Can i report a cheating taxi driver for overcharging me?

[ultimate weapon]

It goes like this i was changing hotels and both hotels are located around the ploenchit area and the other one is a few streets down. Once i get into the cab and he was told the location of the new hotel he doesn't turn on the meter and instead tells me 100bht i say no meter but he insists and then i agree because i am already inside with all my luggage.

I took a picture of his name tag can i complain about this?

Can someone aid me here?



<Image removed>

Edited November 30, 2014 by CharlieH

[mrtoad]

You are aware of defamation laws?

[CharlieH]

There is a Bangkok number you can phone, will move this to the Bangkok forum for local knowledge

MOVED

[ultimate weapon]

so what's the deal? Why would it be defamation?

[singa-traz]

Google: "Complaint Taxi Service Bangkok"

[fey]

did you have your stuff in the trunk?

i isually put it in the back seat if i can so they cant confiscate it.

ultimately, if you dont pay, esp with no meter fare showing, its a civil matter and the police wont get involved.

[mrtoad]

so what's the deal? Why would it be defamation?

You posted the name and the picture of the driver. Even if what you said is true, if it harms his reputation it's defamation in Thailand.

[uptheos]

"he doesn't turn on the meter and instead tells me 100bht"

I presume you can prove this?

[scubascuba3]

100 baht, you really want to complain about that? The lesson is agree price first or put meter on, it's likely they will want a minimum price for the hassle.

This thread has been moved to the local Bangkok forum so is unlikely to be seen my many

[Aussieroaming]

100 baht brother....I have had tuk tuks in china town ask for more for a 5 minute ride. Keep the perspective..$4 dollars to move, cheap and not worth winding yourself up.

Chillax mate.

[irishsmile]

I agree with other posters, 100 baht?? My god man.... You are in the wrong country if you deem 100 baht as a hefty fare.

[expat_4_life]

"he doesn't turn on the meter and instead tells me 100bht i say no meter but he insists and then i agree..."

Seriously? You agreed to the fare and now want to report him?

Absolutely beggars belief.

Edited November 30, 2014 by expat_4_life

[ocejanic]

Give me your paypal detals and I'll refund you.

[balo]

100 baht is maybe only 40 baht more than if he had turned on the meter.

So you want to complain that he cheated you for 40 baht ?

If he had said 300 baht I would walk out with my luggage and find another cab or report him . But 100? Forget it.

[wooloomooloo]

You'll get this occasionally in Bangkok but the onus is on you to keep your eyes open. If you don't like it, get out and say no meter no fare.

[Rumblecat]

The number to call is 1584 (Land Transport Department Hotline).

Or 1197 for traffic police.

Richard Barrow has a good article on it here-

http://www.richardbarrow.com/2012/09/how-to-report-a-taxi-in-bangkok/

[scoutman360]

The number to call is 1584 (Land Transport Department Hotline).

Or 1197 for traffic police.

Richard Barrow has a good article on it here-

http://www.richardbarrow.com/2012/09/how-to-report-a-taxi-in-bangkok/

Thanks for the help Rumblecat. I was looking for this also. Should I be surprised to see 16 replies from everyone passing their moral judgement on the OP rather than answer the question?

[wooloomooloo]

The number to call is 1584 (Land Transport Department Hotline).

Or 1197 for traffic police.

Richard Barrow has a good article on it here-

http://www.richardbarrow.com/2012/09/how-to-report-a-taxi-in-bangkok/

Thanks for the help Rumblecat. I was looking for this also. Should I be surprised to see 16 replies from everyone passing their moral judgement on the OP rather than answer the question?

Up to you, but some things in life are best left for the sake of your sanity, time and health.

£2 could be deemed a ripoff for a £1 fare but it's a lesson learned and not worth pursuing to the majority. We live and learn.

You're not being clever with your innuendo, by the way, other than appearing petulant.

[Torrens54]

How about this for an idea?

Collect all your luggage, get a Taxi with an Operational Meter, load luggage and self into said Taxi and go to the airport.

Jump on Big Silver Bird and go back home. If you're going to grizzle about this sort of thing, I think the only way for you to retain your SANITY, is to leave Land Of Smiles as quickly as possible.

Edited November 30, 2014 by Torrens54

[DogNo1]

What's it worth to feel calm and in control of your life in Thailand? It's become second nature to me to ask the price before I get in a taxi or on a motorcycle taxi. Presto! I'm in control. Either I agree to the price or I get another cab or motorcycle. I just yesterday didn't get on a motorcycle whose driver wanted double the going fare. I immediately found a driver who was willing to go for the correct price. If you let the driver call the shots you're out of control and that doesn't feel good. The goal is to find a way to be happy in Thailand. Good luck!

