The phuket taxi mafia is really gouging tourists. A friend ordered a Grab taxi, cost for the trip was 160 baht, but he wouldn't come, too scared of the local mafia. Local taxi mafia wanted 600 baht for the same trip. After 2 years of very few or basically no tourists, it seems the taxi mafia want to make-up for lost profits. Phuket is definitely a place to avoid even if you get a cheap flight to it.

If you meet the Grab driver outside a touristy area where the mafia can't see, usually not a problem. I think Bolt now works in Phuket also.

So nothing new then.

 

This was happening more than 20 years ago when i lived there for 4 years.

5 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

So nothing new then.

 

This was happening more than 20 years ago when i lived there for 4 years.

Its all over Thai Social media.

Big reason locals and many That's avoid Phuket.

 

Your better off renting a car from the airport and having your own transportation if possible.

 

Cheaper and more freedom.

 

Nothing is going to change with that taxi Mafia.

 

Its the same Mafi running the country.

 

 

After decades of hot air promises nothing has changed. Only thing you can do is just avoid them as much as practically possible. Rent your own transport. Or avoid Phuket altogether.

I spent a month in 2008 doing a TEFL course in Phuket. After the first reaming by the taxi Mafia I found a close by outfit that was fine with daily motorbike rentals. Far cheaper than paying their shameful rates.

30 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

So nothing new then.

 

This was happening more than 20 years ago when i lived there for 4 years.

Then it was 400 baht even it was only 300m

Maybe just rent a jetski.... ????

This story rings true and was happening  years ago and one of the reasons I don't go to Phuket.  I use taxis all the time but in Phuket  they are not just expensive  but aggressive  thugs

the full story to the OP

https://www.thephuketnews.com/i-am-not-a-cheat-says-phuket-taxi-driver-82918.php?fbclid=IwAR0MP94f9drPjZX7s7PHVVoCN1fZcE16PuCM5F3HAgi5ZT-ic9ifTZ9OJk4

 

personally i doubt he was ur friend but u wanted to post this rather than quote the original story>

 

 

1 hour ago, Banana7 said:

The phuket taxi mafia is really gouging tourists. A friend ordered a Grab taxi, cost for the trip was 160 baht, but he wouldn't come, too scared of the local mafia. Local taxi mafia wanted 600 baht for the same trip. After 2 years of very few or basically no tourists, it seems the taxi mafia want to make-up for lost profits. Phuket is definitely a place to avoid even if you get a cheap flight to it.

why change a business model that works so well? ????

I thought he had no stress?

2 hours ago, zzzzz said:

the full story to the OP

https://www.thephuketnews.com/i-am-not-a-cheat-says-phuket-taxi-driver-82918.php?fbclid=IwAR0MP94f9drPjZX7s7PHVVoCN1fZcE16PuCM5F3HAgi5ZT-ic9ifTZ9OJk4

 

personally i doubt he was ur friend but u wanted to post this rather than quote the original story>

 

 

UPDATE:
Phuket taxi driver fined for being rude

Quote

PHUKET: A taxi driver has been fined 1,000 baht and instructed to attend a course on good manners for being rude to a visitor from Bangkok he tried to overcharge on Friday night.

 

Thai news with the video;

 

2 hours ago, zzzzz said:

the full story to the OP

https://www.thephuketnews.com/i-am-not-a-cheat-says-phuket-taxi-driver-82918.php?fbclid=IwAR0MP94f9drPjZX7s7PHVVoCN1fZcE16PuCM5F3HAgi5ZT-ic9ifTZ9OJk4

 

personally i doubt he was ur friend but u wanted to post this rather than quote the original story>

 

 

I came to say the same thing.  I literally just got done reading the news story and this was the very next thing I read.   
 

So some Thai guy gets into an argument with a Phuket taxi driver, it’s all over social media, including a video of the argument, as well as being all over Thai English language media and some dude shows up here, not to post links to the actual story but to give some vague description of something that happened to his buddy that exactly matches the case that’s all over the news?   
 

I love this follow up article by Phuket News where they confront the taxi driver and he claims the passengers insulted him and that 600 baht is a normal fare.  
 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/i-am-not-a-cheat-says-phuket-taxi-driver-82918.php

 

Especially the part where Phuket News basically calls the guy a liar.  
 

Mr Jesada continued his defence, deflecting the key issue by focussing on the claim that he had raised his middle finger at Mr Phol’s girlfriend.

 

Mr Jesada claimed he never did this. he said that he only pointed his finger in mr Phol’s face.

 

“You can see the evidence from the clip,” he said.

