Bangkok Taxi Drivers

[cardholder]

I have just spent a couple of days in Bangkok following a holiday in Krabi.

I had forgotten what a bunch of w4nkers bangkok taxi drivers are (in general).

We tried to use them twice - once to go in Chinatown (3 refused) and once to go from Nana to our airport hotel (3 refused, including one where I left his rear door open, after the refusal, and told him to swivel on my middle finger as we drove past him in the taxi that did agree to take us. All a bit childish, I accept, but it made me feel better at the time. The driver who took us got my biggest tip ever - 100 Baht - for an excellent ride that came out at only 201 Baht - I was expecting 400).

Rant over

[wellred]

Forgive my ignorance but why would a taxi driver flat out refuse a fare? I thought they are all about making money of the farang.

[dereklev]

Forgive my ignorance but why would a taxi driver flat out refuse a fare? I thought they are all about making money of the farang.

I think cardholder probably means that they refused to turn the meter on rather than refused the fare.

Although if the traffic is bad many taxis will refuse to go to places like Chinatown.

[orchidlady]

i live on lat prao...many times when I want to go home from sukhumvit area after shopping, it takes about 4 or 5 taxis-they don't want to get stuck in the traffic.

My other gripe about taxis here, when I tell them to take the toll way and give them the fare for tolls, they make up some stupid excuse why they won't. Are they afraid of getting arrested by the police looking for certain license plates? Anyone know why they refuse? Then if they agree, they can't " get over in time to make the lane change" and "miss the toll way entrance". This is coming and going to Don Muang airport as well as other locations.

When they do this, or at the last minute, decide to cut short my location with some lame excuse(too much traffic u-turn...or you get out here (and walk across bridge to the address), I pay Thai style round to nearest + or- five baht-no tip... The few times they take me where I want without any games/refusals, I tip 15- 25 %(rounding up to 20-50 baht). Higher tips go to the drivers who don't blast the red shirt radio propaganda channel. My ability to relax and do work, listen to music at a decent decibel level, all result in the higher tip range. If they can speak some English and want to converse, that's Ok too.

[random]

Forgive my ignorance but why would a taxi driver flat out refuse a fare? I thought they are all about making money of the farang.

I think cardholder probably means that they refused to turn the meter on rather than refused the fare.

Although if the traffic is bad many taxis will refuse to go to places like Chinatown.

not necessarily, some will just flat out refuse to take you based on traffic, meter or no meter, or some say their shift is about to end etc

[DP25]

I think the taxis here are fantastic. Incredibly cheap and after taking hundreds still no major problem with one. Just avoid touts standing around instead of driving for customers.

And some drivers don't want to go to certain locations. Too much traffic, near the end of their shift, going the wrong direction, etc. Luckily there are a lot of them. In can be frustrating in some instances but usually it's not a problem to quickly find another.

[beechguy]

I think the taxis here are fantastic. Incredibly cheap and after taking hundreds still no major problem with one. Just avoid touts standing around instead of driving for customers.

And some drivers don't want to go to certain locations. Too much traffic, near the end of their shift, going the wrong direction, etc. Luckily there are a lot of them. In can be frustrating in some instances but usually it's not a problem to quickly find another.

Agreed, and it happens to Thai people too, not only to foreigners.

Edited August 8, 2011 by beechguy

[CharlieH]

The ones hanging around outside hotels etc are the ones to avoid, everytime I have used one of those there has been an issue, either refusing to use the meter, refusing because of traffic, flicking some sort of switch that makes the meter run much faster. These guys are the ones ruining it for the genuine guys who work hard. I have always found if you go onto the main highway and flag one down, one who is actually working and not just waiting for what he thinks is easy prey then there is never an issue, and those are the guys I always tip very well because they deserve it. Classic case of a minority cess pool spoiling it for the majority of others.

[beano2274]

Taxi drivers can opt not to take you. The worst ones are the ones who think they know the way better than me, when I tell them which way to go and tell them it is quicker they still drive the way then want to.

I think they should all pass a test like the "Knowledge" for London taxi drivers. And they should take the first fare that comes.

