A Phuket taxi driver has refunded 2,700 baht to a 26-year-old Australian tourist after charging him 3,500 baht for a journey from Phuket International Airport to Chalong.

The driver met the visitor at the Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office on September 14, apologised and said the correct fare for the trip should have been 800 baht. The tourist accepted the refund and apology, and reportedly agreed to withdraw legal proceedings.

Airport journey to Chalong

The Australian, visiting Phuket for the first time, had arrived at Phuket International Airport and asked a Thai taxi driver to take him to Soi Ta Aied in Chalong district.

According to reports carried by several local news agencies over the weekend, the driver quoted 3,500 baht for the journey. He allegedly persuaded the tourist to accept by claiming his was the last taxi available at the airport and that the visitor would otherwise be unable to reach his destination.

Picture courtesy of Phuket Times

Unfamiliar with Phuket and its transport prices, the Australian agreed to the fare. He later learned from local people and other tourists that he had paid far more than expected.

The distance from the airport to Soi Ta Aied was reported to be about 40 kilometres, with the usual fare said to be below 1,000 baht.

Questions over enforcement

The Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office summoned the driver to a meeting on September 14. After saying the trip should have cost 800 baht, he returned the 2,700 baht difference to the Australian.

The resolution drew criticism from Thai residents, who questioned why a refund alone appeared sufficient to end the matter. Some argued that overcharging should still bring a legal penalty even if the passenger receives their money back.

Others said the driver would have kept the extra money had the case not received widespread attention on social media.

As of September 14, the Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office had not confirmed whether the driver would face further legal action.

Video courtesy of Phuketinsta

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15 September 2026

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3,500 baht taxi fare… “Sorry, we meant 800.” 😂 Nothing like a visit from the Land Transport Office to suddenly make the meter work properly. 😎

The driver seems to have gotten off lightly, despite clearly exhibiting the bad traits many drivers are believed to have. Lying and overcharging for a start.... some suspension would be warranted.

Based on the reported facts of this story, there is nothing to deter others from overcharging.

Get away with it and keep the money is one option, give back the extra and keep the original fare is the other.

Downside is zero, other than some time wasted at the cop shop.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Others said the driver would have kept the extra money had the case not received widespread attention on social media.

That's exactly how it is. Who knows how often he has done this before?

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The resolution drew criticism from Thai residents, who questioned why a refund alone appeared sufficient to end the matter. Some argued that overcharging should still bring a legal penalty even if the passenger receives their money back.

He should receive a heavy fine and a driving ban for a certain period. Without a severe penalty, he will do exactly the same thing next time.

"The resolution drew criticism from Thai residents, who questioned why a refund alone appeared sufficient to end the matter. Some argued that overcharging should still bring a legal penalty even if the passenger receives their money back. Others said the driver would have kept the extra money had the case not received widespread attention on social media."

Agree 100% with the above. Unfortunately this will set a bad precedent in that the worse that can happen is that the taxi will keep the fare that he was entitled to and only return the amount he had ripped off. This will only encourage other taxi drivers to aggressively rip off customers until there are consequences for their actions.

no reported punishment for the 'con man' taxi driver. No deterent for Thai's scsmming guilable tourists.

Not an acceptable situation. The bottom line is the Phuket governor needs to set fixed airport taxi charges by destination area. Drivers scamming tourists should be penalised with a licence suspension for a month on the first offence, and 6 months the second time, then revoked entirely for a three strike principle.

I don't doubt there are really scummy tourists too that are painful to deal with, so the fixed fee protects everyone.

How many times has he and others pulled that stunt? He got let of lightly only handing the money back, he should have been suspended for a few months,

The taxi driver should have received a more serious fine cheating a quality tourist to Thailand is not on

Maybe suspended his driving licence for a while send out a message

11 minutes ago, shackleton said:

The taxi driver should have received a more serious fine cheating a quality tourist to Thailand is not on

Maybe suspended his driving licence for a while send out a message

I agree- all he has learned from this is to be a bit more careful next time he is scamming- which no doubt will be whenever he is driving

Shame on the Land Transport authority, they should have revoked his license their & then.

I think the headline should have been. Phuket taxi driver rips off tourists and made to give a refund

That's more like it,

Thai authorities should take taxi-overcharging of tourists serious — Phuket Airport could do like the system in Bangkok, with taxis are registered and driving on meter,

When it comes to taxi driver fare costs being overcharged it will never end whilst penalties are not enforced or authorities are not doing random checks if drivers use the meters and fine them if they don't.

The fine for not using a meter should be at least three times what the estimated real fee would be.

Still that won't stop them but it will at least make the drivers think twice as to whether or not to rip of a tourist.

They have been doing this for many years at all the airports in Thailand they are called the Taxi Mafia here and most are connected to the police hence very little comeback if ever caught out. I now use Grab/Bolt everywhere now when i need a taxi in Thailand.