Nearly 300 Illegal Taxi Drivers, Tour Guides Nabbed At

[churchill]

BANGKOK, Aug 16 (TNA) – Police arrested nearly 300 unlicensed taxi drivers and tour guides in the two-week crackdown on crime at Suvarnabhumi Airport, said Piyapan Champasut, who chairs the board of directors of Airports of Thailand (AoT), the private corporation which oversees all operations there.

Police and AOT security personnel have worked together to crack down on illegal taxi drivers and tour guides at Suvarnabhumi Airport since July 31. Two hundred and five unlicensed taxi drivers and 83 illegal tour guides have so far been arrested, Mr. Piyapan said.

More than 100 officials work daily at the airport and more 30 surveillance cameras were installed to capture the footage of scammers.

Regarding baggage theft, Mr. Piyapan said that AOT will meet with representatives of two companies – Bangkok Flight Services (BFS) and Thai Airways International (THAI) -- to consider improved policies on preventing baggage theft. The two companies are service providers at the airport.

Revised policies are expected to be implemented by September1, he said adding the policies include installing more surveillance cameras, and requiring baggage handlers to wear uniforms without pockets.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday ordered airport officials to resolve malpractice problems at Suvarnabhumi Airport and restore confidence among foreign tourists.

After inspecting airport facilities and talking with AoT officials in problem-areas, including duty-free shops, unlicensed taxis, baggage theft and civil servants representing themselves as higher, well-connected officials, Mr. Abhisit said guidelines would be laid out so that transparency and tourist confidence could be restored at the airport.

An international news reports recently said that a number of international – British, Danish and Irish in particular – reported they were falsely accused of shoplifting at Suvarnabhumi airport and some reported being taken away from the airport where they were intimidated and gave thousands of dollars in scams they said were to avoid arrest and prosecution

http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=11334

-- TNA 16/08/09

[yabaaaa]

Ive never had a single problem at the airports in Bangkok

[Tywais]

Moved to News Clippings as an update to the Abhisit Asks Airport Officials To End Malpractice Problems, Scams

[tropo]

Ive never had a single problem at the airports in Bangkok

This report is about illegal transportation services.

[animatic]

Been hassled and hounded by those touts ever trip in memory.

Trick is just to do the stone face bit. Ignore them and don't react.

This slight extra time to get a meter taxi is made up for in the things

I can buy with the money I saved not being taken.

[Bolo]

Sounds like a great start. What they do with them after they are arrested will be interesting but at least it's being implemented with some success. Hard to believe there were so many illegal drivers doing this. Sounds like it was a free-for-all for a while.

[givenall]

Sounds like a great start. What they do with them after they are arrested will be interesting but at least it's being implemented with some success. Hard to believe there were so many illegal drivers doing this. Sounds like it was a free-for-all for a while.

I want to know where is Tony?

[hughben]

Sounds like a great start. What they do with them after they are arrested will be interesting but at least it's being implemented with some success. Hard to believe there were so many illegal drivers doing this. Sounds like it was a free-for-all for a while.

I want to know where is Tony?

I think Ceylon Tony has scarpered.

If they could get him, he'd be paraded as the perpetrator of the scams.

[LennyW]

Sounds like a great start. What they do with them after they are arrested will be interesting but at least it's being implemented with some success. Hard to believe there were so many illegal drivers doing this. Sounds like it was a free-for-all for a while.

They will get a Baht Bus allocation in Pattaya!

[jackr]

Ive never had a single problem at the airports in Bangkok

You know you shouldn't have said that don't you.

[dale8]

Hello, this is good news as I have people yelling at me every time I get back to Bangkok. I hope the government will take this to the long term and make it more safe for the new people that go to Thailand. It will be a good change only if they keep watch on the illegal taxi and touts so the hard working real taxi drivers get more work.

[catmac]

Ive never had a single problem at the airports in Bangkok

Is that you, or where you're from, talking?

Edited August 17, 2009 by catmac

[Chunkton]

Ive never had a single problem at the airports in Bangkok

Is it worse to have been scammed and know it or to be oblivious to the fact? Seems the latter brings more peace of mind.

[trainman34014]

Hello, this is good news as I have people yelling at me every time I get back to Bangkok. I hope the government will take this to the long term and make it more safe for the new people that go to Thailand. It will be a good change only if they keep watch on the illegal taxi and touts so the hard working real taxi drivers get more work.