I love the Mall at Ngamwongwan, we catch a taxi home, I only live on the other side of the road a few hundred metres up the road, but sometimes too lazy to walk, at the Mall the taxi has to take you, and the fare is only 41baht.

[Awohalitsiktoli]

Taxi drivers can opt not to take you. The worst ones are the ones who think they know the way better than me, when I tell them which way to go and tell them it is quicker they still drive the way then want to.

I think they should all pass a test like the "Knowledge" for London taxi drivers. And they should take the first fare that comes.

I love the Mall at Ngamwongwan, we catch a taxi home, I only live on the other side of the road a few hundred metres up the road, but sometimes too lazy to walk, at the Mall the taxi has to take you, and the fare is only 41baht.

There are good and bad ones--mostly bad. I am always astonished at their refusal to go to a certain place. Part of it is likely related to traffic (but the meter is running). Maybe some think I know too much because I can speak Thai, so they would rather wait for a "sucker." One tried to cheat me just five days ago in Bangkok. I got in, near the old airport, and told the driver where to go, in Thai. He could go left (the right way) or right (the wrong way). He went right and stopped on the left shoulder. Basically, he deliberately made it hard for me to get out and return to the place I needed to be to get another taxi. I just got out and told him where he could go, walked back and got another taxi. That taxi driver also tried to cheat me by not turning on the meter. I demanded that he do so and told him I was already furious and did not need more problems, and he got the message. After that we had a good conversation Cheating, lying, scams are simply the norm now in Thailand. If you are a first-time tourist, it is likely you have no idea you are being cheated.

[mrclough]

As far as I'm aware, taxi drivers work for themselves. If they don't want to take you they can say no. That's it! If the traffic is so heavy that they would be more profit in short local journeys rather than longer ones is really that hard to understand which they would rather do?

I do also hate the ones that go the wrong way on purpose and refuse the meter but as mentioned, you never wait more than a minute for another taxi anyway.

I';ve also just used a taxi on Wed who didn't want to take the toll road from Don Mueang as the cost of the toll had risen recently and he thought it too high. He advised that at this time of day it's almost as fast to use the regular road. He was 100% correct and I tipped him the toll fee + 100 for him being genuine & honest.

There are more good than bad ones.

[Grawburg]

If I'm going across town I know it's going to be tougher to get a ride because traffic is so bad here. Took us an hour in personal car to go from Saladaeng to Chinatown on Sunday. I've taken hundreds of taxis and almost no problems once in the taxi – but OP's issue is just getting picked up.

I have twice convinced taxis who originally told me "no" to pick me up….asking nicely again in Thai and looking sad did the trick. When I asked them why the originally said "no" one guy said his wife worked in a nearby office building and if he was late picking her up, she would yell at him all night. The second guy said he makes more money with short rides in the area instead of long rides sitting in traffic and wanted to maximize his last hour of his shift. All real answers and all answers YOU'D probably give were you in his shoes.

I have found the taxis here as some of the nicest guys in town. (Side story - Once I had a B100 fare and realized I only had a B500 to pay with…the taxi said don't worry about it..he was going to let me go free…I gave him the B500. Many like to practice their English and help me with Thai. We got in a taxi on Friday night and the driver, on hearing the American accent in my Thai I guess, turned off the Thai music and started playing a Rolling Stones CD. He never event spoke to us on the ride, but he had a huge smile when he saw I liked the music.)

Edited August 8, 2011 by soundman
Flame removed.

[random]

The ones hanging around outside hotels etc are the ones to avoid, everytime I have used one of those there has been an issue, either refusing to use the meter, refusing because of traffic, flicking some sort of switch that makes the meter run much faster. These guys are the ones ruining it for the genuine guys who work hard. I have always found if you go onto the main highway and flag one down, one who is actually working and not just waiting for what he thinks is easy prey then there is never an issue, and those are the guys I always tip very well because they deserve it. Classic case of a minority cess pool spoiling it for the majority of others.

never get in a taxi that's already sat waiting, this goes without saying, always stop one, I normally do it right in front of the guy that is sat waiting.

