Baht Bus Thieves Still Active

[Buff-horns]

Another year and the baht bus thieves continue their crimes

Editor;

I am all too aware that petrol costs have risen; I after all drive a gas guzzler back in the United States. I was surprised to see the same fare charts on most of the baht buses still showing the very confusing 5 baht fare in Thai. My friends told me that the fare was now 10 baht for everyone, Thai and farang but my own eyes tell me it is not so. The thievery continues unabated on the streets of Pattaya as the unsuspecting farang are charged double what a Thai is charged. To prove this, I had my Thai lady pay for herself. The greedy criminal happily demanded 10 baht from me after accepting 5 baht from her.

I do not know of another example where so many people break the law so often and with such impunity. I have paid my 5 baht only to be harassed and threatened by some of the low-life baht bus drivers. It seems they get very angry that a farang is on to their deceit. While most of the farang will opine that it is only 10 baht, they miss the bigger issue - that being the amount of theft committed daily by often cheerful drivers who remain so as long as you overpay them. I can only hope that the Buddha will frown upon such an open display of immorality and give them a life of horror on the next go around. I will pray tonight that the offending drivers reap a new life as a buffalo in Issan.

What astounds me is the absolute acceptance of this by normal Thai people. When I asked my favorite chef why he didn’t charge me 100 baht for the normal 50 baht yom woonsen, he explained that it was the same food whether eaten by a Thai or a Farang. “I cook food for everyone,” he said. When I told him that my seat on the bus was no different than any Thai he defended the criminals saying, “10 baht for farang, 5 baht for Thai”. I know several Thai people with more money in the bank than me, so what is it about me that invites petty theft?

Howard Bloom

Jomtien Beach

[COBBER]

No offence intended Buffy, but this subject is starting to sound like a broken LP record.

Everybody has a choice. You can either ............

A. Pay 5 baht and run.

B. Pay 10 baht and reduce the risk of confrontation. or

C. Select another mode of transport.

Pretty simple really.

[gburns57au]

No offence intended Buffy, but this subject is starting to sound like a broken LP record.

Everybody has a choice. You can either ............

A. Pay 5 baht and run.

B. Pay 10 baht and reduce the risk of confrontation. or

C. Select another mode of transport.

Pretty simple really.

Or realise that if you take a baht bus from near Walking Street to Soi 2 then the fare is 10 baht not 5 baht.

I always let my girl settle the account....saves a heap of problems.

[britmaveric]

Great service - long live the baht bus!!!!!!

[Simbo]

Great service - long live the baht bus!!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is just another facet of this great, wonderful and nowhere better in the universe, land

[gharknes]

Great service - long live the baht bus!!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is just another facet of this great, wonderful and nowhere better in the universe, land

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i don't mind paying 10baht, it is still very cheap, my issue is that there are so many of them, it causes serious congestion, dangerous driving and an angry group of drivers that are not making enough money - a tonic for disaster.

[COBBER]

There are way too many baht buses for normal times and they do cause a lot of congestion, but i dont mind it when i stagger out of Walking St. at 3.00 am on a sunday morning and there is always 1 waiting to take me home. In many other parts of the world you can wait for 2 or 3 hours for a taxi in the high demand time periods. I guess we cant have it both ways.

[icecubes]

No offence intended Buffy, but this subject is starting to sound like a broken LP record.

Everybody has a choice. You can either ............

A. Pay 5 baht and run.

B. Pay 10 baht and reduce the risk of confrontation. or

C. Select another mode of transport.

Pretty simple really.

There are way too many baht buses for normal times and they do cause a lot of congestion, but i dont mind it when i stagger out of Walking St. at 3.00 am on a sunday morning and there is always 1 waiting to take me home. In many other parts of the world you can wait for 2 or 3 hours for a taxi in the high demand time periods. I guess we cant have it both ways.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cobber

Have you ever tried to go to the end of Jomtien Beach or North Naklua for 5 or 10 baht at 3 in the morning on your own from Pattaya in a Baht bus with two Thai guys in the front and your drunk ????.

Always a laugh for the poor tourist.

The only broken record is people sticking up for them like you.

Most people who comment on them don?t use this so called service other than moving around the area of second and beach road.

You step out of that, then you realize what there all about.

