Bangkok Taxies... Worse than ever?

[khunpa]

Just returned home from a few days I Bangkok. Not been back there for months.

 

Normally, I always found the taxies to be okay in BKK (Lived there for 3 years). Of course sometimes experiencing the refusal to take the ride and also refusing to turn on the meter.

 

However, this time it was just too much hazzle every single time, to take a taxi.

 

For a total of 5 trips while there, I got refused 2-4 times before each ride.

 

Also only ONE driver used the meter. ALL others demanded overprice to take me to my destination. If I had not agreed to no meter and overprice, I would properly still have been standing there. 

 

What an overall crap experience!!

 

Obviously nothing in this place ever gets better. And what a shitty experience, it must be for tourists.

 

Have I just been extremely unlucky, or is this worse than ever??

 

 

[scorecard]

"....And what a shitty experience, it must be for tourists."

 

A twist, many times in the past the exchange students coming to my uni from Europe have had the same experience and been shocked, 2 years back a small group of them got together, just before they left Bkk to go home and wrote full instructions with photos for alternative forms of transport, etc..

 

It's now handed to the new exchange students before they leave their home country.

 

 

[Airalee]

Having lived in Bangkok for about 6 months now and taken numerous taxis (at least 5 rides per week), I have only once experienced a taxi driver who didn’t want to use the meter and this was returning to my condo near Phra Khanong from Pantip Plaza during rush hour.

 

Every other time, the taxi drivers have used the meter.  What I wonder and the questions I have regarding all the people who claim to have so many bad experiences are...

 

1.  Do you smile as the taxi approaches and pulls over for you and then open the front door and politely let the driver know, in Thai language, where it is that you desire to go?  When I need to go to see a doctor at Vichaiyut, I always open the door and politely say “Kor bai Rong Payaban Vichaiyut krab”. They then nod their head, I get in the back seat and say thank you (also in Thai).  One doesn’t need to be fluent in Thai to have this limited interaction.

 

or do you

 

2. Flag down the taxi with the usual expat scowl that is all too common and just blurt out in English the name of your intended destination as you pile into the back seat?

[keeniau96]

It is a pleasure to use Bangkok taxis after living here in Phuket for 16 years now, BKK taxis in my experience are generally polite and knowlegable, and will almost always use the meter. I wave one down, trying to do so in location where taxi can readily pull over. Get i, close the door and give my target location in Thai. He starts off, turning on the meter, if not I tell him to turn on: meter, krap. rarely any hassle.

[seancbk]

1 hour ago, Airalee said:

Having lived in Bangkok for about 6 months now and taken numerous taxis (at least 5 rides per week), I have only once experienced a taxi driver who didn’t want to use the meter and this was returning to my condo near Phra Khanong from Pantip Plaza during rush hour.

 

Every other time, the taxi drivers have used the meter.  What I wonder and the questions I have regarding all the people who claim to have so many bad experiences are...

 

1.  Do you smile as the taxi approaches and pulls over for you and then open the front door and politely let the driver know, in Thai language, where it is that you desire to go?  When I need to go to see a doctor at Vichaiyut, I always open the door and politely say “Kor bai Rong Payaban Vichaiyut krab”. They then nod their head, I get in the back seat and say thank you (also in Thai).  One doesn’t need to be fluent in Thai to have this limited interaction.

 

or do you

 

2. Flag down the taxi with the usual expat scowl that is all too common and just blurt out in English the name of your intended destination as you pile into the back seat?

 
Like you, I rarely have issues with taxis.  But I live in a place that is very easy to get to (on Sukhumvit next to a BTS stop).   I also politely ask in Thai and usually end up chatting to the driver in my dreadful broken Thai!

[VocalNeal]

Nowadays some taxis have the back door locked and they lower the passenger side window so you can ask. I'm assuming if the passenger doesn't get in they cannot be accused of refusing a fare. Which is illegal.

 

When this happens I simply wave then away and wait for the next one. 

 

1 hour ago, Airalee said:

Do you smile as the taxi approaches and pulls over for you and then open the front door and politely let the driver know, in Thai language, where it is that you desire to go?

It is not there job to decide where they go. That is the customers prerogative. 

 

If where I want to go is "out of the way" I expect to get refused a couple of times. 

[bluesofa]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

"....And what a shitty experience, it must be for tourists."

 

A twist, many times in the past the exchange students coming to my uni from Europe have had the same experience and been shocked, 2 years back a small group of them got together, just before they left Bkk to go home and wrote full instructions with photos for alternative forms of transport, etc..

