Thai taxi driver said his life is being ruined after English teacher posts damning clip

[webfact]

Thai taxi driver said his life is being ruined after English teacher posts damning clip

 

Picture: Sanook

 

A Thai taxi driver has burst into tears saying that what an English teacher said about him and his service is mostly untrue.

 

Danny Mac - who runs a YouTube channel teaching English - had made a video about his experience travelling from the airport to his condo after a trip to Chiang Mai on Tuesday.

 

Speaking in excellent Thai Danny recounted how the driver had a first refused to turn on the meter, had asked for several hundred baht for tolls that would amount to less than 100 baht, then finally refused to give back 75 baht change telling the foreigner that he was mean and stingy.

 

Picture: Sanook

 

He used the words "khii niaw" and "khii nok".

 

The clip only shows the end of the journey - most of the story is recounted later by the passenger talking to the camera in Thai.

 

Tourist police have now arrested the driver Thongkham, 50 who was interviewed by Sanook in tears saying that his side of the story was different to what has been said.

 

He admitted that he was impolite but what the farang said in his later recorded clip was not all true.

 

He started by saying that he has had an unblemished career as a taxi driver and was even featured on Channel 7 as a fine driver.

 

He claimed that he asked the passenger if he wanted to go for 500 or turn on the meter and when he said the latter that is what he did.

 

He said at the entrance to the expressway he asked for 100 baht and was given that.

 

He did not ask for 300 as was claimed, he said, and was not eventually given 200 for the three tolls that would have to be paid.

 

"I thought it was all over," said Thongkham. "I didn't expect this to go online. I have a wife and kids. I have put the kids through university while being a taxi driver for the last 20 years. I have had only praise and been helpful and good at all times.

 

"What a headache - I love being a taxi driver...now this. What a headache - my life is being ruined by all this!"

 

Comment about the clip and the issue online has been huge especially as the foreigner in this case spoke in excellent and reasoned Thai making for little chance of misunderstanding.

 

The poster of the clip is said to have been in Thailand just 2 years and The Nation reported earlier that his English service on YouTube is free.

 

Source: Sanook

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-04-19

 

[coulson]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

He started by saying that he has had an unblemished career as a taxi driver and was even featured on Channel 7 as a fine driver

Too bad. Act appropriately next time, and thereafter......maybe your *career* will get back on track.

 

This Sheila needs to dry his eyes

[Farrows3399]

Hohohoho,  One down another ten million to go. 

[Anak Nakal]

Boo Hoo

You try to steal. You fail.

Shut up!

 

[jonclark]

But the poor taxi driver did not deny trying to take the flat fare of 500 baht initially. 

 

That is clearly against the AoT rules for taxis using airports. So if he has had such an unblemished career.. Why did he do this? 

 

Probably overspent a bit during Songkran and was hoping for a quick and easy few baht extra is my assumption. 

 

But he got burnt and shamed. Won't be reappearing on Channel 7,

[smedly]

This charade  is heading for a defamation law suit 

 

watch what happens next

[Eligius]

A pathetic Thai. I know that Thai women cry at the drop of a hat to get what they want - but a Thai man? Well, it's fake 'crying' anyway. And it is so typical that he cannot simply admit he was in the wrong and will learn from this experience and do better in future. 

 

Never any sense of self-blame or self-criticism. Only self-pity.

 

Incidentally, I find that in the last few years the taxi service in Bangkok has got noticeably worse (it has coincided with the  junta's reign - but that might be sheer chance, I don't know - or maybe it's one form of lawlessness and criminality breeding another ....): taxis frequently will not stop when I hail them (years ago, this rarely happened to me); they frequently try to take me via a long and circuitous route; and fairly often they try the 'no use meter' trick. Things used to be much better regarding taxis in BKK. And I don't believe that these drivers are so hard-up financially: if they were, they would not sail past so many customers, as they do. They clearly are not paupers - as is confirmed when I often see them counting wads of 100 baht notes!

 

Edited April 19, 2018 by Eligius

[petermik]

I find it hard to believe a taxi driver here would try and rip anyone off...........

som nom nah

[evadgib]

36 minutes ago, smedly said:

This charade  is heading for a defamation law suit 

 

watch what happens next

Streisand ?