You are living in Cloud Cuckoo land pal. Give it two weeks and the very same lot will be back there doing it all over again.

[WAERTH]

Ive never had a single problem at the airports in Bangkok

Is it worse to have been scammed and know it or to be oblivious to the fact? Seems the latter brings more peace of mind.

I do not understand this insulting comment and the other one. But I have to go with yabaaaa ... I have personally never had a single problem at the airports in Bangkok as well.

That doesn't mean that I am denying that there are scams going on. I see them, I just know how to circumvent them and have been "lucky" sofar. It is also the reason why I always pick up friends at the airport to waltz them thru the touts to the metered taxi stand. I usually also bring people away to the airport, just in case. But none of the people that I have escorted have been scammed either. Is it a nuisance ... yes ... but just take your precautions and pray. As you never know when the luck runs out. I have been in Thailand for over 10 years btw ... and speak Thai.

Just because there are scams going on doesn't mean 100% of the people get scammed. Please stop the nasty comments just because someone had a different experience from yours!

W

[TAWP]

Never been scammed at the airport, but even you 'cool' guys have to admit that any thing that removes the indian and pakistani 'freelancers' that want 700 for a 150baht ride from the airport is a good thing?

[WAERTH]

Never been scammed at the airport, but even you 'cool' guys have to admit that any thing that removes the indian and pakistani 'freelancers' that want 700 for a 150baht ride from the airport is a good thing?

If you reread my post you can see that I support any action by anyone to remove the scammers. Off course a big part of the problem is with the people arriving at the airport whom think they are smart and instead of going to the "legal" taxi queue downstairs and supporting these legal taxis will go to the departures hall and flag their own taxi from there, thus opening themselves up to all kinds of hassles and scams.

If everyone would only go with the legal providers eg:

Pickup by a friend

Limousine service

The official taxi queue

and wouldn't try to outsmart the other people for the sake of 50 baht (what is 50 baht on the plane ride you just did?) then a lot of the problems would go away.

Unfortunately it is a part of human nature that every John or Betsy on this planet think that they are smarter than the rest and can outsmart a system put in place. Thus providing fodder for scam artists to feed on ..... now about that bridge I have for sale

[shotover]

. . . Off course a big part of the problem is with the people arriving at the airport whom think they are smart and instead of going to the "legal" taxi queue downstairs and supporting these legal taxis will go to the departures hall and flag their own taxi from there, thus opening themselves up to all kinds of hassles and scams.

If everyone would only go with the legal providers eg:

Pickup by a friend

Limousine service

The official taxi queue

and wouldn't try to outsmart the other people for the sake of 50 baht (what is 50 baht on the plane ride you just did?) then a lot of the problems would go away.

Unfortunately it is a part of human nature that every John or Betsy on this planet think that they are smarter than the rest and can outsmart a system put in place. Thus providing fodder for scam artists to feed on ..... now about that bridge I have for sale

The official taxi Queue has not always worked out for me. I've experienced the following:

- The guy at the desk writing out the taxi slips tells me I have to pay a fixed fare of 400 baht to go to OnNut, normally a 160 baht meter fare. And I have had drivers from the queue try to pull the fixed fare charge on me also.

- Long waits (though not so often during the past year when tourist arrivals have dropped off) in the queues) and rude staff who ask your destination and write out the slips.

Drivers who insist on using the tollway or a longer route, even though I know from experience the direct route to my apartment is the quickest and shortest.

I've used taxis a few times from the departures levels without any problems, and the drivers seem more appreciative of the business. I don't care about the 50 baht surcharge as I will always tip at least this much if the driver is safe and pleasant.

I know there might be more risks taking taxis from departures rather than thru the official stands, but I have yet to encounter a problem. maybe they are reluctant to try much because I normally speak Thai with them.

[Maejo Man]

The official taxi Queue has not always worked out for me. I've experienced the following:

- The guy at the desk writing out the taxi slips tells me I have to pay a fixed fare of 400 baht to go to OnNut, normally a 160 baht meter fare. And I have had drivers from the queue try to pull the fixed fare charge on me also.