But i'm sure you know that with the years of experience you have in Pattaya

Baht buses scumbags of Town.

Merry Christmas

Ps broken LP record. get with the times man.

[COBBER]

No offence intended Buffy, but this subject is starting to sound like a broken LP record.

Everybody has a choice. You can either ............

A. Pay 5 baht and run.

B. Pay 10 baht and reduce the risk of confrontation. or

C. Select another mode of transport.

Pretty simple really.

There are way too many baht buses for normal times and they do cause a lot of congestion, but i dont mind it when i stagger out of Walking St. at 3.00 am on a sunday morning and there is always 1 waiting to take me home. In many other parts of the world you can wait for 2 or 3 hours for a taxi in the high demand time periods. I guess we cant have it both ways.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cobber

Have you ever tried to go to the end of Jomtien Beach or North Naklua for 5 or 10 baht at 3 in the morning on your own from Pattaya in a Baht bus with two Thai guys in the front and your drunk ????.

Always a laugh for the poor tourist.

The only broken record is people sticking up for them like you.

Most people who comment on them don?t use this so called service other than moving around the area of second and beach road.

You step out of that, then you realize what there all about.

But i'm sure you know that with the years of experience you have in Pattaya

Baht buses scumbags of Town.

Merry Christmas

Ps broken LP record. get with the times man.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Icecubes, OK then a scratched CD.

Im not pro baht bus, but the reallity is that they are here to stay and their bad practices will not be reformed. Writing to newspapers with complaints about overcharging is not going to change anything. Just a waste of time. If you have a serious issue , from my experiences, go to the Baht Bus Co-op or the police and it will be dealt with fairly.

All the best.

Regards Mark

[icecubes]

Icecubes, OK then a scratched CD.

Im not pro baht bus, but the reallity is that they are here to stay and their bad practices will not be reformed. Writing to newspapers with complaints about overcharging is not going to change anything. Just a waste of time. If you have a serious issue , from my experiences, go to the Baht Bus Co-op or the police and it will be dealt with fairly.

All the best.

Regards Mark

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I Agree with what you say apart from the last sentence

Sorry you will not be dealt with fairly in this town.

Have a nice day..

[COBBER]

Icecubes, OK then a scratched CD.

Im not pro baht bus, but the reallity is that they are here to stay and their bad practices will not be reformed. Writing to newspapers with complaints about overcharging is not going to change anything. Just a waste of time. If you have a serious issue , from my experiences, go to the Baht Bus Co-op or the police and it will be dealt with fairly.

All the best.

Regards Mark

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I Agree with what you say apart from the last sentence

Sorry you will not be dealt with fairly in this town.

Have a nice day..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

icecubes,

I think thats a big misconception here. A couple of years ago my neighbour was riding his immitation Harley down soi 7 and a baht bus slammed into him destroying his front mud guard, which was quite expensive to replace. The baht bus driver did a runner, so my friend called the police and they caught the guy down near Walking St. and he was made to pay for the full cost of a new guard.

If anything the farang is sometimes at an advantage if he does the wrong thing in a serious matter, in that he has the bucks to engage a lawyer or pay his way out of trouble. Where as the Thai with limited resourses in the same situation has to do the time.

Mark

[icecubes]

icecubes,

I think thats a big misconception here. A couple of years ago my neighbour was riding his immitation Harley down soi 7 and a baht bus slammed into him destroying his front mud guard, which was quite expensive to replace. The baht bus driver did a runner, so my friend called the police and they caught the guy down near Walking St. and he was made to pay for the full cost of a new guard.

If anything the farang is sometimes at an advantage if he does the wrong thing in a serious matter, in that he has the bucks to engage a lawyer or pay his way out of trouble. Where as the Thai with limited resourses in the same situation has to do the time.

Mark

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cobber

The misconception is yours. We were not talking about a road traffic accident sorry that?s a very different animal indeed. and if the accident had been caused by the falang and he had left the scene of the accident, i can assure you he would have a serious problem on his hands. Let alone if dangerous driving was sighted by the police. ( very bad news for you)

You would need a very very good lawyer to get off that one..

But the issue of pricing and conduct of the baht buses is still the same.

They win every time.

You can try and stand up to them but you won?t get far.

