Taxi Driver - 2,000 Baht to airport!

[None The Wiser]

today me and my wife take taxi from soi 11 to bangkok airport survanaboom. 

 

he say he would turn on meter when get in car but once arrive airport he demanded 2,000 baht. I tell him no way but then him threaten my wife and start screaming at us in Thai, so I just pay the money cos I dont want trouble.

 

Is this a normal price from soi 11 to airport? I think its a bit high.

[CharlieH]

No of course it isnt normal. (from bkk)

 

 

[BigT73]

If its from soi 11 Pattaya, then its normal.

[None The Wiser]

3 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

No of course it isnt normal.(from bkk)

 

 

i'm sorry i dont know. it is our first tie here, now sat in airport and fliht delay 5 hour..

 

we feel so sad you know.

[None The Wiser]

10 minutes ago, BigT73 said:

If its from soi 11 Pattaya, then its normal.

it from soi 11 bangkok, grand swiss hotel.

[Ctkong]

Grand Swiss hotel to Suvarnabhumi Airport by taxi ( not hotel limousine taxi) should cost no more than tbaht 300( a journey of 30 Kms)  excluding toll if taxi is going via motorway 7. No more than 400tb total. You should have gotten airport security to help you to negotiate the price down .always take a photo of the taxi number tag riveted inside on both sides of the rear doors so that you can seek redress. Did you do that? 

[brokenbone]

many places here in pattaya advertises 1200 baht to bkk airport

[None The Wiser]

2 minutes ago, Ctkong said:

You should have gotten airport security to help you to negotiate the price down .always take a photo of the taxi number tag riveted inside on both sides of the rear doors so that you can seek redress. Did you do that? 

No, i really trust him wehn he say he turn on meter for us. and if i do that how i can get my money back anyway? tonight we fly back to Ghana.

[richard_smith237]

It’s normal practice from taxi drivers in Sukhumvit Soi 11 to try and screw over its customers...

 

I’ve never had a positive (or rather a non negative) experience getting a taxi from that area and usually have to try 5 or 6 before finally flagging down a passing taxi on Sukhumvit Rd.

 

Its too late now, you’ve been ripped off - put it down to experience & use GrabTaxi in future. 

 

Dont trust the scum on the street in tourist areas - they prey on the week and are a blight on an otherwise ok service. 

[None The Wiser]

20 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

It’s normal practice from taxi drivers in Sukhumvit Soi 11 to try and screw over its customers...

really bad. people tell me that thai people are so kind and friendly., we did not meet any on our trip. we stay here 3 weeks, travel to koh Samu, phuket, chiang mai and bangkok.

 

nicest place for us was chiang mai, here we have nice days but also more problem with hotel reception. 

 

so sorry to say that this was our worst holiday of all time which is sad because of everybody said that thai people are the best. we feel so let down but happy to be on our way home.

[Pilotman]

Thai Taxi drivers are crooks. You should have refused to pay and called the Police. Always have the police number on your phone. Take a pic of his licence plate as you get in the car and make sure that he sees you doing it.  The drivers are crooks, but cowards.  

[Pilotman]

5 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

In those five hours, why not go online and learn some real English. Or learn how to turn on your spell checker. Have a good flight.

No need for that comment. 

Edited February 24, 2019 by Pilotman

[Mavideol]

1 hour ago, None The Wiser said:

No, i really trust him wehn he say he turn on meter for us. and if i do that how i can get my money back anyway? tonight we fly back to Ghana.

did you took photo of his license or car plates, if so give them to the airport police

[CharlieH]

Posts removed.

[None The Wiser]

2 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

did you took photo of his license or car plates, if so give them to the airport police

no, we did not. everything just happen so fast and he drive away when have money.

 

i wonder how many times he do this per day?  I feel sorry for the next customer he pick up. i think airport police not help us with this

[147SAG]

1 hour ago, None The Wiser said:

it from soi 11 bangkok, grand swiss hotel.

500 to 600 baht

[Mavideol]

1 minute ago, None The Wiser said:

no, we did not. everything just happen so fast and he drive away when have money.

 

i wonder how many times he do this per day?  I feel sorry for the next customer he pick up. i think airport police not help us with this

if you have taken or pretended to take photo of his license his attitude (and price) would have been different

[tomacht8]

Sukumvit Soi 11 is known for the fact that the taxi drivers there, are scammers. They wait there all day for a victim and block the street and the parking lots .It is best always to stop a moving taxi. Unfortunately, many honest taxi drivers do not dare to accommodate passengers in the Soi 11. In this Soi is the rule of taximafia. Best order a taxi at the hotel reception. 2000 baht is the 6-7 multiple price of normal meter prices without highway fees.

Edited February 24, 2019 by tomacht8

[Ctkong]

24 minutes ago, None The Wiser said:

really bad. people tell me that thai people are so kind and friendly., we did not meet any on our trip. we stay here 3 weeks, travel to koh Samu, phuket, chiang mai and bangkok.

 

nicest place for us was chiang mai, here we have nice days but also more problem with hotel reception. 

 

so sorry to say that this was our worst holiday of all time which is sad because of everybody said that thai people are the best. we feel so let down but happy to be on our way home.