There's your problem!! Wrong desk possibly? In over 25 years of using both the old, and now the new airport, the taxi desk has always been operated by at least one female, and often two. Your destination is asked, and the slip is issued. The next driver in line takes your bags to the cab, and off you go. I've never had a problem, but that's just me

[WAERTH]

. . . Off course a big part of the problem is with the people arriving at the airport whom think they are smart and instead of going to the "legal" taxi queue downstairs and supporting these legal taxis will go to the departures hall and flag their own taxi from there, thus opening themselves up to all kinds of hassles and scams.

If everyone would only go with the legal providers eg:

Pickup by a friend

Limousine service

The official taxi queue

and wouldn't try to outsmart the other people for the sake of 50 baht (what is 50 baht on the plane ride you just did?) then a lot of the problems would go away.

Unfortunately it is a part of human nature that every John or Betsy on this planet think that they are smarter than the rest and can outsmart a system put in place. Thus providing fodder for scam artists to feed on ..... now about that bridge I have for sale

The official taxi Queue has not always worked out for me. I've experienced the following:

- The guy at the desk writing out the taxi slips tells me I have to pay a fixed fare of 400 baht to go to OnNut, normally a 160 baht meter fare. And I have had drivers from the queue try to pull the fixed fare charge on me also.

- Long waits (though not so often during the past year when tourist arrivals have dropped off) in the queues) and rude staff who ask your destination and write out the slips.

Drivers who insist on using the tollway or a longer route, even though I know from experience the direct route to my apartment is the quickest and shortest.

I've used taxis a few times from the departures levels without any problems, and the drivers seem more appreciative of the business. I don't care about the 50 baht surcharge as I will always tip at least this much if the driver is safe and pleasant.

I know there might be more risks taking taxis from departures rather than thru the official stands, but I have yet to encounter a problem. maybe they are reluctant to try much because I normally speak Thai with them.

MMMM speaking Thai should mean you shouldn't have a problem at the desk as well. Do not get me wrong here I have seen them trying to pull this stunt on tourists as well. With the taxidriver telling the Nong at the desk to tell the foreigners it is a fixed fare with everyone listening. It is not as if they try to hide their scam.

Do you speak polite Thai with them or street-Thai? .... usually street-Thai works better in my opinion because when you speak polite style they think you are fresh from a language school ..... and might still try to pull a stunt figuring you have no streetsmarts. I usually speak Koo and Meung style if they try to pull a stunt and that hits the spot. Which is usually only necessary when taking a taxi from Sukhumvit or Silom, which is a reason I try to avoid those streets.

Don't be offended to quickly when someone tries to pull a small scam on you. Just joust with them in slang and 99% of the cases they will cease the scam, even the Boys in Brown, but you have to keep your temper. You see it is in the blood of the people in this country to scam eachother. During my work as a comedian I see so many of them trying to scam one and other it is unbelievable sometimes and they all fall for eachothers scams no matter how obvious it is.

[TAWP]

Never been scammed at the airport, but even you 'cool' guys have to admit that any thing that removes the indian and pakistani 'freelancers' that want 700 for a 150baht ride from the airport is a good thing?

/.../Off course a big part of the problem is with the people arriving at the airport whom think they are smart and instead of going to the "legal" taxi queue downstairs and supporting these legal taxis will go to the departures hall and flag their own taxi from there, thus opening themselves up to all kinds of hassles and scams.

Not at all, I always go to the table stand and are either approached or see the 'scammers' in the area, just outside the doors, before the taxi stand, both major exits. So one doesn't have to be one of the 'cheap charlies' to be approached neither is that the reason why they are around. 'Cheap Charlies' will not pay 700 for a ride...

[tartempion]

Hello, this is good news as I have people yelling at me every time I get back to Bangkok. I hope the government will take this to the long term and make it more safe for the new people that go to Thailand. It will be a good change only if they keep watch on the illegal taxi and touts so the hard working real taxi drivers get more work.

They were still shouting at me yesterday, I guess these were Official touts then?

BTW, I was heading from international arrivals to departure level to check in for a domestic flight and in stead of pushing my luggage cart up the travellator I choose to take the elevator, wrong decision: elevator does not stop at level 2, what the heck

Later on after check in had some time to relax and checked the elevators: second one also no stop at level 2, third one ok, go figure whey they do this? To make sure you don't take an elevator to departures with a caddy when you come out of international luggage hall?

Might be to secure employement of some ladies at both end of the travellators to make sure your cart locks when you get up and to pull the cart when you reach the top?