Did this myself once before (very stupid and dangerous of me)

So I avoid using them now. maybe there are some good ones, but they are few and far between.

Nice story about your friend, some satisfaction indeed, good.

Have a nice day

[Pattaya_Fox]

I have used baht buses thousands of times in Pattaya over many years and I have had only one problem which was very minor.

On the normal baht bus routes I always pay 10 baht (ok I know others pay 5 baht and all the arguments to go with this).

If I am using a baht bus off the normal route or I want to go somewhere other than on the normal route then I always agree the fare beforehand....if you don`t then the price is open to argument when you wish to get off.

As far as I am concerned the baht bus offers a cheap and very convenient service and long may it reign

Maybe the ones who are constantly knocking the baht bus should just take time to think before they make an onslaught against the drivers and examine their behaviour when they have had so called problems.

[yarpy]

Lawks a mercy this old chestnut!

Well can't drink alcohol until 18:00 house rules so might as well.

Baht bus drivers are a whole right brain left brain subject. On the one hand they have to work LONG hours to make any money and end up practically living in the cab with family, its a hard life. On the other baht bus driver and thieving bastard are synonymous.

5 baht 10 baht, 5 baht difference. Not worth the aggro. They are however trying to make it 20 baht for falangs. In particular they are now trying to charge 20 baht for Jomtiem to South Pattaya. I am resisting at present out of principle rather than for 10 baht.

Solution, alwasy have 10 baht coins about you hand to driver and walk away. Simple.

Now under 10 minutes until a Beer Sing as the little cutie says.

[icecubes]

I have used baht buses thousands of times in Pattaya over many years and I have had only one problem which was very minor.

On the normal baht bus routes I always pay 10 baht (ok I know others pay 5 baht and all the arguments to go with this).

If I am using a baht bus off the normal route or I want to go somewhere other than on the normal route then I always agree the fare beforehand....if you don`t then the price is open to argument when you wish to get off.

As far as I am concerned the baht bus offers a cheap and very convenient service and long may it reign

Maybe the ones who are constantly knocking the baht bus should just take time to think before they make an onslaught against the drivers and examine their behaviour when they have had so called problems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Give them a tip next time

After all it is Christmas.

Bless them fine bunch of upstanding citizens.

Merry Christmas to them all.

[Pattaya_Fox]

I have used baht buses thousands of times in Pattaya over many years and I have had only one problem which was very minor.

On the normal baht bus routes I always pay 10 baht (ok I know others pay 5 baht and all the arguments to go with this).

If I am using a baht bus off the normal route or I want to go somewhere other than on the normal route then I always agree the fare beforehand....if you don`t then the price is open to argument when you wish to get off.

As far as I am concerned the baht bus offers a cheap and very convenient service and long may it reign

Maybe the ones who are constantly knocking the baht bus should just take time to think before they make an onslaught against the drivers and examine their behaviour when they have had so called problems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Give them a tip next time

After all it is Christmas.

Bless them fine bunch of upstanding citizens.

Merry Christmas to them all.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am sure that they would appreciate a nice tip from you Ice cubes.....maybe you could wrap a few gifts and distribute them to the wives and children in the cab ........after all even Scrooge changed his ways at Christmas

[britmaveric]

Dunno what the problem is - cheap, reliable transport whenever you need it.

Never had a problem with 10bht - jump out drop them a coin and walk away. No time to grumble.

[Jaffy]

I remember this one time, after a particularly heavy night, I jumped onto a baht bus without ensuring I had the exact money for the fare. When it came to paying the driver, I held out a 100b bill which he snatched from my hand & sped off with! Ok, it was only 100b but I'll never forget his smirking face as he raced off with my hard earned!!!!

After this incident, I only ever pay 5 baht & if they ever object, I just smile & walk off without a care in the world! Not one has confronted me as yet....

[HowardJohnson]

Last Saturday I stood in the freezing cold for an hour and a half waiting for a pre booked taxi that then proceed to charge me £15 for the privilege.

10 Baht - It's a bargain!

Long live the Baht Bus!

