By taxi problem, I dont mean getting lost or not knowing were to go (that why you have Google Maps on your phone) but any of the following, alone or in combination:

 

1. Refusing to use the meter.

2. Drunk driving.

3. Stealing

4. Abusive (like real abuse boys, not some petty slight)

5. Throwing you out of cab.

6. Doin a "tion" in front of you (Masturbation, defecation)

7. Running the meter on you by taking a longer route when not necessary and not settling up on it. (that happened to me once and I called the dude out and got a free ride)

8. Driving blatantly unsafely (lets all put our big boy pants on and not be concerned about typical Thai bad driving, Im looking  for true lunacy)

9. Other...explain 

 

Please explain your choice. I bet number 1 is the winner.

 

I think the question is how often you have problems.

I like in Bangkok since more than 20 yeas and that makes obviously sure that I had lots of occasions with "problems".

Let me follow your list:

1. yes, many times, and maybe 1 in 20 times I pay more because I just don't have time to wait for another taxi

2, 3, 4: Never

5. Only after I told the driver I won't pay his inflated no meter price (after he told me first he will use the meter).

6. never

7. Two times a clear setup. First case: I told him and he restarted the meter. 2nd case: I told him, paid part and got out.

8. If it would be too bad I would go out. It was never that bad.

 

Summary: All in all I am ok with Bangkok's taxi drivers.

I avoid all the taxis who wait i.e. in front of hotels because they will never use the meter.

All the other taxis I tell them where I want to go and that I want to pay according to meter. If they don't want to go or don't want to switch on the meter I close the door and wait for the next taxi.

 

There is no point about getting upset about them. Ignore the bad drivers and that's it.

A fun thread.... All of these are issues - but when looking at the bigger picture, we are a lot better off for taxis in Bangkok than other cities in Thailand... 

 

 

1. Refusing to use the meter.

Yes - almost every time I try to get a taxi I'm first faced with a series of refusals (usually about 3-6)

 

2. Drunk driving.

Not so common - but I recall a couple of occasions where I'm in a taxi and its become worryingly apparent that the Taxi driver is drunk. 

 

3. Stealing

Never.

 

4. Abusive (like real abuse boys, not some petty slight)

Never - but they have been verbally abusive to other drivers and driven aggressively such that I though a fight may breakout between drivers. 

 

5. Throwing you out of cab.

Yes - its happened a couple of times - the driver he decides he no longer wants to go to your destinations, pulls over and has asked me to get out. On one occasion he did wave down another taxi to take me. Also, drivers refuse to go the direction I want where I know there will be less traffic (I've been driving in BKK for 20 years - quite often more than the taxi driver has !).

 

6. Doin a "tion" in front of you (Masturbation, defecation)

Never - but have encountered a couple of prolific farters such that I had to get out of the taxi !!!

 

7. Running the meter on you by taking a longer route when not necessary and not settling up on it.

When I was a newbie... quite commonly. Now I tell them the direction I want to take - it doesn't happen anymore. 

 

8. Driving blatantly unsafely

Yes - aggressive driving, getting angry at other drivers and cutting them up narrowly missing accidents. Driving while watching a movie on their phone which is placed on their instrument cluster, and refusing to turn it off until tell them to stop so I can get out.

 

9. Other...explain

Just the hassle of drivers blatantly not listening to your directions until you go alpha male on them and have to lower your tone and raise your voice to tell them... (in Thai).. "Turn left in 50m".... "Turn left here"... "Turn left"... "TURN LEFT !!!!"....

 

Problems are part and parcel to life, except if one dwells in an illusion.

This reminds me of that high bangkok official who had issues with a taxi and the taxidriver threatened him to let him getting arrested...he really called the police, they came and then the official told them who he was and that they plus their boss would get prosecuted.

 

Iirc it was at pratunam...the story was even more fun but i can't remember all.

 

Anybody knows what happened after that? It was on this forum and in the thai news as well.