[pomchop]

As far as I'm aware, taxi drivers work for themselves. If they don't want to take you they can say no. That's it! If the traffic is so heavy that they would be more profit in short local journeys rather than longer ones is really that hard to understand which they would rather do?

I do also hate the ones that go the wrong way on purpose and refuse the meter but as mentioned, you never wait more than a minute for another taxi anyway.

I';ve also just used a taxi on Wed who didn't want to take the toll road from Don Mueang as the cost of the toll had risen recently and he thought it too high. He advised that at this time of day it's almost as fast to use the regular road. He was 100% correct and I tipped him the toll fee + 100 for him being genuine & honest.

There are more good than bad ones.

In my experience I agree that there are way way more good drivers than bad ones. I rarely ever have any problems with BKK taxi drivers. If i ask them to go somewhere and they don't want to go or don't want to use the meter I simply ask the next one or two. Rule one has always been to flag down a passing taxi rather than ones sitting in front of a hotel/shopping center. All things considered bangkok taxis are one heck of a bargain. As far as i can remember the 35 baht flag drop hasn't changed in about ten years?

I do remember with MUCH EMBARRASMENT years ago when i used to get all pissed off and give the driver a hard time about driving the long way or around in circles...then as i learned more about bangkok streets I began to realize that the reason he went the way he did was because of one way streets, traffic jams and issues that I HAD NO CLUE ABOUT. In hindsight I was lucky the guy didn't just stop and tell me to get my stupid butt out of his taxi. Sure there are a few bad apples driving around which is no surprise in ANY big city. I suspect that a lot of bkk taxi drivers have taken a LOT of abuse from many farangs who have accused them of all sorts of nefarious schemes, gotten angry, slammed doors on them, etc, and after a while many of the drivers just get fed up with it. And I don't blame them. Easier to just pick up a thai patron who knows the ropes and won't complain.

There are very few places left in the world where you can get in a typically nice clean a/c taxi and be hauled around for the equivalent of a couple of bucks and then give the driver a few coins as a tip with no moaning and complaining from the driver. For those who have so many problems with the taxis you can always walk or ride on the back of a death defying motorcy taxi...or you can ride a diesel spewing bus with no a/c or worst of all you can take a tuk tuk which after charging you triple what a taxi would charge and stopping off at a few jewelry shops and massage parlours MIGHT eventually take you to where you want to go. All things considered the taxis are a very good deal in my opinion.

[random]

I normally hate the posts that say 'it happens everywhere in the world' to try and justify it in thailand, but if you want to see overcharging, refusal of metres, refusing to take you, then try Kuala Lumpur

[Tarric]

I have rarely had a problem with a Bangkok taxi drivers, most have been very pleasant and I have often given them tips for there excellent service. Perhaps its down to the fact that I look enough like a Thai to pass for a local.

Pattaya taxi drivers on the other hand are useless, they try to screw you every chance they get and quite often will drive around having no idea where they are going and then expect you pay 500bht for a trip that would cost 80bht in Bangkok.

[dddave]

There are over 100,000 licensed taxi drivers in Bangkok. As with any group that size, there will be good and bad.

As others have pointed out, at least in Bangkok you can get out and get another in short order...unless it's raining.

I left a wallet with $6000 in a Bangkok taxi once. The next passenger found it and the two of them, driver and passenger U turned and returned to the hotel where I was in the process of melting down in the lobby and gave the wallet back to me. The driver flatly refused a reward, finally settling that I would donate B1000 in his mother's and father's name to a local temple.

As said before; there will be bad and there will be good.

[RedNIvar]

There are a bunch of bad cab drivers, but on a whole taxi's in Bangkok has to be one of the best I've seen. They are cheap and easy to find. Rule of thumb, if you smell alcohol, refusal to turn on meter or a very rude driver, just get out and grab another one. There are the occasional a-holes who see a chance to rip off unsuspecting dumb foreigner. There are many scams that they pull, the most famous one is the no change routine. Many times we have seen these drivers with ample amount of change, but would just claim to not have any. My wife had always kept with her a pouch with a couple hundred Bhat worth of coins. Each time, the cabbie had no change the pouch comes out. Almost every time the cab driver miraculously finds change.

