High-profile scams at the airport are threatening Thailand's allure for tourists

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Use carrot and stick to rein in rogue cabbies
The Nation

High-profile scams at the airport are threatening Thailand's allure for tourists

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok's taxi drivers are once again in the spotlight for overcharging, after recent complaints by foreign visitors and expats garnered huge attention on the social media. Two Japanese expats, both of them long-term Thailand residents, drew much support from both the locals and foreign tourists for their separate condemnations of cab drivers who refused to use the meter and attempted to overcharge them.

Thais, too, have long had to deal with the unscrupulous practises of some Bangkok taxi drivers. But unlike foreign tourists, few natives of the city are refused the meter - probably because they know its use is mandatory, so cabbies don't bother to try the scam.

Instead, the biggest complaint against cabbies made by Thai Bangkokians is being refused a ride. Each year sees several thousand official complaints of cabbies saying no to a fare.

Refusing a passenger is against Department of Land Transport regulations and is punishable by a fine of up to Bt1,000.
The drivers often come up with excuses for their reluctance, such as having to return the taxi shortly or being low on fuel. But many simply drive off without bothering to offer a reason.

Of the more than 1,000 complaints filed against taxi drivers every month on average, most of them involve refusing passengers, according to Department of Land Transport records. That leads to about 3,000 fines handed out each year to rogue cabbies, while more than 1,000 others get official warnings, according to the agency.

Dissatisfaction with Bangkok cabs hailed on the street helps explain why more and more of us are switching to the taxi apps and pre-booked services as a more reliable alternative.

The problem at Suvarnabhumi Airport is a long-standing one. Observing the undisguised disappointment of cabbies at being handed the job of ferrying a Thai passenger to a destination close to the airport is an all-too common experience for users of this service. The cabbies prefer foreign tourists, who are more likely to want to go to destinations outside Bangkok, such as Pattaya. In such cases, unscrupulous drivers can add hundreds of baht to the standard long-distance fare.

The Land Transport Department is studying the feasibility of doubling the surcharge for airport taxis from the current rate of Bt50. Increasing it to Bt100 may help satisfy the many cab drivers who have complained about making insufficient income, but it will certainly upset many passengers. However, if an extra Bt50 will help discourage taxi drivers from overcharging or refusing to use the meter, it is probably a price worth paying. But the authorities must ensure that cab drivers keep to their side of that bargain, and don't add extra charges.

It should be remembered that the majority of Bangkok's taxi drivers are honest and professional. However, a minority of rogue cabbies are damaging the image of the service as a whole by trying to cheat passengers, particularly foreigners, whom they view as easy targets. These unscrupulous habits threaten to drive visitors away and damage Thailand's allure for tourists. To deal with the rogues, authorities need to properly enforce the rules already in place - especially at the Kingdom's gateway, Suvarnabhumi.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Use-carrot-and-stick-to-rein-in-rogue-cabbies-30252875.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-29

[Bluespunk]

" However, if an extra Bt50 will help discourage taxi drivers from overcharging or refusing to use the meter, it is probably a price worth paying. "

No it's not.

It's giving in to extortion and rewarding them for refusing to do their job properly.

The headline says

"Use carrot and stick to rein in rogue cabbies"

I'm not seeing any stick.

Edited January 28, 2015 by Bluespunk

[kingalfred]

I wonder if any of this will be on that fake image of Swampy airport will be on the BBC show currently on TV?

[Crazy chef 1]

this i would really call a high profile scam...

[NongKhaiKid]

" However, if an extra Bt50 will help discourage taxi drivers from overcharging or refusing to use the meter, it is probably a price worth paying. "

No it's not.

It's giving in to extortion and rewarding them for refusing to do their job properly.

The headline says

"Use carrot and stick to rein in rogue cabbies"

I'm not seeing any stick.

Like so many other issues the stick is long overdue BUT it's not the Thai way and the line of least resistance will do.

There's a letter on another website that the driver called to the Land Transport Dept should only be fined and banned from the airport as it's only his first offence.

First offence or first time he's been caught ? I'm all for compassion and understanding but some people cannot learn / will not be deterred and currently there's so many scam artists in this category and they are allowed to continue.

[PepperMe]

" However, if an extra Bt50 will help discourage taxi drivers from overcharging or refusing to use the meter, it is probably a price worth paying. "

No it's not.

It's giving in to extortion and rewarding them for refusing to do their job properly.

