Pattaya Now Has Legal Metered Taxis!

[NanLaew]

The first and only time I booked MR Toom for an airport transfer he never turned up and only after making a phone call did his lady driver appear. There are many cheap taxi options to the airport including Nova Lodge Tours on Beach Road outside the Nova Lodge hotel 1300 baht including tolls.

My tuppence worth? In my experience, if there is a guy providing great airport taxi service to you right now, it won't last. The first guy I started using came recommended and the first 4 trips were spot on. Then he started delegating another guy who could never make change and had a chronologically challenged car. I reckoned it was time for a change of service. The next one started off real good but began delegating to mates with decent cars. Unfortunately, the last airport trip for a 9 am departure, he insisted on a 5 am departure from Pattaya; seems he was picking up a customer arriving at 7 am so assumed I would not mind sitting around the airport for a couple of hours after check in.

I normally take an AOT limo to Pattaya on arrival since it's quicker than hanging about looking for a guy who may have wandered off for some noodles, may be at the wrong passenger exit or someone who has no clue what I look like. I am now going to start using AOT limo for the departing trip as well. At least I can be assured that the car I hire is running to my schedule and not someone else's. I have used AOT on arrival exclusively for 2 years now and only once had a dodgy driver.

Edited November 18, 2007 by NanLaew

[kdf]

Got some new info.

Source Thai businessman who has used the Pattaya taxis several times.

There are currently 7 taxes on the roads with 21 to be added later.

They charge 35 baht for flag fall and close to Bangkok taxi rates for the trip. There is a 20 Baht fee if you make the reservation over the phone.

Now some bad news, there is a different phone number than most of us have been trying and I lost it. Yeah, I know.

However he should be in his office Monday and I will ask again.

There is hope.

kdf

[begsaresponse]

Got some new info.

Source Thai businessman who has used the Pattaya taxis several times.

There are currently 7 taxes on the roads with 21 to be added later.

They charge 35 baht for flag fall and close to Bangkok taxi rates for the trip. There is a 20 Baht fee if you make the reservation over the phone.

Now some bad news, there is a different phone number than most of us have been trying and I lost it. Yeah, I know.

However he should be in his office Monday and I will ask again.

There is hope.

kdf

So this is not one of the evil twins trying to hoax us?

[kdf]

Got some new info.

Source Thai businessman who has used the Pattaya taxis several times.

There are currently 7 taxes on the roads with 21 to be added later.

They charge 35 baht for flag fall and close to Bangkok taxi rates for the trip. There is a 20 Baht fee if you make the reservation over the phone.

Now some bad news, there is a different phone number than most of us have been trying and I lost it. Yeah, I know.

However he should be in his office Monday and I will ask again.

There is hope.

kdf

So this is not one of the evil twins trying to hoax us?

It is always good to wonder, but I have given up. I can't tell us apart.

But I think its good info, must be confirmed.

kdf

[PattayaParent]

Good news maybe.

I was following a yellow taxi (#7) around Pratumnak Hill, white triangle on top saying Taxi Meter, the glowing flag for the meter saying 'warng' (empty) and Pattaya Taxi written on the windows and he was actively trying to pick up fares along the road, but with no takers.

There was no 'phone number on the side or back of the taxi anywhere.

Over to kdf to come up with the right number but if there's only 7 on the roads at the moment they're going to be very busy bunnies when the number gets out!

[sattahip]

What's the significance of where the plates come from? My red plates are from Samutprakhan but I didn't buy it there.

off topic, but the plates should be issued in the province where the car is bought. The Honda dealer in Pattaya does not always stick to that practice...

I guess the red plates could also go on at the factory, port or manufacturers stockyard before it's driven to the selling dealership. As long as the red book in the glovebox matches the plates (and is kept current), the province of issue is irrelevant.

Back on topic. They should be easy to differentiate from the odd all-yellow Bnagkok taxi. Pattaya yellow cabs have 'Pattaya Taxi' on the doors whereas the Bangkok ones will only have the rego number, same as the plates front/back. Needless to say, heaven forbid that any Bangkok taxi driver chance his mitt with a local fare just because his cab is yellow. The farang maybe won't notice but sure as Don Bradman played cricket, every baht bus and motocycle taxi within sight will!