[stanleycoin]

If he didn't try and rip people off, he wouldn't have a problem.

I love social media, it shows some people up,   for what

they truly are. 

Edited April 19, 2018 by stanleycoin

[holy cow cm]

So he can now go drive a tuk tuk. They never get in trouble. Although the look on the Danny Mac guy deserved to get ripped off. Cringe worthy at best. 

[sammieuk1]

I am lost here and maybe wrong but for the last 8 years plus driving in Chiang Mai I have never seen a toll road ?

[Farrows3399]

1 hour ago, Anak Nakal said:

Boo Hoo

You try to steal. You fail.

Shut up!

 

Yes indeed - I just love Schadenfreude in the morning. 

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

I am lost here and maybe wrong but for the last 8 years plus driving in Chiang Mai I have never seen a toll road ?

"Danny Mac made a video about his experience travelling from the airport to his condo after a trip to Chiang Mai on Tuesday"

 

He was in Bangkok.

 

[Bluespunk]

There’s a twist: the good taxi driver story that always follows a bad one is the same driver. 

 

Didn't see that coming. 

 

The cringe worthy crying is just pathetic. 

[robblok]

1 hour ago, Eligius said:

A pathetic Thai. I know that Thai women cry at the drop of a hat to get what they want - but a Thai man? Well, it's fake 'crying' anyway. And it is so typical that he cannot simply admit he was in the wrong and will learn from this experience and do better in future. 

 

Never any sense of self-blame or self-criticism. Only self-pity.

 

Incidentally, I find that in the last few years the taxi service in Bangkok has got noticeably worse (it has coincided with the  junta's reign - but that might be sheer chance, I don't know - or maybe it's one form of lawlessness and criminality breeding another ....): taxis frequently will not stop when I hail them (years ago, this rarely happened to me); they frequently try to take me via a long and circuitous route; and fairly often they try the 'no use meter' trick. Things used to be much better regarding taxis in BKK. And I don't believe that these drivers are so hard-up financially: if they were, they would not sail past so many customers, as they do. They clearly are not paupers - as is confirmed when I often see them counting wads of 100 baht notes!

 

I agree gotten worse but there have been initiatives launched to combat it so can't say its the junta's doing or anything like that. Its just that there is not enough policing (sounds familiar). When there is not enough policing people start breaking the law. Just look at traffic here. 

 

I don't know if they are poor or not, but like you said they pass up enough passengers and if they are in need of money or a ride they would not do that.  

 

Its good that this guy got shamed.

[spidermike007]

Being called out, and having to take responsibility for one's actions is a really terrible thing. This man child is finding that out, the hard way. So what? Who cares? He screwed up. Kudos to Danny for calling this creep out. I find most taxi drivers to be decent. But there are some who are miscreants, and it is a beautiful day when one is called out and shamed. He was probably totally unconscious, and completely unaware that he was behaving poorly. Now he knows! Lovely, lovely, lovely.

[HAKAPALITA]

Creepy lookin ferang.[emoji102]


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[anon789561]

Just now, robblok said:

That guy is already real popular, he does not need this. He is just doing a good deed trying to reign in cheating taxi drivers.

 

When is the last time you were in the BKK area using taxi's. If you were here you know how bad it can be. 

in nearly 20 years i have never had these problems i keep hearing about. i am in bkk now but live in the south and often take taxis instead of driving if i'm going out to drink in bkk

if you believe these you tube guys don't get themselves in the media to try and boost their hits, well, i'd have to disagree.

doing a good deed eh? not sure about that

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, sammieuk1 said:

I am lost here and maybe wrong but for the last 8 years plus driving in Chiang Mai I have never seen a toll road ?

 

Is this story located in CM?

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

in nearly 20 years i have never had these problems i keep hearing about. i am in bkk now but live in the south and often take taxis instead of driving if i'm going out to drink in bkk

if you believe these you tube guys don't get themselves in the media to try and boost their hits, well, i'd have to disagree.

doing a good deed eh? not sure about that

Strange that you don't have these problems.. I have had them a lot and I live in the north of BKK. Main problems were in the center of BKK and tourist area's not as much here where I live. Its also well documented that this is normal so its actually strange that you don't have those problems. Countless polls (for thais) show differently. 