[Galong]

Thailand has great laws... if only they would enforce them, the country would have a lot to be proud of... unfortunately, corruption is so rampant that the likelihood of that happening is about zero %

[selftaopath]

Sounds like a great start. What they do with them after they are arrested will be interesting but at least it's being implemented with some success. Hard to believe there were so many illegal drivers doing this. Sounds like it was a free-for-all for a while.

Oh Please. So far these are words words and more words (by officials etc). Has anyone seen actions? And talking a/b surveillance cameras brings to mind the fact that BKK purchased technology to synchronize traffic lights also. LOL What happened to that? I've heard on TV that the illustrious "organized" BIB made them ineffective. So how about showing the consequences for criminal acts?

Therefore if/when cameras are installed will they be used or "get lost" and resold? LOL Sorry for seeming so cynical.

The disappointment is the Thai people and this country deserve better.

K.

[shotover]

The official taxi Queue has not always worked out for me. I've experienced the following:

- The guy at the desk writing out the taxi slips tells me I have to pay a fixed fare of 400 baht to go to OnNut, normally a 160 baht meter fare. And I have had drivers from the queue try to pull the fixed fare charge on me also.

There's your problem!! Wrong desk possibly? In over 25 years of using both the old, and now the new airport, the taxi desk has always been operated by at least one female, and often two. Your destination is asked, and the slip is issued. The next driver in line takes your bags to the cab, and off you go. I've never had a problem, but that's just me

No. Not wrong desk. This instance occurred in early 2008, when they had more tourist arrivals and more than one desk set up outside the arrivals area. This particular desk was operated by a man and woman. THey were telling every foreigner I observed coming to the desk that it was a flat 400 baht fee into the business and tourist areas.

[Maejo Man]

No. Not wrong desk. This instance occurred in early 2008, when they had more tourist arrivals and more than one desk set up outside the arrivals area. This particular desk was operated by a man and woman. THey were telling every foreigner I observed coming to the desk that it was a flat 400 baht fee into the business and tourist areas.

You see you have answered your own question. In early 2008 AOT had a desk outside too, and the flat rate for their cars to "downtown" was 400 baht. I have used them on occasion myself when I wanted a little extra comfort after a long flight.

[tonititan]

So....catching a taxi on the departures level to save on the 50 baht airport fee....is that considered an "illegal" taxi? Or is it just non-metered taxis?

[TAWP]

So....catching a taxi on the departures level to save on the 50 baht airport fee....is that considered an "illegal" taxi? Or is it just non-metered taxis?

Not illegal, they are allowed to drop of people and take in anyone running to them.

They illegals are the 'black taxi's afaik.

[lensta]

The official taxi Queue has not always worked out for me. I've experienced the following:

- The guy at the desk writing out the taxi slips tells me I have to pay a fixed fare of 400 baht to go to OnNut, normally a 160 baht meter fare. And I have had drivers from the queue try to pull the fixed fare charge on me also.

There's your problem!! Wrong desk possibly? In over 25 years of using both the old, and now the new airport, the taxi desk has always been operated by at least one female, and often two. Your destination is asked, and the slip is issued. The next driver in line takes your bags to the cab, and off you go. I've never had a problem, but that's just me

No. Not wrong desk. This instance occurred in early 2008, when they had more tourist arrivals and more than one desk set up outside the arrivals area. This particular desk was operated by a man and woman. THey were telling every foreigner I observed coming to the desk that it was a flat 400 baht fee into the business and tourist areas.

This has happened to me also, at both airports. I was told at Don Muang that any fair outside a certain raidius was a fixed fair, my fixed fair was 600 Baht. So I caught a taxi to Morchit (90 baht) and then a bus to my house, 22 baht. A lot better than 600 baht. When I caught a taxi to the aiport from my house it was a 260 Baht fair. These taxis really do pray on the unsuspecting tourist.

[MaiChai]

I always pickup a taxi at the departures. Negotiate what you want; if you don't get what you want/don't like the taxi/etc, pick another one. I don't see any difference between this and picking up a taxi in the street. What is the point of setting up a system to 'protect' passengers when it is blatently abused? You cannot trust anyone in Thailand, including anything done by the government. In fact, I find very little to say good about Thailand these days. If someone asks me if its a good place for a holiday, I always tell them to go to Vietnam instead.