My understanding of red plates is that you may not go outside the province of issue with one and you may not drive at night. Despite the fact these regulations have not been enforced they are still on the books I believe.

[wpcoe]

A couple of days ago, there was a yellow Pattaya taxi parked in front of the 7-11 at Dongtan Beach, opposite the police station. I walked past, and he asked "Taxi? Go Pattaya?" but I was just walking up the street to Jomtien Complex. I was tempted to take a ride into town just to report here, but I was under some time constraints. I'm pretty sure there was a telephone number on the door, too.

[EmCross]

I saw four of these taxis today parked on Naklua Road all brand new with pattaya taxi in large letters on the back window but no telephone number to be seen anywhere! how you do contact these taxis? has anyone used them yet for travelling in and around Pattaya? Do they use the meter? I would really like to know as I desperately need a good taxis service from Pattaya to near the Regents school on a regular basis.

[wpcoe]

I saw a yellow Pattaya taxi taking a passenger down Jomtien Beach Road today and the red "wang" sign on the dashboard was not illuminated, which means the meter was being used (or the red sign was inop).

[NanLaew]

129 posts and only 1 TV member has personally verified this 'much needed' and 'essential' mode of transport?

Stunned & amazed (but hardly surprised).

[plasticpig]

Can someone post the phone number of this new service please.

Thanks

[NanLaew]

Can someone post the phone number of this new service please.

Thanks

Wazup pp? To lazy to scroll thru the thread?

[kdf]

Alas the phone number I got from the Thai business man, who uses the yellow jackets frequently, doesn't work, never answered.

I will try to reach him again next week and see if this is all a cruel joke, but I think not.

kdf

[plasticpig]

Can someone post the phone number of this new service please.

Thanks

Wazup pp? To lazy to scroll thru the thread?

Oops, it was only the first post

Care for a real legal PATTAYA taxi?

Call 038-423-554

[Humphrey Bear]

One of these taxis was parked outside my front gate for half-an-hour this morning, but no driver. (#3)

As my wife was gossiping with the neighbours I asked her to ask the driver for a card or a telephone number when he got back to the cab.

He came back, she asked.

"Sorry, no have" was the reply. "No have what? No have card, no have number?" "Sorry, no have"

And there was no phone number anywhere on the cab.

Pigs are practising their HALO jumps right now.

[PattayaParent]

Spooted 2 Pattaya Taxis last night (#3 & #6) and they both had 'phone numbers on the rear right wings. Couldn't make out the number though except it was an 038 number.

Spotted 2 more this morning.

The pigs are at least on the runway if not yet flying.

Am expecting the news that the experiment has failed 'cos of no demand!!!

[Jingthing]

Am expecting the news that the experiment has failed 'cos of no demand!!

If they aren't visible, people don't know about them, the phone numbers aren't widely advertised, of course there will be weak demand. Put 200 cars visibly on the streets and tell all tourists about the phone number, just watch the demand. If that doesn't happen, we will never know the real demand.

Edited December 1, 2007 by Jingthing

[tropo]

Is this why you've changed your avatar again Jingthing?

[ZZZ]

Am expecting the news that the experiment has failed 'cos of no demand!!

If they aren't visible, people don't know about them, the phone numbers aren't widely advertised, of course there will be weak demand. Put 200 cars visibly on the streets and tell all tourists about the phone number, just watch the demand. If that doesn't happen, we will never know the real demand.

Looks a bit like when Pattaya City started a free city wide WiFi network. After about six months it was closed down because no one used it. I live in Pattaya and keep up with what is happening but the first thing I heard about this free WiFi network was that it was closing down.

Pattaya City Hall is very good at spending money but completely useless at getting anything for it.

[Jingthing]

Is this why you've changed your avatar again Jingthing?

No, I just like my new avatar too much.

To me it represents the future evolutionary vision of the Thai/farang hairy monkey man race. And it is good. BTW, you can't make it out, but that is a good old Stars and Stripes flag in the background.

Edited December 1, 2007 by Jingthing

[cm-happy]

Does this mean there will be no more posts about the tuk-tuk mafia, motor cy mafia or songtaew mafia?