 

“I didn’t even turn to look at the woman because I assumed that she is her mother’s gender," he said.

 

What can be plainly seen in the video clips posted on TikTok is Mr Jetsada scolding Mr Phol’s girlfriend at close range shouting loudly and waving and pointing his finger close to her face while she recorded the incident on her phone.

It sounds as if I am one of the few people who hasn't been overcharged by a Phuket songthaew. I paid 20 baht for my journey in 1998. The songthaew driver actually apologised to me for picking up someone else on the way and making a small detour.

 

It's a big issue. It's seems the kindness and humility in the tourist industry is all but gone. But the tourists have changed too.

Backpackers were genuinely grateful to find and live simply in such a paradise. Involved themselves with the community and therefore kept the respect of the Thai people. 

With no connections between the tourists and the locals; it's seems more of an us and them situation these days, rather than mutual respect.

I respect rich and poor and have relatively few problems. 

I rented a car on a later visit, since the stories of overcharging were so prevalent. On holiday it's probably best to take the path of least resistance, as that is why you are in Thailand in the first place. To work out the kinks and stresses in your life. Not to add to them. Maybe don't drink so much that you cannot get yourself home ???? 

there is NO LOCAL songthaew from Kamala to Patong. Never has been
You need go kamala-phuket town-patong

I lived in kamala 96-2021

 

There is no deterrent. The weak army comes in and cracks down. All is forgotten two weeks later. Same happens on Samui. It is a travesty. These clowns should be locked up. Nobody has the courage to stand up to them. 

 

They appear to be more powerful than the police, and the army. Quite a pathetic statement about Prayuth, and his extreme unwillingness to fight corruption, on any level, and in any form. Quite the contrary. He is the protector of the ultimate status quo. Let's get rid of him once and for all. See you, Cha Cha! 

At least 2 reasons why the situation won't change in Phuket unless ...... no nothing....

 

- Most of these "private Limousine" drivers ( as they like to refer to themselves) are natives from Phuket, their families are also from Phuket and all of them are well connected with local authorities. As soon as Thai people start complaining about them on social media, tenth of them are showing up online to defend the corporation.  

 

- The union for Tuk Tuk and taxi drivers in Phuket is very powerful. Monthly fees can be as high as 10k Thb and there are several thousand of members all over the island. You can only imagine that with this kind of cash, any kind of problems are fading away rather quickly.

 

Very sad indeed, but the best option in Phuket is to drive your own car or bike..... hence the traffic....

Nothing changed since I left in 2008 then. Phuket is the biggest ripoff in Thailand. From the Taxis to TukTuks, from local Mom and Pop shops to the food markets. Always trying to ripoff foreigners even if they know you are a long term stayer. Even a lot of the restaurant menus have a foreign version with higher prices.

 

When I left after 2 years due to a job offer in Bangkok I couldn't believe how honest and friendly the people in BKK were in comparison. 

 

I guess it's OK for a short break if you hire a car, but not a great place to live IMO. 

Making mountains out of molehills guys, one poster even goes as far as to say not a nice place to live because of this..............

 

So you get nicked 17-18US$ to get from the airport to Patong or Rawai, are you really going to let that ruin your holiday? Are you the guy that refuses to buy a BG an occasional ladydrink? Booo freakin hoo.

 

They don't pay the police diddly-squat so a lot of them drive cabs when not in the brown shirt and are armed. Knew one myself when I lived there. So best suck it up, know the score and ride with it, lest you upset an off duty cop AND GET SHOT.

21 minutes ago, grumpyoldman said:

Making mountains out of molehills guys, one poster even goes as far as to say not a nice place to live because of this..............

 

So you get nicked 17-18US$ to get from the airport to Patong or Rawai, are you really going to let that ruin your holiday? Are you the guy that refuses to buy a BG an occasional ladydrink? Booo freakin hoo.

 

They don't pay the police diddly-squat so a lot of them drive cabs when not in the brown shirt and are armed. Knew one myself when I lived there. So best suck it up, know the score and ride with it, lest you upset an off duty cop AND GET SHOT.

You may wish to ease off the sauce... 

17 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Nothing changed since I left in 2008 then. Phuket is the biggest ripoff in Thailand. From the Taxis to TukTuks, from local Mom and Pop shops to the food markets. Always trying to ripoff foreigners even if they know you are a long term stayer. Even a lot of the restaurant menus have a foreign version with higher prices.

 

When I left after 2 years due to a job offer in Bangkok I couldn't believe how honest and friendly the people in BKK were in comparison. 