[Buff-horns]

we know its so small as to not worry about ,but its a doubling in price which enforces their view that farangs dont care what they pay .so next time they double the price of something else that may be in the 100s or 1000s dont complain.

sure things are not as bad as they used to be when they would ask a 100 for a hop.

there is a tariff of prices

[britmaveric]

I can pay 5bht - I know plenty of farang that do, but for the life of me I really can't get too miffed over shelling out 10p, no matter how hard I try.

[Pattaya_Fox]

I can pay 5bht - I know plenty of farang that do, but for the life of me I really can't get too miffed over shelling out 10p, no matter how hard I try.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly......me same same

[scotsman]

I have to say if you are willing to pay 50% more for a taxi bill then you will be happy to pay 50% more for your electric bill or any other bill that farangs pay for The baht bus is outdated and if pattaya is to move forward then we have to back the new aircon buses as that is the future. In about 5 years time the volume of traffic will have increased and if there is still over 300 baht buses still out there then you will have gridlock. I have had so much problems with the baht bus over the 5 baht bill that i dont use them now. I walk as much as i can or use the aircon bus I do think that they should have put up the fare a longtime ago to 10baht for everyone as the fuel prices have gone up so much.

[britmaveric]

Aircon coach??? (empty majority of times) Never gonna happen mate.... no one wants to wait. Baht bus is here to stay.

[Pattaya_Fox]

I have to say if you are willing to pay 50% more for a taxi bill then you will be happy to pay 50% more for your electric bill or any other bill that farangs pay for The baht bus is outdated and if pattaya is to move forward then we have to back the new aircon buses as that is the future. In about 5 years time the volume of traffic will have increased and if there is still over 300 baht buses still out there then you will have gridlock. I have had so much problems with the baht bus over the 5 baht bill   that i dont use them now. I walk as much as i can or use the aircon bus I do think that they should have put up the fare a longtime ago to 10baht for everyone as the fuel prices have gone up so much.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Your argument does not make sense....on the one hand you refuse to pay the fare and walk as much as you can (because of a principle which you have about the Thai/Falang fares) and on the other hand you want everyone to pay 100% more. Paying 50% more for an electricity bill is totally different from paying 10 baht for a baht bus ride.

As far as the aircon bus system is concerned.....dream on

[scotsman]

I was wrong about 50% as its 100% more for farangs to pay for a taxi bill but you would never pay 100% for any other bill so why this one its the same. I was also trying to say that it would help if the fare was raised along with inflation and that this fare was the same for everyone. The baht bus drivers might get a better living out of it and stop trying to rip us off. When the aircon bus is priced at better rate it will get more popular. I also think that when the roads become more gridlocked there will be no need to use a baht bus as you could walk quicker. all forward thinking citys have good transport system that does not bring your city to a stand still so why cant pattaya?

[Simbo]

I can pay 5bht - I know plenty of farang that do, but for the life of me I really can't get too miffed over shelling out 10p, no matter how hard I try.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Brit, while you have that attitude, we will always pay more. We know it's cheap, but the principle is, they expect us to pay more, because we are farangs and farangs are loaded. How will it ever change ? They are just robbers, all of them, Well, 9 out of 10.

[poppa]

my water bill went from 80 baht a month to 240 baht (standing charge )a month when i queried it they said house in company name , so now i have to pay a extra 200 % because iam a falang and cannot own a house my self , it will go on until a falang with 10,000 pounds a year income will have to go home to be able to afford to live

[Mighty Mouse]

I pay 10 baht for myself and 5 baht for my Thai g/f. I never get an argument from the driver.

I remember one night when the sky opened up and it was hissing down.

From the bar where I was drinking to my hotel was only an 8 minute walk, but rather than get soaked to the skin I caught a baht bus.

I rang the bell to get off opposite Soi 10. There was no shelter on the left side of the road.

The driver veered to the right side of the road and let me off under an awning where it was dry.

I know that it was illegal for him to do this, but I paid him double fare price for his thoughtful and well appreciated service.

[Thaiquila]

I think double pricing is wrong and those trying to rationalize it are doing just that, rationalizing.

An American Thai who doesn't open his mouth will be charged as a Thai.

Sound like RACISM to you?

On the water charge issue, not so fast.

If a Thai person owns a house under a company, are they subject to the same extra charge for company ownership?

Charging more for businesses versus individuals (like a commercial bank account) is kind of a standard thing.