1. Refusing to use the meter.

several times

 

2. Drunk driving.

no

 

3. Stealing

no

 

4. Abusive (like real abuse boys, not some petty slight)

no

 

5. Throwing you out of cab.

very few times

 

6. Doin a "tion" in front of you (Masturbation, defecation)

no

 

7. Running the meter on you by taking a longer route when not necessary and not settling up on it. (that happened to me once and I called the dude out and got a free ride)

a few times, generally doesn't work with me - I know BKK and surroundings too well

 

8. Driving blatantly unsafely (lets all put our big boy pants on and not be concerned about typical Thai bad driving, Im looking  for true lunacy)

yes, but very few times, very few

 

9. Other...explain 

will not listen when I tell them which roads to take,

have to threaten with 0 payment if they don't listen

 

Never had a problem with cabs in Bangkok in >12 years now. 

Occasionally, one or two might turn me down if it's solid rush hour and I want to go across town but that's it. 

Does driving off with your bags in the trunk count? I never pay until I have my bags since that.

Twice I’ve had drunk drivers in Phuket, and a third that picking me up at my hotel could hardly walk to reception ! Of course didn’t get in that car. Another threw me out on the way into Patong as there was traffic. Lots of times been quoted 1000 B to get home to Kata beach from Patong. Also witnessed taxi drivers attacking a tourists car and the driver because he dared  park near the town hall in Kata.There were children in the car and the scene was terrifying. Where he parked was not a taxi stand. This , all on Phuket, and why I eventually moved away for good. 

I had no 7 once in Bangkok but a simple phone call to my wife solved the problem and resulted in a lower fare than was on the meter.

 

Alan

Is the Pope a Catholic? ????  

Not really as I rarely use them. Just a lift from BKK to the condo I stay at. Here in Jomtien, I have a scooter so no need. I did use on once. South Pattaya to Jomtien. 4 km. No meter, 300 baht for a 5 min ride. 

Rent or buy in a position that will ensure you only need a taxi in rare circumstances.

I'm on lower Sukhumvit between Asoke and Nana bts. I bought to be near a bts but I rarely even use that since T21 opened

It would need to be half an emergency to be placed within a meter of those crooked scum

Only once in twenty-plus years. I had a taxi driver have an absolute MELTDOWN, screaming and yelling like a madman. The reason? All I had was 500 baht to pay the 100 baht taxi fare. I love it when Thai people show the deep, seething insanity that lies just below the surface.

23 minutes ago, madmen said:

Rent or buy in a position that will ensure you only need a taxi in rare circumstances.

I'm on lower Sukhumvit between Asoke and Nana bts. I bought to be near a bts but I rarely even use that since T21 opened

It would need to be half an emergency to be placed within a meter of those crooked scum

Ummm..where do you go then?

I have never had a problem. In fact, the service was exemplary in all modes of transportation, most in CM area but elsewhere too.

This does not count as a taxi but once in a mini bus from Surat Thani to Krabi, I came close to asking my gf to request the driver to stop and let us out. His driving was that of a complete nut case, white line special, peddle to the metal.

No 7 for me. I was going to an interview for a school teachers job in Bangkok when I hailed a taxi, I caught the driver out when he deliberately took me off course where I recognised a place where I had passed in a bus about 20 mins earlier. I said to him "stop right now, you take a longer road", he stopped, I got out and took another taxi. This time the driver  made a genuine mistake, he turned left and then apologised. he then done a U turn at the end of a long traffic queue, and while we were waiting. I told him to stop the meter as it was  running up the money, he said no, I said I will not pay for your mistake, got out and took a bus back as it was now too late for my interview.

I voted "Not Me" but I suppose you could include the number of times taxis refuse to take you after you tell them where you want to go. This has only happened to me in Bangkok and usually at peak times. Never had an issue once inside the taxi.