[cardholder]

Forgive my ignorance but why would a taxi driver flat out refuse a fare? I thought they are all about making money of the farang.

I think cardholder probably means that they refused to turn the meter on rather than refused the fare.

Although if the traffic is bad many taxis will refuse to go to places like Chinatown.

not necessarily, some will just flat out refuse to take you based on traffic, meter or no meter, or some say their shift is about to end etc

No - honestly, it was a (several) out and out refusals. I have declined to take taxis before where they will not use the meter but this was a straight forward "no"

Despite what <snip> Grawburg wrote this was not personal - unless another 10 drivers also had a sixth-sense when they refused other customers. The taxi drivers were just being selective - that does not make it a 'taxi service' in my book. I am delighted that some posters have very positive stories and I am sure that the 'good' must outweigh the 'bad'.

Edited August 8, 2011 by soundman
Removed retort.

[robblok]

Used taxis a lot b4 using the bike or car. I must say i understand why they refuse rides. If there is too much traffic or if they are near the end of their shift. They can choose who to pick up and not its their car. My gf has had the same problems i have had its just not farang related.

We once had a driver with a bad meter, it happens too bad the gf was too scared for me to make a point out of it (guy looked like a crazy guy ) In all most are quite nice but i hate the guys who dont want to turn on the meter. Those are usually the ones waiting in tourist area's

[keeniau96]

Been here a long time and have been to most of the world. Bangkok taxis are above average in service and are very low cost compared to most places.

If you want to see the true horrors of Thai taxi come to Phuket and meet the thugs who drive the tuk-tuks.

[djayz]

I think the taxis here are fantastic. Incredibly cheap and after taking hundreds still no major problem with one. Just avoid touts standing around instead of driving for customers.

And some drivers don't want to go to certain locations. Too much traffic, near the end of their shift, going the wrong direction, etc. Luckily there are a lot of them. In can be frustrating in some instances but usually it's not a problem to quickly find another.

I second that. I've taken many taxis here and never had any problems.

[toastie]

I've had nothing but positive experience with the cabbies in BKK. On a recent trip in from the airport, in the darkness I mistakenly gave the driver a 500 baht note for the expressway tolls (thinking it was a 100b) and was surprised when he passed back a huge wad of change. Big tip for his honesty !!

The only time I've been refused service was during the red-shirt demos last year in May; it seems my route would have taken him through the combat zone! Even so, he did offer to take me for 500 baht flat, but I passed as too pricey for me.

Always get a cab in motion though; those who are parked are waiting for suckers...all the others have been polite and efficient.

Edited August 8, 2011 by toastie

[rgs2001uk]

Used taxis a lot b4 using the bike or car. I must say i understand why they refuse rides. If there is too much traffic or if they are near the end of their shift. They can choose who to pick up and not its their car. My gf has had the same problems i have had its just not farang related.

We once had a driver with a bad meter, it happens too bad the gf was too scared for me to make a point out of it (guy looked like a crazy guy ) In all most are quite nice but i hate the guys who dont want to turn on the meter. Those are usually the ones waiting in tourist area's

The OP mentioned the Nana area, what more is there to say, an area frequented by hookers, hawkers, pimps, peddlars and pushers, an absolute shithole best avoided at all costs.

Watch the taxi drivers that just drive round the block turning left onto Suk from soi 3, everyone of them will refuse to put on a meter, get one coming down from Ploenchit thats moving and flag him down less likely to be one of the sewer rats that masquerade as taxi drivers parked up outside Suk soi 5.

You mention the old "end of shift" story, tell one of these pricks to take you to Pattaya for 4,000 baht and see just how close he is to the end of his shift.

Op didnt mention the time of day or if it was raining or not, I would have got the skytrain to Yawarat.

Another problem is what side of the road to get a taxi from, depending on traffic you could well be back where you started from 30 minutes later because the driver had to do a u-turn.

