32 replies to this topic

[Bolton Beast]

I could be preaching to the converted but this happened to me the other day at Phuket Airport and has been tried on one or 2 occasions in Bangkok on me over the years.
I goes to the Meter Taxi Stand asks for a taxi to take me to Patong Beach the lady says its 500bht I says no its meter plus 100 like sign says behind her head.
I gets in to the taxi and lookes as the meter as the driver starts to pull away,it says 243bht,I tells him to stop and reset his meter,he cracked on numb like he didnt know what I was on about,after a minute of gesticulating and pointing he muttered something under his breath and reset the meter to 0kms,it had been reading 23kms.
The total fare was 295 plus 100,so these thieves tried to do me twice but failed just through vigilance.
I know the amounts are insignificant but it grinds at my guts how they are trying to do you at every turn,they are to stupid to realise this is why they get no tip.
My lesson was learned a few years ago when I got done for 200bht in BKK by being double charged through a driver not resetting the meter.

[69billy]

LOS....Land of smiles..!!??? Noooooo....Land Of Scams.....

[Ashoka]

LOL I think that's everywhere, I've visited philippines and India and they tried to pull that on me too, but atleast they speak ok english there. I might have a hard time with thai but thanks robo for the heads up.

Now to learn some thai.

[Terry Tibbs]

I've had this one also.... they think you are just going to sit back and enjoy the ride with a stack of cash already on the meter!

Makes me laugh how the meter is supposed to have anti-tamper crimped lead seals on them but quite often the lead seal hasn't been sealed at all!

[Robi_slo]

In Phuket they wanted to do other scam to me. Last time I was returning to airport I ordered cab in tourist office stall and guy quote me 600 BHT for 3 person – for 3 person rate is higher.. Ok up to him. When Taxi driver arrived he told me he can’t drive 3 people for so small money and wanted 50 BHT more… I guess he didn’t meet Balkan guy... With the biggest smile ever I thanked for his undivided attention and praised him how he was nice to us… all time smiling. Turned around got my 600 BHT back from guy where I reserved taxi, cross the street and in front of amazed taxi driver, my friend, X and guy in tourist office got first taxi guy, waved him with 600 BHT and… got ride to Airport without problem. Maybe I overpaid for 50-100 BHT but... look on taxi driver’s face… priceless.

BR

[Mikkel]

From Phuket airport to Patong it should not cost more than 500 bath. I would tell him I give him 600 bath. Ok for him ok for me.
No taximeter.

[sabai-sabai]

Good for you 1963Robo! It isn't the money so much, as you've pointed out, but the priciple of the thing. One scam here another there and before you know it, it turns into a lot of Baht. Like not returning your change for a drink if its 5-10 baht. They also pull the same thing at the gas (petrol) station. They "forget" to turn back the pump and start pumping your gas right away before you can catch the rip-off.

[Twoshots]

It always cracks me up if you leave soi cowboy back to Nana theres some taxi organiser quoting 200baht ?? I suppose some people must pay this, but 50 baht on the meter includes tip.

[luv u long time]

I was told by a taxi driver on my last trip that the mafia control the taxi pick-ups on either side of Patpong.
I tried to flag him down and he said no, go round the corner. He said taxi drivers picking up in this area pay a cut to the mafia. There are spotters everywhere taking a note of your plate if you pick up and they will pull you over the next night if you haven't given the money-man the 'cut' from the "NO METER" bullshit that goes on there.

[Bolton Beast]

Mikkel, on 09 May 2010 - 01:22 AM, said:

From Phuket airport to Patong it should not cost more than 500 bath. I would tell him I give him 600 bath. Ok for him ok for me.
No taximeter.

Why ever would you offer him 600bht when the fare to Patong from the Airport is around 300-320 plus 100 Airport surcharge depending on which part of Patong you want to go,you are only fucking yourself,if you wanna tip the guy after its up to you,fare going back is 5 to 600 depending where you manage to get it or how good you are at haggling.
I am sick of these shits ripping off at every turn,they ought to be fucking grateful we come to their shithole of a country,i certainly wouldnt waste my time here but for pussy and ass.

Edited by 1963robo, 12 May 2010 - 02:57 PM.