It's now handed to the new exchange students before they leave their home country.

 

That sounds like good advice - as long as it's followed, of course.

 

I had a friend who came here a couple of times, and I booked him a taxi to meet him at airport arrivals. I told him he needed to go to exit 3, and look for someone with a sign that said "Mr. T taxis", along with my friend's name on it.

Of course he was tired, got to exit 3, at which point a guy jumped at him saying "Taxi!" My friend made the mistake of asking, "Are you Mr T?" Naturally the guy said, "Yes", as he would, irrespective of what the question asked was. My friend had a long, expensive ride.

Obviously afterwards he realised he should have asked, "Who are you?" and not, "Are you Mr T?"

 

I used to tell customers that if they were unsure about being understood when asking a taxi driver something, to ask a stupid question, to which the answer should be "No."

I always suggested something like, "Are you an airline pilot?" or  "Do you eat elephants?" If the answer was "Yes", then get out and look for another taxi.

 

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, Airalee said:

Having lived in Bangkok for about 6 months now and taken numerous taxis (at least 5 rides per week), I have only once experienced a taxi driver who didn’t want to use the meter and this was returning to my condo near Phra Khanong from Pantip Plaza during rush hour.

 

Every other time, the taxi drivers have used the meter.  What I wonder and the questions I have regarding all the people who claim to have so many bad experiences are...

 

1.  Do you smile as the taxi approaches and pulls over for you and then open the front door and politely let the driver know, in Thai language, where it is that you desire to go?  When I need to go to see a doctor at Vichaiyut, I always open the door and politely say “Kor bai Rong Payaban Vichaiyut krab”. They then nod their head, I get in the back seat and say thank you (also in Thai).  One doesn’t need to be fluent in Thai to have this limited interaction.

 

or do you

 

2. Flag down the taxi with the usual expat scowl that is all too common and just blurt out in English the name of your intended destination as you pile into the back seat?

2

 

 

Are you for real?

 

You are trying to tell us how to behave in a simple matter of ' hailing a taxi? '

 

Many of us on here speak Thai and have been in the capital a lot longer than six months and suffered at the hands of cheating, conniving, rude taxi drivers.

 

They refuse to put on meters, say their meter is broken, they smile and try to organize an inflated fare without putting on their meter, many refuse to pick up when they are not facing that direction, and others want fees far in excess of the meter charge if it's raining!

 

Regards speaking Thai, many of them could help themselves by learning a little English, considering they are working in the nation's capital, the number of international arrivals and the fact that English is accepted as the universal language.

 

You obviously must be an expert on the behavior of expats in Bangkok to make such a silly comment as your bullet point number 2 above.

[Hummin]

My gf or the hotel staff speak thai, and we stil get refused to have a ride. So my experinece is bkk taxi sucks big time. 

 

Download the Grab app and enjoy their service. 

[Scouse123]

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

My gf or the hotel staff speak thai, and we stil get refused to have a ride. So my experinece is bkk taxi sucks big time. 

 

Download the Grab app and enjoy their service. 

 

You are right 100%.

 

I was offered a deal from Bangkok to Koh Chang at the end of this month, by a yellow and green taxi guy that I know for a long time.

 

I've have opted for the full limousine service getting picked up in Bangkok, all fees, tolls, and ferry included and door to door in an SUV. The company is a decent size too and states all drivers speak Engish and passed proficiency tests in driving skills.

 

I would sooner pay more and get the service in a decent mode of transport.

[milys]

I have been living in Thailand for the last decade and I refuse to overpay taxis. Flag down the taxi and tell him where you want to go. If he refuses to put on the meter he will probably tell you a price before you step into the cab. So, just let him go and ask the next one. There's no shortage of taxis in BKK.

Another golden rule is; don't take a taxi standing still waiting for customers. Real honest working drivers don't stand still waiting for customers except when they are standing in a taxi line. In some places at rush hour it can be very difficult to find a taxi if you are going a short distance. Consider take a motorbike taxi instead.

[Rhys]

Always luck of the draw..

 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Airalee said:

Having lived in Bangkok for about 6 months now and taken numerous taxis (at least 5 rides per week), I have only once experienced a taxi driver who didn’t want to use the meter and this was returning to my condo near Phra Khanong from Pantip Plaza during rush hour.

 

Every other time, the taxi drivers have used the meter.  What I wonder and the questions I have regarding all the people who claim to have so many bad experiences are...