As you say, tourist areas, throwing money around like a drunken sailor on shore leave, waing bar girls then complaining about taxi drivers, unbelievable.

The above wasnt referring to the OP, but is a reflection of what I witnessed in the Nana area last week.

[soundman]

I normally hate the posts that say 'it happens everywhere in the world' to try and justify it in thailand, but if you want to see overcharging, refusal of metres, refusing to take you, then try Kuala Lumpur

My one and only experience with KL Taxi drivers was nothing short of professional. First flagged taxi, went exactly where I wanted to go for the price shown on the meter. In total, used three taxis on the day, all no problems.

The only rip-off in my KL experience (one day convention) was the ridiculous airfare of nearly 14000B (IIRC) return fare from BKK. Thieves.

[neek]

I've had nothing but positive experience with the cabbies in BKK. On a recent trip in from the airport, in the darkness I mistakenly gave the driver a 500 baht note for the expressway tolls (thinking it was a 100b) and was surprised when he passed back a huge wad of change. Big tip for his honesty !!

How do you know that he knew that you didn't know how much you'd given him? It seems to be crazy that he'd hand back less change than he should, given a level playing field on both sides. If you had said "here's 100bt" then maybe your supposition would make sense..?

[richard_smith237]

As someone mentioned before: KL taxi's can be shocking and are often worse than the taxi's in Bangkok...

But the taxi fares in KL start at about 20 baht for the first few kilometers. The issue there starts with unrealistic regulations where the taxi's have to charge more to make ends meet. Usually about 50 Baht is the rate they request for somewhere close. Of course there are some shockers.

Singapore is a pain in the neck because at times its impossible to get a Cab.

Try leaving a Shopping Mall on Saturday in Dubai - you'll queue for an hour to get a cab....

Bangkok Taxi's are hit and miss. When they say no its either due to traffic and they don't want to go to that area, its the end of their shift and they hare hoping for a fare going in their direction, or they don't have enough fuel to take you to your location and need to pass an LPG fuel station.

Bangkok Taxi's hanging around hotels are nearly always on the make and will rip you off given half a chance.

Most Taxi's are not sure where they are going, I always do now that I know Bangkok well, as such I rarely have problems.

Some Taxi's in Bangkok are worse than others... i.e. the Green ones are always excellent....

[Geekfreaklover]

I normally use the public buses to travel around Bangkok, but occasionaly use taxis. This morning my fare came to 108 baht. I had a one hundred and a twenty. Driver told me not to worry about the eight baht as he didn't have change. This happens often. I pay less than the fare.

Never ever expect a taxi to change a big note. If you are calm, know where you are going and speak in Thai taxis are a fantastic way to travel the city. Most speak a little English too. Don't expect that they have to take you anywhere in the city - they don't have to do anything.

Have heard of one horror story in ten years. A friend who was mugged late at night in a Bangkok taxi and beaten up pretty bad. Best advice if you are getting a taxi late and night and feeling the worse for wear from booze, then telephone somebody on your mobile and give them the taxi's code number. Doesn't matter if there is someone on the other end of the phone or not. Any dodgy driver will think twice about turning you over.

There are no qualifications and no criminal record check required for any taxi driver, so it pays to be cautious late at night.

[SteeleJoe]

As far as I'm aware, taxi drivers work for themselves. If they don't want to take you they can say no. That's it!

1) Many of them do not work for themselves.

2) By law they are not allowed to refuse a fare (of course, as always, there is a significant divergence between the law and what actually goes on).

I take taxis a LOT and have done for decades. I have had a lot of less than pleasant experiences, ranging from mildly annoying to occasionally infuriating. But more often it ranges from perfectly OK to really great (I've had some of my most interesting conversations about Thailand -- in Thai -- with taxi drivers)...some have gone far, far beyond the call of duty in terms of service -- helping with elderly parents or small kids, and all sorts of other things (even had one quite possibly save my life one time...).

So, another vote for "more than good than bad" -- though maybe not by a lot.

[thedistillers]

Huh, why on earth do people tip when they get the service they are SUPPOSED to get? And after people complain farangs are treated like walking ATM.