head. Players, transfers, old teams, coaches, games played, goals scored, saved etc... he could be a TV pundit easily.

[Chatty]

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"

No, not mafia. Call it what it is. Thats your trusty, upstanding Bkk police making piles money from that strip of Silom. Arseholes.

lo PeeMarc, I have no idea about that actually. I have seen one thing on Ratcahda Rd. about 2 am and 5-6 am every Saturday and Sunday morning, taxi take over Ratchada both side of the road. Only one lane left to let the other cars drive through. Huaykhwang police never do anything... they just get rich....

[Admin_2]

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"

No, not mafia. Call it what it is. Thats your trusty, upstanding Bkk police making piles money from that strip of Silom. Arseholes.

lo PeeMarc, I have no idea about that actually. I have seen one thing on Ratcahda Rd. about 2 am and 5-6 am every Saturday and Sunday morning, taxi take over Ratchada both side of the road. Only one lane left to let the other cars drive through. Huaykhwang police never do anything... they just get rich....

And there's nothing you can do about it too! I have this vision that if I complained the cops would just say, "You don't like it, go tell the police about it, kid" And they all start laughing while one pees on me.

[PJack]

And they all start laughing while one pees on me.

:shock:

[CiaranM]

and never, never, ever take a taxi that is parked waiting for passengers. it is a clear sign they are looking for something more than just a simple fare.

Thats very very very true, you should always hail one down.

i've used loads of taxis sitting waiting around sukhumvit, KSR, thong lor, ekammai and had very few problems with them .... sometimes u get the odd one who doesn't want to turn on the meter, but just get out and take the next one in line. in my experience it's usually the ones u hail along sukhumvit that can be a problem, but in fairness even that hasn't happened too often.

as several ppl have mentioned already it's the guys along silom who wouldn't turn on the meter, but (again as several have mentioned) i just cross the road go to soi convent and get one there !!!

[DJTX]

Most people I hear complaining about taxis are the tourists when they get into a taxi at the hotel and ask to go to the airport. When the driver won't turn on the meter.

[PJack]

and never, never, ever take a taxi that is parked waiting for passengers. it is a clear sign they are looking for something more than just a simple fare.

Thats very very very true, you should always hail one down.

sometimes u get the odd one who doesn't want to turn on the meter

and clearly thats just cause they cant understand you

[pjotr75]

I am always amazed that the taxi drivers can't find the hotels at Sukhumvit...

When we start the drive from Airport to BKK, there is no problem, but when we get close to Sukhumvit, they suddenly can't find the hotel.

[CiaranM]

and never, never, ever take a taxi that is parked waiting for passengers. it is a clear sign they are looking for something more than just a simple fare.

Thats very very very true, you should always hail one down.

sometimes u get the odd one who doesn't want to turn on the meter

and clearly thats just cause they cant understand you

well now that u mention it ..... :shock: :shock:

[Chatty]

I am always amazed that the taxi drivers can't find the hotels at Sukhumvit...

When we start the drive from Airport to BKK, there is no problem, but when we get close to Sukhumvit, they suddenly can't find the hotel.

ahh good point...

I forgot about this, pls don't expect every drivers knows direction in BKK. Before you get into the taxi, (for Thai and Foreigners) if you don't know the direction, pls make sure the drivers know how to get there. Cuz many taxi drivers come from up country. I get the newbie ones so often, and got that kinda problem.

[Neo]

There's no such thing as a bad taxi driver in Bangkok... only bad customers who are too cheap, or too fussy about where they end up.

[PJack]

I am always amazed that the taxi drivers can't find the hotels at Sukhumvit...

When we start the drive from Airport to BKK, there is no problem, but when we get close to Sukhumvit, they suddenly can't find the hotel.

ahh good point...

Cuz many taxi drivers come from up country.

and there is no training, no enforcement for licensing a taxi driver. lots seem to be from LA.

Roi Et, that is.

none have PhDs, in my experience. though some have some colorful interiors. One guy had a beach theme going - complete with fish bowl with fish, lighting tracks with palm trees on the running boards inside the doors, plants on the back and in between front seats and dashboard with plants and surf music. I was so impressed I took photos. Another memorable car had a bitchin sound system with DVD player and Carabao concert on for my enjoyment. no extra charge either.

[SweetieBabie]

There's no such thing as a bad taxi driver in Bangkok... only bad customers who are too cheap, or too fussy about where they end up.

What planet are you from?

[Stramash]

I am always amazed that the taxi drivers can't find the hotels at Sukhumvit...

When we start the drive from Airport to BKK, there is no problem, but when we get close to Sukhumvit, they suddenly can't find the hotel.

ahh good point...

I forgot about this, pls don't expect every drivers knows direction in BKK. Before you get into the taxi, (for Thai and Foreigners) if you don't know the direction, pls make sure the drivers know how to get there. Cuz many taxi drivers come from up country. I get the newbie ones so often, and got that kinda problem.

But this is not just a problem in BKK - try getting in a yellow cab in NYC where the driver has been there for less time than you, or a mini cab in London where an Albanian called Edmir thinks he should be driving on the right hand side of the road...

[Chatty]

There's no such thing as a bad taxi driver in Bangkok... only bad customers who are too cheap, or too fussy about where they end up.

What planet are you from?

hmm p'Neo pls tell us, it's just another "joke" :?

[Stramash]

There's no such thing as a bad taxi driver in Bangkok... only bad customers who are too cheap, or too fussy about where they end up.

What planet are you from?

hmm p'Neo pls tell us, it's just another "joke" :?

Not a joke; he just hasn't told anyone that his new job is farang spokesman for the Bangkok Taxi Drivers Assosciation...

[Chatty]

There's no such thing as a bad taxi driver in Bangkok... only bad customers who are too cheap, or too fussy about where they end up.

What planet are you from?

hmm p'Neo pls tell us, it's just another "joke" :?

Not a joke; he just hasn't told anyone that his new job is farang spokesman for the Bangkok Taxi Drivers Assosciation...

Really?? Since when??

[Karnie]

i don't have fare problems with taxis nor no meter ones, but talkative and bad manner taxis.

one day i took a taxi go to work as i have an important meeting in the morning. once i got in i told a taxi driver about the direction that i had planned which need to take an express way as i was pretty late. he didn't say a word but kept driving on a different direction i had planned esp. without taking an express way.

unfortunately, i was late already once he parked where office building was. i was pissed so i gave him the fare then got off and shut the door a bit lound. as i was about to walk acorss the road heading to the building then i heard he shouted behind me. KUAY!!!!!! :shock: :roll:

[Neo]

There's no such thing as a bad taxi driver in Bangkok... only bad customers who are too cheap, or too fussy about where they end up.

What planet are you from?

hmm p'Neo pls tell us, it's just another "joke" :?

Yes it's a joke :-)

If the taxi driver wants 500 baht to go to Paragon and then he takes you to his cousins gem shop you could think of him as bad, or you could think of yourself as cheap and too worried about going where you want to go. It's all relative 8)

[Chatty]

i don't have fare problems with taxis nor no meter ones, but talkative and bad manner taxis.

one day i took a taxi go to work as i have an important meeting in the morning. once i got in i told a taxi driver about the direction that i had planned which need to take an express way as i was pretty late. he didn't say a word but kept driving on a different direction i had planned esp. without taking an express way.

unfortunately, i was late already once he parked where office building was. i was pissed so i gave him the fare then got off and shut the door a bit lound. as i was about to walk acorss the road heading to the building then i heard he shouted behind me. KUAY!!!!!! :shock: :roll:

hmm I know it's not Thai forum na ... but please let me ask in Thai...

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