 

1.  Do you smile as the taxi approaches and pulls over for you and then open the front door and politely let the driver know, in Thai language, where it is that you desire to go?  When I need to go to see a doctor at Vichaiyut, I always open the door and politely say “Kor bai Rong Payaban Vichaiyut krab”. They then nod their head, I get in the back seat and say thank you (also in Thai).  One doesn’t need to be fluent in Thai to have this limited interaction.

 

or do you

 

2. Flag down the taxi with the usual expat scowl that is all too common and just blurt out in English the name of your intended destination as you pile into the back seat?

There’s always a reply like this on threads about taxis.... 

 

Try the Thai forums (Pantip)... what would you suggest to the scores of Thai’s who complain of exactly the same issues? 

 

While taxis in Bkk are cheap and while we must consider ourselves relatively spoilt, there is no escaping the fact that for many the taxi experience in Bkk is somewhat of a lottery...

 

Before each and every time I flag a taxi I wonder if I'm going to get a tool... Such, that I'll always try Grab-car first.

[murraynz]

when in bkk recently with my thai girlfriend----she commented several times when she was trying to stop a taxi for us...

"taxi only want farlang customer".. obviously they can earn more that way...??

[Hummin]

10 minutes ago, murraynz said:

when in bkk recently with my thai girlfriend----she commented several times when she was trying to stop a taxi for us...

"taxi only want farlang customer".. obviously they can earn more that way...??

It is more about where they are willing to drive, and also the price you are willing to pay, but most of all where you go. Many times or most of the time they do not know the adress, and also due to traffic situation do not botter going. 

 

It have been seriously a pain in the ass every time we visit Bangkok for us, but at once we tried Grab, there is no way we are going back to BKK taxies. Price offer, name of driver, what kind of car and how many minutes away, and a reciept in the inbox pronto after the ride is offer. If you forget an item, you know where to call. Clean taxis, good service, and safe drivers so far i my experience. 

[Hummin]

Double post

[scorecard]

34 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

There’s always a reply like this on threads about taxis.... 

 

Try the Thai forums (Pantip)... what would you suggest to the scores of Thai’s who complain of exactly the same issues? 

 

While taxis in Bkk are cheap and while we must consider ourselves relatively spoilt, there is no escaping the fact that for many the taxi experience in Bkk is somewhat of a lottery...

 

Before each and every time I flag a taxi I wonder if I'm going to get a tool... Such, that I'll always try Grab-car first.

 

And what aralee missed was the set-up where you hail the taxi, it stops you open the rear door and get in and politely and clearly give your destination. 

 

Opening the front door and giving your destination sets up the driver to easily say no. This is exactly what the authorities, who are trying to improve the service, don't want.

 

Until the regulations drivers have to take you wherever you indicate (unless of course it's to another province etc.). 

 

Just get in and be polite to give your destination.

 

 

 

[Just Weird]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

 

 

Are you for real?

 

You are trying to tell us how to behave in a simple matter of ' hailing a taxi? '

 

Many of us on here speak Thai and have been in the capital a lot longer than six months and suffered at the hands of cheating, conniving, rude taxi drivers.

 

They refuse to put on meters, say their meter is broken, they smile and try to organize an inflated fare without putting on their meter, many refuse to pick up when they are not facing that direction, and others want fees far in excess of the meter charge if it's raining!

...and the other 90% accept passengers with no problems.

[Sam Lin]

Certainly not worse than ever, apparently people have forgotten the old stories of being taken on longer routes just to run up the meter.

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

That sounds like good advice - as long as it's followed, of course.

 

I had a friend who came here a couple of times, and I booked him a taxi to meet him at airport arrivals. I told him he needed to go to exit 3, and look for someone with a sign that said "Mr. T taxis", along with my friend's name on it.

Of course he was tired, got to exit 3, at which point a guy jumped at him saying "Taxi!" My friend made the mistake of asking, "Are you Mr T?" Naturally the guy said, "Yes", as he would, irrespective of what the question asked was. My friend had a long, expensive ride.

Obviously afterwards he realised he should have asked, "Who are you?" and not, "Are you Mr T?"

 

I used to tell customers that if they were unsure about being understood when asking a taxi driver something, to ask a stupid question, to which the answer should be "No."

I always suggested something like, "Are you an airline pilot?" or  "Do you eat elephants?" If the answer was "Yes", then get out and look for another taxi.

 

Have to be careful here, it is very common for Thai people to say yes when they actually mean no.