The headline says

"Use carrot and stick to rein in rogue cabbies"

I'm not seeing any stick.

Yes... I wondered where the carrot on the stick was in this article.

Nevermind eh..... I agree 100%, you can not hand then any concession that they leveled threats to gain, that is making a rod for your own back, they will still scam on top of the extra "peace pipe payment"....

If this is true and that the airport cabs are really struggling then there is one way to find out seeing as the airport run is the pinnacle of cabbying in Thailand.

The ultimate litmus test is to just put your foot down and give every cabbie 24 hours to accept working from the airport under current conditions, or hand in their card and go and join the others down on Sukumvit..... Tell them you will replace them in 30 minutes..... No coming back.

See how many hand in their card...... I would hazard a guess that number will be nil.

[Jay Sata]

What we need is more phone footage of the culprits posted online.

Bad publicity seems to have a desired effect.

[daveAustin]

Stop using them. Do everything you can do avoid using taxis, even if it's out of your way. Make the lazy, cheating so & sos smarten up!

[Thian]

After immigration they are the first people you meet in Thailand. That is after you have woken up the girl behind that crappy desk who gives you the 50 baht ticket for a taxi.

Since we pay 50 baht for a taxi i always got an old crappy taxi. Thai customers just refuse old crappy taxi's and wait for a new one, that's why the old ones made suvarnabhumi their homebase i guess.

My last taxi couldn't go faster then 90 km/hr , if we tried to go faster then it started making strange noises from under the bonnet.

I guess if we have to pay 100 to get a taxi nothing will change..Also i think the taxidriver should pay the tollway for me so i don't have to give him money all the time and have frustrating conversations because he can't speak english.. At the destination i will pay him once for the total amount.

[Diplomatico]

" However, if an extra Bt50 will help discourage taxi drivers from overcharging or refusing to use the meter, it is probably a price worth paying. "

No it's not.

It's giving in to extortion and rewarding them for refusing to do their job properly.

The headline says

"Use carrot and stick to rein in rogue cabbies"

I'm not seeing any stick.

The cabbies get an extra 50 thb (carrot) and they continue to stick it to their passengers. Carrot and stick.

[BigBadGeordie]

Carrot and Stick.......Is that not what you use on donkeys?

[Robroona]

Came in on Monday night, a taxi driver collared me. I was going to Soi 11 Sukhumvit. Got in the taxi, he refused to put on the meter and asked for 500 baht. I started getting out and he said OK, 400. He relented to 350 but I told him no tip, which was fair enough to me as I had just traveled over 30 hours and I was early evening, so the traffic was heavy

[Loptr]

Came in on Monday night, a taxi driver collared me. I was going to Soi 11 Sukhumvit. Got in the taxi, he refused to put on the meter and asked for 500 baht. I started getting out and he said OK, 400. He relented to 350 but I told him no tip, which was fair enough to me as I had just traveled over 30 hours and I was early evening, so the traffic was heavy

He probably gets away with it 9 out of 10 times as tourists have no idea what the normal fares are...

When I hail a taxi in Bangkok, the first question I ask before getting in is whether they use the meter or not...

[Jay Sata]

After immigration they are the first people you meet in Thailand. That is after you have woken up the girl behind that crappy desk who gives you the 50 baht ticket for a taxi.

Since we pay 50 baht for a taxi i always got an old crappy taxi. Thai customers just refuse old crappy taxi's and wait for a new one, that's why the old ones made suvarnabhumi their homebase i guess.

My last taxi couldn't go faster then 90 km/hr , if we tried to go faster then it started making strange noises from under the bonnet.

I guess if we have to pay 100 to get a taxi nothing will change..Also i think the taxidriver should pay the tollway for me so i don't have to give him money all the time and have frustrating conversations because he can't speak english.. At the destination i will pay him once for the total amount.

Just to correct you on one point.

The girls behind the desks now stand in front of what are supposed to be self service machines pressing the button and handing the ticket to you.

[Strangebrew]

Something similar in Manila There have one line for vans another for metered cabs, the vans charge a ripoff rate of 700 pecos flat cabs metered at less costs. A 120 pecos ride in van cost's you 700 Then driver expects tip and not shy to ask for one. I drove cab's before and understand where drivers are coming from but on the other hand demanding is not the way to go. I made more in tips than I did in wages from driving cab.What should be done is Let the cabs pickup passengers at no fee and the loss money collected thru airport taxes.

