Report Taxi Driver Strands Schoolgirls, Demands Double Fare in Bangkok

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Channel 3 Plus

 

In a shocking incident in Nonthaburi, a group of schoolgirls were left drenched and fearful after a taxi driver demanded double the fare and abandoned them in a rainstorm. The unsettling episode, which transpired on Tuesday, involved six students from a prominent local girls’ school. Their evening birthday celebration quickly turned into a distressing ordeal.

 

The girls, aged 14 to 15, had hired a green taxi for a ride to Prachachuen 36 for dinner. Unfortunately, as the driver neared The Mall Ngamwongwan, torrential rain ensued, and traffic came to a standstill. The driver, an elderly man according to the students, erupted in anger.

 

Fifteen-year-old B (pseudonym) recounted, “He yelled for us to get out and demanded 187 baht. I transferred the amount via TrueMoney, but he insisted it hadn’t arrived. Frightened, I had to ask my friend to transfer it again.”

 

Shockingly, after receiving both payments, the driver expelled them from the cab amid the traffic, then sped off.

 

Another student, 14-year-old C (pseudonym), said, “I used my phone to send it again, this time from my Kasikorn Bank account. Despite receiving both transfers, he still made us leave the cab.”

 

Soaked and unsettled, the girls managed to hail another taxi to continue their journey. The following evening, along with their indignant parents, they reported the episode at Rattanathibet Police Station.

 

C’s mother, Air, aged 45, expressed her outrage: “He knew they were schoolchildren and where they studied. Why didn’t he make contact to return the excess fare? This is absolutely disgraceful. Has he done this to others?”

 

Authorities swiftly tracked the driver using his vehicle registration and bank information. When contacted, the driver’s son answered and, realising police were involved, refunded 187 baht to B, yet offered no apology.

 

Air voiced disappointment over the driver’s lack of remorse, hoping the incident serves as a cautionary tale. “I want this to be an example,” she insisted. “No passenger should ever face such treatment.”

 

With this incident, concerns about taxi service integrity have sparked discussions on passenger safety and rights in Thailand.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-03

 

 

[angryguy]

Grab will make taxis obsolete soon hopefully

[proton]

They are not all bastards. Mrs came home in a taxi last month as the car was out of action, tyre had been shredded in a pot hole. When she got home he got his tools out and put the spare on, took about 20 minutes and would not even take a tip.

[ChrisY1]

Often a good idea to take a pic of the taxi ID plate on the inside of passenger doors.....make sure the driver sees you.

[cdemundo]

Such a mean old man.

[ikke1959]

revoke his license for lifetime

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, cdemundo said:

Such a mean old man.

Good quote!

[dddave]

13 hours ago, angryguy said:

Grab will make taxis obsolete soon hopefully

Be careful what you wish for.  In many municipalities where local taxis have gone out of business, ride hailing fares have doubled beyond what the taxi fares were.

An incident like the one in this story happens and people start demonizing taxi drivers yet hundreds of thousands of taxi trips daily just go on without issue.  In my 20+ years in Bangkok, using taxis frequently, 99% of my rides have been totally without issue.  Most drivers are just people trying to make a living.

And don't think incidents like this don't happen with ride hailing drivers.  Horror stories told by passengers being victimized by ride hail drivers are often reported as much as  by taxi drivers.