 

I guess it's OK for a short break if you hire a car, but not a great place to live IMO. 

lots of BS here:
mom an pop shops charge the same to everyone, yes their prices are higher than 7/11 but they dont buy in bulk
food markets same price to everyone even if you don't speak thai!!
35 years in phuket < NEVER seen a double price menu anywhere.

ur presence wont be missed.

Had two weeks there in August Patong (sandbox) taxis and various vehicles everywhere due to a spasming back never felt overcharged or unsafe it was a very surprising pleasant cheap but painful stay apart from the numerous tramadol injections ????

28 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

lots of BS here:
mom an pop shops charge the same to everyone, yes their prices are higher than 7/11 but they dont buy in bulk
food markets same price to everyone even if you don't speak thai!!
35 years in phuket < NEVER seen a double price menu anywhere.

ur presence wont be missed.

Lol what a load of nonsense ????.

 

You're clearly one of those naive individuals who walks around getting ripped off and doesn't even know it. Thai's make the most of foreigners like you and are often polite to your face, they have a good chuckle once you've left their store though.????

 

Actually in BKK the Mom and Pop stores are often cheaper than 711, less overheads like air con, rent and employees. Sounds like you're blissfully unaware of getting ripped off again if they're charging more than the 711. As for restaurant menus, you wouldn't see the Thai version would you... My girlfriend was good friends with a restaurant owner on Prachanukhro Road and I can assure you there were 2 versions as the owner used to joke about how lucky I was to get the Thai version. I've never been ripped off at a market here in BKK but was frequently quoted stupid prices like over 100 Baht in Phuket for a small bunch of Bananas that would cost 20-25 Baht here in BKK. I ended up going to Tesco instead of supporting the little scammers. Taxis? Here in BKK a taxi meter costs me about 140 Baht for a 15km journey that takes 20-25 minutes. Good luck with that in Phuket...

 

As for my presence being missed, I beg to differ. I'm sure the owners of closed down businesses wish people like me with plenty of money to spend would visit again. But alas, I'll keep spending here in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Koh Larn, Koh Samet, Koh Chang etc. Phuket will miss visitors like me much more than visitors like me will miss Phuket. Try getting out more, it's a big world out there.

8 hours ago, grumpyoldman said:

Making mountains out of molehills guys, one poster even goes as far as to say not a nice place to live because of this..............

 

So you get nicked 17-18US$ to get from the airport to Patong or Rawai, are you really going to let that ruin your holiday? Are you the guy that refuses to buy a BG an occasional ladydrink? Booo freakin hoo.

 

They don't pay the police diddly-squat so a lot of them drive cabs when not in the brown shirt and are armed. Knew one myself when I lived there. So best suck it up, know the score and ride with it, lest you upset an off duty cop AND GET SHOT.

Suck up getting ripped off in case you get shot by an off duty cop? You're really making a wonderful case for the island. What a great way to live. 

 

The constant ripoffs aren't the only reason not to live there. The late night robberies, the dirty beaches with all the decent bars/restaurants removed by some local bigwig, the constant roadworks and dust, the raining season when it all turns to mud and sludge and the roads collapse, the lack of public transport and subsequent traffic, the corrupt cops, the taxi mafia, the shortage of international quality restaurants, pre-covid there was the abundance of 2 week millionaire Chang vested sex pests and Bogan families. And that was before the Chinese arrived. I could go on...

 

Anyway each to their own. I have to admit the boat trips to the Koh Yao islands are pretty good (assuming the boat doesn't sink or collide with a speedboat on the way).

Got back from a couple of weeks there - most of us totally ignore the whole taxi thing, so the drivers can sit out in the hot sun earning zero (notwithstanding the occasional successful gouging) rather than be busy all day and night using sensible rates.

 

They seem too stupid to understand that if they charge reasonable rates, they'll make a living and be treated politely. I booked a very nice resort hotel with sea view balconies and every time I looked down at the hotel drive-in, nearby there sat the same taxi driver who'd quoted me 800 baht for a 1.5 km fare. 

 

Having had possibly 5 friends/groups of friends visit Phuket with me or around the time of my trip (most Thais), each said the same thing about Phuket. "Never again!"

 

It was like it the first time I went 25 years ago and nothing has changed apart from they are an even bigger deterrent to travel there.

25 minutes ago, Oblomov said:

each said the same thing about Phuket. "Never again!"

I said that in the 1980s... 

 

love me some Goncharov.. 

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

I said that in the 1980s... 

 

love me some Goncharov.. 

Me too on both especially the Goncharov   : )