Boring topic but I'll chime in on the only real unusual thing that has happened to me as many of the posted are common.  I once had a man tell me he had a hard on as he drove.  Effn creepy skinny somchai who picked me up after a big night of drinking on Silom.  "My dick so hard now."  I mean ... how do you respond to that?  "Well...I'm glad you're using the digital meter instead of the analog. Now please continue to the destination..." 555 

Ummm..where do you go then?

Everything I need is in the sois between asoke and Nana, resteraunts, bars, food land, villa, tops, gourmet market, food court in T21, hardware stores, massage, several 5 star hotels.

Where do you live?

14 minutes ago, madmen said:

Everything I need is in the sois between asoke and Nana, resteraunts, bars, food land, villa, tops, gourmet market, food court in T21, hardware stores, massage, several 5 star hotels.

Where do you live?

Thonburi. I have Talat Phlu BTS  500 meters away that takes me "downtown" for my rare appearances in Farangland and to the MRT and to the boats. I have Talat Phlu RR station that takes me down to Mae Khlong. I have Thonburi RR station to take me for my next trip to Nhakhon Pathom. I have the Mall 700 meters away, Talat Phlu street food market 600 meters, Icon Siam 1.5km, etc.

 

But my question is...dont you leave your neighborhood?

Refusing to drive where I want to go.

Refusing to use the meter.

Yaba drivers

Drive far out and away from where I wanted, even I have the google map in front of them, they do not understand what I say. (Some BKK drivers are really good in traffic jam situations, and not necessery trying to rip you off.)

Thonburi. I have Talat Phlu BTS  500 meters away that takes me "downtown" for my rare appearances in Farangland and to the MRT and to the boats. I have Talat Phlu RR station that takes me down to Mae Khlong. I have Thonburi RR station to take me for my next trip to Nhakhon Pathom. I have the Mall 700 meters away, Talat Phlu street food market 600 meters, Icon Siam 1.5km, etc.
 
But my question is...dont you leave your neighborhood?

Not in bangkok unless it's the markets. Been here a long time seen Most of it

But I travel a lot, currently in Pattaya for a month or I would hop an overnight train to chiang mai or udon or to Samui

So probably the only times I need a taxi is arriving there to hotel

35 minutes ago, madmen said:

Been here a long time seen Most of it

You can never see it all. Thats the beauty of this place. The same place twice is different.

Fighting on Pinklao bridge with a taxi driver police came made the taxi driver  beg for me to forgive him .

 

 Taxi driver showing my wife porno on his phone told her to take his number and report him . Taxi drivers refusing to take me to a destination because of traffic. Most of the time I'm with my Thai wife so not much of a  problem in fact we always state a fare then give extra if its worth it.

Driving well over the speed limit in Bangkok on a Sunday morning when traffic was light.

No seat belts in the back seats.

I told the doorman at my hotel in Bangkok that I need a cab and one that will use the meter.

 

First one passed, 2nd one accepted.

 

Otherwise I almost always used Grab with excellent results.

 

marquis22 - "No seat belts in the back seats."

I always look before I get in to make sure they have them, and ask them to wait while I make sure it works before they pull out. Or don't close the passenger door until it's on.

They didn't work in one taxi in Vietnam in the back. I sat in the front passenger seat which had a working seat belt.

 

I also almost always put my luggage in the back with me rather than the trunk in case a hassle was to arise.

My number 1 would be refusing the meter.

My number 2 would be to refuse an errand.

My number 3 would be in the lack of proficency and knowledge of the city addresses.

 

2 hours ago, MickeyR said:

Fighting on Pinklao bridge with a taxi driver police came made the taxi driver  beg for me to forgive him .

Damn my life is way too humdrum!

Had the most terrifying ride on a tuk-tuk in the center of Bangkok few years ago.

My fault, i knew the Thai price, and agreed on it, but the young guy was obviously pi**ed, and wanted to make a point.

At the end, i was so happy to be alive that i tipped him.