[jcs]

1963robo, on 12 May 2010 - 02:56 PM, said:

Why ever would you offer him 600bht when the fare to Patong from the Airport is around 300-320 plus 100 Airport surcharge depending on which part of Patong you want to go,you are only fucking yourself,if you wanna tip the guy after its up to you,fare going back is 5 to 600 depending where you manage to get it or how good you are at haggling.
I am sick of these shits ripping off at every turn,they ought to be fucking grateful we come to their shithole of a country,i certainly wouldnt waste my time here but for pussy and ass.

Tell it as it is mate

[swinger7453]

As long as you live anywhere in asia get used to getting ripped off every time you blink. Even if its only small change if you stay there long enough it really wears you down after a while. I have now returned to Australia where its real nice to be able to do simple things like buying a newspaper without having to count your change.

[swinger7453]

As long as you live anywhere in asia get used to getting ripped off every time you blink. Even if its only small change if you stay there long enough it really wears you down after a while. I have now returned to Australia where its real nice to be able to do simple things like buying a newspaper without having to count your change.

[mucevoli]

First time i went to thailand I got ripped off big time getting to my hotel in bangkok. After a long flight with hardly any sleep I was in no mood for haggling and despite what I'd been reading in the guide book I decided to ask one of the people offering "limos" how much it would cost to get to JW Mariott. The girl said "Ah, Mariott Spa and Resort" I said no JW Marriot and showed her the address. She said ok fine that's 1200 baht which at the time was less than £20. I didn't fancy queuing at the rank so I said ok even though I knew it was way to much.

My "Limo" arrived and it was volvo, not exactly what I would call a Limo but it had leather seats. Anyway got in the car and the driver said "Marriot Spa and resort?" I said no and showed him the address but he couldn't read English and asked what the phone number was. I pointed it out to him and he called it, spoke in Thai to someone and I thought cool, he knows where he's going now. Unfortunately he didn't and still took me to the Spa and Resort which is the other side of Bangkok. I didn't realise until I got out of the car and he drove off.

So not only did I pay way to much I was on the wrong side of Bangkok at the wrong hotel. I then had to pay another taxi (on a meter this time) and pay another 200.

Still, it's fraction of the cost of getting a taxi in london. My journey from Heathrow (in west london) to my flat (in south west london) was £80 in a black cab. Whose the real scammers?

[Nick1]

Hey guys

First time poster. A little trick I've always used to negotiate cab fares/prevent overpricing is "agree" on a fixed price beforehand and actually give him the money upfront while we are in motion. Obviously, this only works if you know how much it should cost but it gives you a chance to haggle price down a bit and get away from the meter. Doesnt always work but if it does you can save a pretty penny!

Nick

[Bolton Beast]

Unless its a really long trip like to Pattaya from Bangkok its better to make them put the meter on, a meter taxi from Airport is around 1200 on the meter,you can sometimes get them to do it for a thousand but rarely as they have to pay a 50bht airport charge plus around 110 in rd tolls.
Many Taxi drivers in Bangkok dont want to put the meter on as the traffic is so bad it can take 1 hr to do 2 or 3 kms and even with the meter ticking slower when in dead traffic he will only get maybe 100bht, he will try for 250bht without meter, also gotta watch the wankers in Phuket Airport they try for 6 or 700 no meter to Patong Beach when meter is on its 320 plus 100 surcharge,same with the ones in Samui.
Meters are there for a reason to make sure you dont get ripped but like everyone its your choice.

[mucevoli]

Meter is nearly always cheaper. Some taxis will refuse to take you unless you pay an agreed fee though. If it's a busy night and there are other farang around they would rather not take your business and go and find a sucker who will pay.

[Slacker]

The taxi / tuk-tuk mafia is a well-known phenomenon in Phuket - probably more so than other places in Thailand. Scamming taxi drivers ? As Mucevoli has noted, is it any worse than legitimised scams in Western countries ? Probably not, but I think attitudes like "they ought to be fucking grateful we come to their shithole of a country" don't really help the matter.

[Bolton Beast]

Slacker, on 12 August 2010 - 04:06 PM, said:

The taxi / tuk-tuk mafia is a well-known phenomenon in Phuket - probably more so than other places in Thailand. Scamming taxi drivers ? As Mucevoli has noted, is it any worse than legitimised scams in Western countries ? Probably not, but I think attitudes like "they ought to be fucking grateful we come to their shithole of a country" don't really help the matter.

We will leave it to your superior knowledge and I will ask you what my opinion should be before posting you weapon.

[Slacker]

ไม่เป็นไร

Each to their own, but I certainly wouldn't give myself a coronary over £2.

Edited by Slacker, 03 September 2010 - 06:57 PM.