Bangkok Taxi Scam

[leadman]

Arrive BKK hotel this morning and front story on the Bangkok Post was reporting on a German report about the hotels, taxi, etc, scam in various parts in Thailand at the moment. Perfect timing as i just had a nasty experience coming from the airport with a taxi whose meter was doctored.

As a frequent traveller here i know that from the airport to the second mosque on the left going into the city, is around the 16.6 km mark. My taxi was 21.3 at that point. You can see the distance on the upper right of the meter. My mistake was telling him on the freeway as he spat the dummy and wanted to let me out right there. He carried on yelling but i got here.

Generally most are good, some touch the meter up as some read 17.5 to 18, but this one was one of the worst.

Be warned.

 

[Hvr]

Having travelled in many a Bangkok taxi from the airport I always keep the booking slip with the driver's details. If I thought I was being ripped off I would just go along with it and ask for help at the hotel.

If they refuse to help then insist they call the tourist police. Or just pay the fare and call the number on the back of the booking form.

It always helps to have the hotel card if possible, it lets the driver know it's not your first visit.

Looking after your own safety is paramount in these situations.

 

[snabbu]

Taxi scam stories in BKK still make the front page? That’s more surprising than the actual story.

 

[leadman]

Having travelled in many a Bangkok taxi from the airport I always keep the booking slip with the driver's details. If I thought I was being ripped off I would just go along with it and ask for help at the hotel.

If they refuse to help then insist they call the tourist police. Or just pay the fare and call the number on the back of the booking form.

It always helps to have the hotel card if possible, it lets the driver know it's not your first visit.

Looking after your own safety is paramount in these situations.

not sure how you keep the booking slip other than the printout from the taxi machine, but as a frequent taxi rider here i have a snapshot of his taxi plate. Further, i have a very good friend in security at BKK and he is going crazy over the way i was treated. The driver will now be banned from the airport and reported to the Tourist Police for "possible" further action.

But simple rule to see if you are being ripped off; second mosque on the left should be around 16.6 km into the journey.

 

[theblank]

This Taxi scam has been operating in Bangkok since Patpong road was only a fish and chip shop and a chinese laundry, and the old "no change" and "govt discount shop" scams still do the rounds with no change to the script.

as above, The Tourist Police contact details are a must in Thailand.

as a Frequent traveller, why are you using Taxi's surely its easier to use Uber et al?

 

[Hvr]

Of course for some travellers the airport train is a must when leaving the airport.

Bangkok Airport Rail Link – Suvarnabhumi Airport

www.bangkokairportonline.com

A tip for new players, when going to the airport always board at Phaya Thai station (near the BTS station of the same name). The train often fills up and it can be hard, if not impossible to board at intermediate stations at certain times.

 

[leadman]

as a Frequent traveller, why are you using Taxi's surely its easier to use Uber et al?

As a frequent traveller, i was thinking of all the ways i have travelled throughout BKK et al. Big bus, little bus, open bus, tuk tuk, taxi, motorbike taxi, motorbike, car, truck, van, in the back of a pick-up (great rides!!!), bicycle, tractor, BTS, MTR, country train, Sleeper train, airport link, long-tail boat, river boats x 5 types, GRAB, but never Uber. Do they exist here!!!!!!!

And with the Airport link, i hate climbing those stairs at Phaya Thai. It will be all fixed when they they connect the three airports.

 

[Austman]

Do they exist here!!!!!!!

I've used them in Bangkok and it worked well.

Any "hiccups" with the fare and I have always found uber will adjust it.

 

[leadman]

I was joking!!!!!!

 

[Austman]

Actually Uber has been replaced by Grab in many SE-Asia countries. Including Thailand I think.

Grab seems to work equally well for me.

 

[leadman]

Grab is quite good, ive used it in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. HCMC was a bit of a struggle though..... Others all OK. its just become one of the standard forms of travel now.

Even have a BEAT account in greece.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But simple rule to see if you are being ripped off; second mosque on the left should be around 16.6 km into the journey.

There's also a diversion route... not sure the details, but my taxi driver took it once. It was a fair bit longer but my Thai friend confirmed the normal route was blocked.

Hot meters will usually start as soon as you leave the parking bay at the airport.... racking up above the flag-fall even before you hit the open road (IIRC you should be somewhere on the on ramp to the freeway before it starts to tick over).

 

[leadman]

yes some get on the expressway at Bang Na and go on the Pattaya/Chon Buri expressway.

This morning i got the motor taxi from the hotel to the BTS, then down to Bang Na. Car from Bang Na, passed the airport and continued for 2 hours, 40 minutes of that on the expressway.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

yes some get on the expressway at Bang Na and go on the Pattaya/Chon Buri expressway.

This morning i got the motor taxi from the hotel to the BTS, then down to Bang Na. Car from Bang Na, passed the airport and continued for 2 hours, 40 minutes of that on the expressway.

The route I really hate is the one that goes the length of the runway before reaching the airport. It seems to take forever and is expensive in terms of the fare.

 

[leadman]

Agree it is a painful way, being on the other side of the airport you know you have been taken to the cleaners. Even worse is that you drive a long way past it too before turning into the airport.

 

[opusman]

So how much in Aussie $ are we talking about here? Is it that big a deal?

 

[leadman]

in context across the taxi world, not a bank breaker for me, but, it is dishonest and illegal fiddling with a meter. I tip well, but the tourist who gets ripped off on this is not good. Can add another $15 - $20 to the taxi fare to a river hotel.

 

[Hvr]

So how much in Aussie $ are we talking about here? Is it that big a deal?

Essentially 100THB=$5AUD. Even 200-300THB can start to add up each way.
Bangkok isn't especially cheap so it pays to be aware of local prices.

 

[casanovawa]

Was there last year and just took the train in, would do that always now, I loathe taxis all around the world and will do almost anything not to take them...

 

[TripleB]

I take the attitude that when travelling on average you need to account for a +20% uplift on every taxi fare everywhere in the world on account of scams.

Even in Sydney where I am a local and know all the tricks, unless I am hyper vigilant from the moment I get in until the moment I step out I know that I will get nailed with some kind of scam most of the time and the average scam uplift is +10%.