[Hummin]

First time Krabi, I asked the songthaew driver how much from Ao Nang to Krabi city, he smile and said 200 bath sir :D 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

10 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

...and the other 90% accept passengers with no problems.

 

Experiences will obviously vary...  

 

But I reckon it's about 50/50

 

50% No issues / no problems.

50% refusal, attempt at over charge, rude driver, dangerous driving etc.

 

 

[mogandave]

I usually have pretty good luck. I agree, getting in works better than asking through the window.

If they don’t use the meter I just get out.

It is worth noting that the drivers often only know a small area, and their passengers often don’t know how to get there either.

[observer90210]

These taxi cheats do much worse harm on the image of Thailand, then a girl not properly smiling to hordes of Chinese tourists.

 

Is there no top level Pol Maj General in the house, to seriously take up things on a daily basis and punish the rogue Bangkok taxi drivers ?

 

They could use farang snitches, disguised as tourists for exemple to trap the taxi crooks at the airport.

[otherstuff1957]

I would say that the main reason that people have different perceptions about taxis is where they usually use them.  I live near Ratchada & Lad Prao and rarely have any trouble getting a taxi to pick me up or or turn on the meter.  However, if I go down to Sukhumvit or Silom or near MBK/Paragon I will have a very hard time finding a taxi who will take me home or turn on the meter!

 

 

[mogandave]

These taxi cheats do much worse harm on the image of Thailand, then a girl not properly smiling to hordes of Chinese tourists.

 

Is there no top level Pol Maj General in the house, to seriously take up things on a daily basis and punish the rogue Bangkok taxi drivers ?

 

They could use farang snitches, disguised as tourists for exemple to trap the taxi crooks at the airport.

 

It’s hard to imagine a more missable job than driving a taxi downtown. I do not see how making it more miserable turns out well.

[MrJohnson]

5 hours ago, Airalee said:

Having lived in Bangkok for about 6 months now and taken numerous taxis (at least 5 rides per week), I have only once experienced a taxi driver who didn’t want to use the meter and this was returning to my condo near Phra Khanong from Pantip Plaza during rush hour.

 

Every other time, the taxi drivers have used the meter.  What I wonder and the questions I have regarding all the people who claim to have so many bad experiences are...

 

1.  Do you smile as the taxi approaches and pulls over for you and then open the front door and politely let the driver know, in Thai language, where it is that you desire to go?  When I need to go to see a doctor at Vichaiyut, I always open the door and politely say “Kor bai Rong Payaban Vichaiyut krab”. They then nod their head, I get in the back seat and say thank you (also in Thai).  One doesn’t need to be fluent in Thai to have this limited interaction.

 

or do you

 

2. Flag down the taxi with the usual expat scowl that is all too common and just blurt out in English the name of your intended destination as you pile into the back seat?

Well I must be living in a parallel universe and yes I speak Thai, and yes i am polite, and yes I dress appropriately and I rarely scowl until after the  driver declines the fare (if you have the red light on then you should be prepared to accept the fare) or a ridiculous fare is demanded and meter is turned off - then I might scowl. Now I just use Grab. Have to plan ahead and sometimes there are hassles with this as well but I like the fact that there is a rating system and most of the cars are clean and have a seat belt. But if you are happy with your taxi experience then good luck to you.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

First time Krabi, I asked the songthaew driver how much from Ao Nang to Krabi city, he smile and said 200 bath sir :D 

 

 

 

200 and a bath?

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, scorecard said:

 

200 and a bath?

Probably suspicious he was trying to clean up,

 

[munchlet]

Have been living here for 30 years now. Taxis are cheap, metered, airconditioned too, they didn't used to be till the early 90s, when taxis were controlled by the police and Thai Chinese mafia. I have noticed an increasing unwillingness to use the meter if 1) It is Rush hour, or 2) Pissing it down with rain. However, some do try it on in night life areas like Patpong or Cowboy, I just walk further away and nearly always get a cab that will take me back home to Samsen.

 

I pity the taxi drivers, they are very cheap, the flag drop on the meter has only gone up from 30 to 35 ONCE in 25 years, they don't get evening rates, they don't charge for baggage etc. We get agreat deal. Yes, there are some old bangers out there and some impolite ones. but generally they are great value. If you want to go upmarket. Use GRAB. more expensive, but cleaner.

 

Us BAngkokians whould consider ourselves lucky. There are no taxis worth the name in Pattaya, Phuket and Samui. They have meters but refuse to use them and charge at least 500% more than BKK taxis.