[fey]

What's it worth to feel calm and in control of your life in Thailand? It's become second nature to me to ask the price before I get in a taxi or on a motorcycle taxi. Presto! I'm in control. Either I agree to the price or I get another cab or motorcycle. I just yesterday didn't get on a motorcycle whose driver wanted double the going fare. I immediately found a driver who was willing to go for the correct price. If you let the driver call the shots you're out of control and that doesn't feel good. The goal is to find a way to be happy in Thailand. Good luck!

that usually works if they turn on the meter before you load your stuff in and close the door.

otherwise it can get dicey if your already moving and you dont hear that beep. of course, opening the passenger side rear door while the taxi is moving gets them to stop real quickly i have found (driver side back door is usually auto locked for driver safety).

[DogNo1]

The point is to ask before you get into the car and not let the situation be dictated by the driver. Learn the Thai required to ask "Pai Thawrai?" (how much will you go for) or "Pai meter mai?" (will you go by meter.) If you get in the car first, you are left to react to what the driver does, sometimes with unpleasant consequences.

[steve654]

I agree with other posters, 100 baht?? My god man.... You are in the wrong country if you deem 100 baht as a hefty fare.

I thought it was a misprint or something, but 100 baht, that's like $3.00 Canadian.

[thaibeachlovers]

The point is to ask before you get into the car and not let the situation be dictated by the driver. Learn the Thai required to ask "Pai Thawrai?" (how much will you go for) or "Pai meter mai?" (will you go by meter.) If you get in the car first, you are left to react to what the driver does, sometimes with unpleasant consequences.

Beat me to it. Always ask before getting in taxi, or putting luggage in boot.

[thaibeachlovers]

I agree with other posters, 100 baht?? My god man.... You are in the wrong country if you deem 100 baht as a hefty fare.

I thought it was a misprint or something, but 100 baht, that's like $3.00 Canadian.

Yeah, I thought it was one thousand baht at first, but 100 is not worth the effort of posting.

[scubascuba3]

The number to call is 1584 (Land Transport Department Hotline).

Or 1197 for traffic police.

Richard Barrow has a good article on it here-

http://www.richardbarrow.com/2012/09/how-to-report-a-taxi-in-bangkok/

I think if you phone they may laugh at you. Some kind of early April fools.

But, I do things out of principle too like find the best rate currency booth or if the fresh pineapple is 5 baht over priced I find another stall not over charging.

[Thongkorn]

Bottom line you say you agreed, forget it learn a lesson .always meter or get out.

[MUSTYJACK]

It goes like this i was changing hotels and both hotels are located around the ploenchit area and the other one is a few streets down. Once i get into the cab and he was told the location of the new hotel he doesn't turn on the meter and instead tells me 100bht i say no meter but he insists and then i agree because i am already inside with all my luggage.

I took a picture of his name tag can i complain about this?

Can someone aid me here?

Of course you can, take no notice of the idiots here who seem to think it is perfectly acceptable to be cheated by a scum taxi driver who refuses to perform his duties according to the law.

Phone the Land Transport Department Hotline on 1584 and give them the day, date, time, location, taxi number and cause for complaint and the driver will be fined the next time his license is up for renewal. You will receive a text message when that happens.

Sometimes taxi drivers may have valid reasons for refusing a fare, but they can never have a valid reason for initially accepting a passenger and then not turning the meter on.

It really doesnt matter if the amount is 20 baht or 20,000 baht, its not about the money, but some blinkered people just cant see that.

So report him, and maybe he wont do it again and another foreigner wont get scammed by someone who seems to think foreigners around central Bangkok are fair game for their nasty little games.

There are plenty of decent cabbies out there, the dishonest ones should definately be reported and fined, it can only help in improving the general level of service in the taxi trade.

[aussieinthailand]

so what's the deal? Why would it be defamation?

You posted the name and the picture of the driver. Even if what you said is true, if it harms his reputation it's defamation in Thailand.

Pardon me for applying logic here and I know TIT,,, but isn't defamation making a false or unjustified statement?

so if in fact the statement is correct and factual then how can it be defamation?

[Evilbaz]

so what's the deal? Why would it be defamation?

You posted the name and the picture of the driver. Even if what you said is true, if it harms his reputation it's defamation in Thailand.

Pardon me for applying logic here and I know TIT,,, but isn't defamation making a false or unjustified statement?

so if in fact the statement is correct and factual then how can it be defamation?

In Thailand the truth is not necessarily a defence to a charge of defamation - if you are charged You have to prove your innocence.

There is no logic applied here.

Besides the OP agreed to the 100 baht fare.