[Rumble]

At the back of most taxies there is a card hanging that gives most destinations and cost including the extra cost of traffic jams. Why not have a few billboards placed near the taxi ranks with this information, it can be similar to the flight departures and arrivals board that is in the departure and arrivals hall.

[ColdSingha]

Instead, the biggest complaint against cabbies made by Thai Bangkokians is being refused a ride.

Each year sees several thousand official complaints of cabbies saying no to a fare.

i must be the unluckiest guy in bangkok with taxis then it seems it takes an average of 3 attempts to get a yes even for the most simple ride.

last month my wife had just been checked out of Rama hospital and it took 5 attempts to get a taxi for the hospital to Victory Monument (3kms away). sickening as it was obvious she was feeling weak, still hazy from the meds and really needed to get back to our hotel to rest up. <deleted>.

[noitom]

"Use carrot and stick." preposterous Thai tripe.Everyone knows that the "allure" of Thailand is cheap sex and counterfeit goods.

[berybert]

The taxi scam for me is a nice introduction to the country. A nice gentle scam to work you in.

Then its off to the beach for the jet ski scam before a night at the karaoke scam before the police shake down scam on the way back to the hotel.

You will be glad to get the 800 baht taxi back to the airport scam after 2 weeks of that.

[h90]

Carrot and Stick.......Is that not what you use on donkeys?

donkeys are intelligent and able to learn.

[shirtless]

This will never be fixed, Thais just dont care about tourism unless it gives them easy money.

[Ceruhe]

"Use carrot and stick to rein in rogue cabbies"

I'm not seeing any stick.

The stick is they have to work

[katana]

This video was posted up on Youtube recently. A Japanese passenger who can speak Thai filmed the taxi driver from Suvarnabhumi Airport starting the meter at 75 Baht rather than 35 Baht.

When question, the driver tried to claim it was the new starting price since December.

Edited January 29, 2015 by katana

[Sviss Geez]

I wonder if any of this will be on that fake image of Swampy airport will be on the BBC show currently on TV?

Obviously not, as that was completed many months ago, it's not a live report you know.

[Emster23]

Best to get tourists away from airport before hitting with usual scams. If happens at airport, tourists just might get on next flight out.....

[BigBadGeordie]

I wonder if any of this will be on that fake image of Swampy airport will be on the BBC show currently on TV?

Obviously not, as that was completed many months ago, it's not a live report you know.

Saddened to know that this is a NEW scam, as it "obviously"did not go on "many months ago"!

[CUNJU]

After immigration they are the first people you meet in Thailand. That is after you have woken up the girl behind that crappy desk who gives you the 50 baht ticket for a taxi.

Since we pay 50 baht for a taxi i always got an old crappy taxi. Thai customers just refuse old crappy taxi's and wait for a new one, that's why the old ones made suvarnabhumi their homebase i guess.

My last taxi couldn't go faster then 90 km/hr , if we tried to go faster then it started making strange noises from under the bonnet.

I guess if we have to pay 100 to get a taxi nothing will change..Also i think the taxidriver should pay the tollway for me so i don't have to give him money all the time and have frustrating conversations because he can't speak english.. At the destination i will pay him once for the total amount.

I must have had the same taxi when I arrived Jan 2nd! He had to stop twice and do something under the hood! Abd was the slowest taxi ride I ever got in BKK!

[alantheembalmer]

"Of the more than 1,000 complaints filed against taxi drivers every month on average, most of them involve refusing passengers, according to Department of Land Transport records. That leads to about 3,000 fines handed out each year to rogue cabbies......"

So, we have 12,000 complaints, and 3,000 fines. That means you have a one in four chance of being caught and financially punished, after you've been reported, which is probably only the tip of the iceburg. Might as well carry on then, chaps.

[jacky54]

Need to start taking licenses away from these crooks

[Sviss Geez]

Came in on Monday night, a taxi driver collared me. I was going to Soi 11 Sukhumvit. Got in the taxi, he refused to put on the meter and asked for 500 baht. I started getting out and he said OK, 400. He relented to 350 but I told him no tip, which was fair enough to me as I had just traveled over 30 hours and I was early evening, so the traffic was heavy

No tip? He wouldn't have been showing it but inside he was laughing his head off at the daft foreigner who thought he was clever to negotiate the fare down but not get it down far enough. He would have enjoyed the 100 baht tip you actually gave him.