[plasticpig]

No

[slapout]

Hope you have better luck with metered taxies than we have had in Chiang Mai. Few local expats will use them due to price (add on to meter), wont turn meter on, do not show when called, etc. They are controlled by the local transport (business men).

[slapout]

Hope you have better luck with metered taxies than we have had in Chiang Mai. Few local expats will use them due to price (add on to meter), wont turn meter on, do not show when called, etc. They are controlled by the local transport (business men).

[Jingthing]

Hope you have better luck with metered taxies than we have had in Chiang Mai. Few local expats will use them due to price (add on to meter), wont turn meter on, do not show when called, etc. They are controlled by the local transport (business men).

As it stands, the same thing has happened in Pattaya. The taxis (I still haven't seen even one!) owned by the BAHT BUS MAFIA. It is still early in the game, but that structure in itself indicates total corruption. It isn't over here yet, maybe they will realize by offering a real Bangkok style taxi service, in the long run there is MORE money to be made. They probably will not.

For example, there are the trucks that wait at the grocery stores. They have now raised their charter prices to a point where they are only used by the truly desperate. At a lower price, they would get wider use, but it seems the local culture here favors sitting on your keister waiting for an occasional overpaying sucker rather than working steadily, providing a service at a fair price that many people will be willing to use and pay for. It looks stupid and lazy to me -- both sides lose, the drivers who can't possibly be making much money that way and obviously the public. My theory is many more people are "driven" to buy cars or trucks here than otherwise would do so, to avoid being victim of the transport VULTURES. This in turn hurts EVERYONE with pollution and traffic congestion as people who own cars indeed do make MORE TRIPS.

Edited December 2, 2007 by Jingthing

[britmaveric]

Well I flagged down one of said taxi(s) - wanted to pop up to Jomtien visit a mate. I asked him about meter - the response was no. I charge flat rate. Asked him how much and he wanted 300bht. Told him to forget it and took a baht bus for 100bht.

Edited December 2, 2007 by britmaveric

[Jingthing]

Well I flagged down one of said taxi(s) - wanted to pop up to Jomtien visit a mate. I asked him about meter - the response was no. I charge flat rate. Asked him how much and he wanted 300bht. Told him to forget it and took a baht bus for 100bht.

Good report, was that for sure a Pattaya taxi? Did it physically have a meter?

The local press needs to get on the ball and help move this forward.

The only hope is for their to be a way to REPORT drivers who don't use meters if they indeed do have meters.

And proves my point about how idiotic and lazy this system is. He wanted 300 baht, he got nothing. And he deserved NOTHING. This is disgusting.

Edited December 2, 2007 by Jingthing

[PattayaParent]

And proves my point about how idiotic and lazy this system is. He wanted 300 baht, he got nothing. And he deserved NOTHING. This is disgusting.

It's typical Thai Economics. Business is bad so we'll put up our prices to make more money.

The 'cut off your nose to spite your face' economic model.

By the way I'm fairly sure that one of the taxis I spotted (3 on Saturday afternoon) had a 1 in the number so it's not the number that was posted above.

Typos corercted.

Edited December 3, 2007 by PattayaParent

[NanLaew]

And proves my point about how idiotic and lazy this system is. He wanted 300 baht, he got nothing. And he deserved NOTHING. This is disgusting.

Slightly off-topic but was inspired by Jing's reference to a 'lazy' system. I have always wondered what buses the yellow/white banded no parking zones are designated for since tour buses and the random Pattaya buses don't use them .

The only bus stops seeing regular occupation are by baht buses front & back of RGP. I was wondering why the baht buses were stopping in the road to pick up fares and people were not using the baht buses already parked up at the kerb. Then I saw the drivers were sleeping, text messaging, eating. smoking and generally laying about and not looking for fares. I guess these particular yellow/white kerbed zones are taxi 'rest areas'. How silly of me to think they would be used like a proper taxi rank.

[PattayaParent]

038368113 is the 'phone number on the side of taxi #12 which I saw tonight.

At least there's more than 7 now???

Edited December 3, 2007 by PattayaParent