 

Oh I agree that these YouTube guys like extra clicks (makes them money) but he is already popular.. he could not have foreseen that this would have picked up the way it did. I think it started of as a good deed.. and for doing so karma rewarded him with loads of clicks. 

[Psimbo]

1 hour ago, sammieuk1 said:

I am lost here and maybe wrong but for the last 8 years plus driving in Chiang Mai I have never seen a toll road ?

The trick is to actually READ the story before commenting.

[Jeremy50]

I bet that creepy looking English teacher has tattoos, and wears sandals in the classroom. Has anyone verified his degree and other teaching credentials?  

[mauGR1]

4 minutes ago, Jeremy50 said:

I bet that creepy looking English teacher has tattoos, and wears sandals in the classroom. Has anyone verified his degree and other teaching credentials?  

You are being too kind, i would guess he wears white socks and shorts..

[anon789561]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Strange that you don't have these problems.. I have had them a lot and I live in the north of BKK. Main problems were in the center of BKK and tourist area's not as much here where I live. Its also well documented that this is normal so its actually strange that you don't have those problems. Countless polls (for thais) show differently. 

 

Oh I agree that these YouTube guys like extra clicks (makes them money) but he is already popular.. he could not have foreseen that this would have picked up the way it did. I think it started of as a good deed.. and for doing so karma rewarded him with loads of clicks. 

never have been ripped off and certainly not been tried to be overcharged for tolls. always been given receipt. our BKK house is out in Nawamin so far from central but i also have a condo central that i used to stay in a lot a few years ago. Only problems that have occurred sometimes don't want to use meter, i don't get in. sometimes don't want to go to Nawamin from central as too far, get next taxi. no other issues at all. if you find that strange so be it. just my experience.

[Bluespunk]

7 minutes ago, Jeremy50 said:

I bet that creepy looking English teacher has tattoos, and wears sandals in the classroom. Has anyone verified his degree and other teaching credentials?  

What classroom?

 

I thought he ran a youtube english site.

 

No classroom required...

Edited April 19, 2018 by Bluespunk

[watcharacters]

 

[theguyfromanotherforum]

6 minutes ago, Jeremy50 said:

I bet that creepy looking English teacher has tattoos, and wears sandals in the classroom. Has anyone verified his degree and other teaching credentials?  

 

While I agree with you in principle that if a guy is accusing a Taxi driver of cheating, he should also be investigated for working without a permit and those nasty tattoos.

 

I would actually take this one step further and send immigration police your way to check if you are throwing the garbage and vacuuming the place yourself or if you have hired help.

 

They should also check if you walk around shirtless because we all know what that means in Thailand..... 

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Happy enough said:

never have been ripped off and certainly not been tried to be overcharged for tolls. always been given receipt. our BKK house is out in Nawamin so far from central but i also have a condo central that i used to stay in a lot a few years ago. Only problems that have occurred sometimes don't want to use meter, i don't get in. sometimes don't want to go to Nawamin from central as too far, get next taxi. no other issues at all. if you find that strange so be it. just my experience.

I been in the nawamin area a lot.. before (Bungsamran fishing soi 42). The problem was not so prevalent there. As i said tourist area's navamin is not really tourist area and like my area more out of the way.

 

You do know that taxi's by law have to turn on the meter. So you are actually making my point by not turning on the meter they are breaking the law, taxis also by law have to pick up everyone. so by not going where you want to go again they are breaking the law.

 

So your confirming that taxi's are not following the law at all. I have had those problems too not turning on the meter (that is actually what the guy reported) and taxis not going where you want to go.. not so bad if its one .. but after 5 it gets a bit boring. That is one of the biggest reasons i try to avoid taxis now. 

[anon789561]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Not sure you noticed.. but normally in Thailand nothing much happens until the powers that be are shamed into action. DLT is useless in most cases.. now after the clip they came into action. 

 

Its standard operating procedure here.. not long ago there were some power poles installed in pedestrian bridges.. nothing was done until it came on social media.. the lady that exposed the corruption... social media first... then action.. 

a power pole isn't quite the same as an individual person. i just think it was unfair to shame the person on social media rather than just the service he claims he got