You mentioned going back to Ghana ? Are you African by nationality ? If so, Thais do not have a good opinion of Africans in Thailand because Africans especially from Western Africa dealt in scams, drugs, prostitution and other disreputable professions. Thais are generally xenophobic with a racial bias against those of color. Unfortunately all those places you have been to are touristic attractions so those thai people are well versed in dealing with tourists especially first timers. Rural Thailand are more friendly in my opinion but then most first time tourists do not visit there. 

[CharlieH]

Its sad that your memories of Thailand will be for all the wrong reasons. Unfortunately you had a negative experience but you are on the way home safe. 

[None The Wiser]

4 minutes ago, Ctkong said:

You mentioned going back to Ghana ? Are you African by nationality ? If so, Thais do not have a good opinion of Africans in Thailand because Africans especially from Western Africa dealt in scams, drugs, prostitution and other disreputable professions. Thais are generally xenophobic with a racial bias against those of color. Unfortunately all those places you have been to are touristic attractions so those thai people are well versed in dealing with tourists especially first timers. Rural Thailand are more friendly in my opinion but then most first time tourists do not visit there. 

yes, were are both Ghanaian nationality. we have been before to many places in europe and also to cambodia and vietnam. we did not have any these problems there so it must be unique to thailand.

 

but ok, we learn not to come back again but still feeling a heavy sadness in the departures lounge.

[Ctkong]

2 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Its sad that your memories of Thailand will be for all the wrong reasons. Unfortunately you had a negative experience but you are on the way home safe. 

First timer to any country especially third world country need to read up on the web any scams and recourses before embarking on the journey. Even developed countries have their scams. You got to have your wits about you when traveling abroad. 

[wgdanson]

25 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

No need for that comment. 

Sorry.

 

[Lacessit]

Rule number one in Thailand is ALWAYS ask the price of any conveyance BEFORE you get in it. Sorry the OP had a negative experience.

[NanLaew]

20 minutes ago, 147SAG said:

500 to 600 baht

Less than 400 baht on the meter-only but if adding tolls, still under 500 baht.

 

8 minutes ago, None The Wiser said:

yes, were are both Ghanaian nationality. we have been before to many places in europe and also to cambodia and vietnam. we did not have any these problems there so it must be unique to thailand.

 

but ok, we learn not to come back again but still feeling a heavy sadness in the departures lounge.

I agree that unfortunately most of the locals you will encounter are total, racial bankrupts and this taxi driver especially so. Too late to do anything but an eloquent, well-worded message about your poor overall experience in the 'Land of Smiles' to the Tourism Authority of Thailand wouldn't go amiss. If they have a Facebook presence, even better to post it there.

 

21 minutes ago, Ctkong said:

If so, Thais do not have a good opinion of Africans in Thailand because Africans especially from Western Africa dealt in scams, drugs, prostitution and other disreputable professions.

Stop making excuses for their long-standing, deep-seated prejudice and ignorance.

 

21 minutes ago, Ctkong said:

Thais are generally xenophobic with a racial bias against those of color.

That's much more factual.

[None The Wiser]

36 minutes ago, Ctkong said:

 Thais do not have a good opinion of Africans in Thailand because Africans especially from Western Africa dealt in scams, drugs, prostitution and other disreputable professions.

We go to bar in Patong beach but see only Thai girls working as prostitute. No African.

[baansgr]

1 hour ago, None The Wiser said:

really bad. people tell me that thai people are so kind and friendly., we did not meet any on our trip. we stay here 3 weeks, travel to koh Samu, phuket, chiang mai and bangkok.

 

nicest place for us was chiang mai, here we have nice days but also more problem with hotel reception. 

 

so sorry to say that this was our worst holiday of all time which is sad because of everybody said that thai people are the best. we feel so let down but happy to be on our way home.

Unfortunately, this is the feeling of many tourists to Thailand these days. Google abounds with thousands of people being scammed, threatened, robbed and even imprisoned. Look elsewhere for your next holiday and warn friends/family of your bad experience.

[baansgr]

45 minutes ago, Ctkong said:

You mentioned going back to Ghana ? Are you African by nationality ? If so, Thais do not have a good opinion of Africans in Thailand because Africans especially from Western Africa dealt in scams, drugs, prostitution and other disreputable professions. Thais are generally xenophobic with a racial bias against those of color. Unfortunately all those places you have been to are touristic attractions so those thai people are well versed in dealing with tourists especially first timers. Rural Thailand are more friendly in my opinion but then most first time tourists do not visit there. 

I cant believe you are defending the taxi driver and saying its the OPs fault because of his colour....that kind of attitude is what caused 20 million deaths 75 years ago..btw, expats and tourists do not have a good opinion of Thais in Thailand because Thais especially from Issan dealt in scams, drugs, prostitution and other disreputable professions.

[None The Wiser]

7 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Unfortunately, this is the feeling of many tourists to Thailand these days. Google abounds with thousands of people being scammed, threatened, robbed and even imprisoned. Look elsewhere for your next holiday and warn friends/family of your bad experience.

Thank you sir, yes we did read some before we come here but thought most of were not true as we had alredy been to southeast asia. next holiday we go to Monaco in July.

 

thanks for your advize.

[fruitman]

2 hours ago, None The Wiser said:

next holiday we go to Monaco in July.

You can see it all in 1-2-3 days there.....it's so small.