Suvarnabhumi taxi driver returns THB90,000 cash to Hong Kong man

[webfact]

Suvarnabhumi taxi driver returns THB90,000 cash to Hong Kong man
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Suvarnabhumi Internaitonal Airport/ Thairath

BANGKOK: -- After a Suvarnabhumi taxi driver conned two Swissmen out of a THB6,000 fare earlier this week, here is a story about an honest taxi driver that reminds us there are still some kind-hearted cabbies in Bangkok.

Wattana Pornkongkaew yesterday returned a bag containing HKD20,000 (THB90,662), THB860, credit cards and a passport to a Hong Kong man.

The passenger, identified as Huang Xuepeng, immediately hugged Wattana when he showed up at his hotel on Sukhumvit soi 26.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/04/01/suvarnabhumi-taxi-driver-returns-thb90000-cash-hong-kong-man

-- Coconuts Bangkok 2016-04-01

[jamesbrock]

Good one Mr Taxi driver, hope you get a reward

[stickylies]

Karma will reward him...at least that is what they believe around here

[SoFarAndNear]

Seriously, if you work as a Taxi Driver and are aware that your register plate has been filmed at least 10.000 times per day in Bangkok and you find a purse in your Taxi with this amount. It would have been only a matter of a few hours after the police report until Police shows up on his home.

[Tonyrichard]

Good one Mr Taxi driver, hope you get a reward

Yes, it is heart-warming to read of such honesty and kindliness. I hope that this good taxi-driver got more than just a hug from the HK man. If it were me, I would have given him a couple of thousand baht to express my appreciation. Honesty like this needs to be praised and encouraged.

[dukeandduke]

Good for him. I wonder how much I would pay him. 10,000 baht? Is that too cheap, Charlies?

[lkv]

One of these threads today is likely to be an April 1st joke.

[MrTee]

I notice a complete lack of pointing in this photo!

[Evilbaz]

It is completely baffling to me how people carrying a large amount of cash can forget/misplace it ...

[Thian]

I see a pattern.

Some months ago there was an important Japanese scammed by a taxidriver...then next day there also was a story of a taxi who returned much cash to another tourist.

Now we had the Swiss businessman scammed this week and again a feelgood story some days later...

[Bender]

and today, we are .... 1st april.

This is the way, thai are fooling foreigners!

Of course this story is complete baloney!

[Moonmoon]

Seriously, if you work as a Taxi Driver and are aware that your register plate has been filmed at least 10.000 times per day in Bangkok and you find a purse in your Taxi with this amount. It would have been only a matter of a few hours after the police report until Police shows up on his home.

the

Police r that efficient really? Maybe they would be there to split the cash lol.

[godden]

Hes's a vely vely good man may Budda take care of him forever

[Sakeopete]

I think these good will stories are fake. They always come after Somchai the taxi driver gets busted scamming tourist. Most likely a TAT bandaid.

[dcnx]

These stories always follow bad ones. All part of the spin.

[kiwikeith]

Good one Mr Taxi driver, hope you get a reward

He got some certificates and souvinerrs from Suvarnaphum -- no mention of reward, keenyow jek.

[mrrizzla]

Who carries that absurd amount of cash with them?

Good on the taxi driver. There are more good apples than bad in my experiences

[casualobserver]

Good for him. I wonder how much I would pay him. 10,000 baht? Is that too cheap, Charlies?

Sadly probably zero, and probably zero shame about it too. It's not part of their culture to volunteer any reward, same with tipping unless it would obviously embarrass them like at high end 5 star dim sum restaurant.

There should be a lost property fee of 1,000baht or something that gets split between taxi office and taxi driver, at least this would go so far to make up for some of lost time and money rather than a certificate. Taxi drivers get such an unfair bashing in BKK but you realize how little they make and how dumb the meters are I never begrudge a declined trip, a few minutes or seconds later I can pick up another, for example >6mph its normal distance rate, that could mean a few hours at 10mph for a few hundred baht.

Also interesting the bashing the other guy got, taxi offered 600baht fare and the guy accepts, 50baht airport fee, 120baht tolls, leaves only 430baht in the ride, so at most the guy negotiated say 100-150 baht tip basically, not robbery. The guy then paid the guy with 1,000baht notes, and he kept quiet, crime of the century, sure he should of said something, but seeing as he's probably been at the airport for an hr and 3 hrs into his day and not paid the 600baht a day taxi rent and the 300baht lpg gas he spent another 20min queueing for, I can see how he was tempted. Of course media makes it sound like a crazied yaba guy refusing to turn on the meter and demanding 6000baht through intimidation and then returning to do another victim.

[Thian]

Good for him. I wonder how much I would pay him. 10,000 baht? Is that too cheap, Charlies?

Sadly probably zero, and probably zero shame about it too. It's not part of their culture to volunteer any reward, same with tipping unless it would obviously embarrass them like at high end 5 star dim sum restaurant.

There should be a lost property fee of 1,000baht or something that gets split between taxi office and taxi driver, at least this would go so far to make up for some of lost time and money rather than a certificate. Taxi drivers get such an unfair bashing in BKK but you realize how little they make and how dumb the meters are I never begrudge a declined trip, a few minutes or seconds later I can pick up another, for example >6mph its normal distance rate, that could mean a few hours at 10mph for a few hundred baht.

Also interesting the bashing the other guy got, taxi offered 600baht fare and the guy accepts, 50baht airport fee, 120baht tolls, leaves only 430baht in the ride, so at most the guy negotiated say 100-150 baht tip basically, not robbery. The guy then paid the guy with 1,000baht notes, and he kept quiet, crime of the century, sure he should of said something, but seeing as he's probably been at the airport for an hr and 3 hrs into his day and not paid the 600baht a day taxi rent and the 300baht lpg gas he spent another 20min queueing for, I can see how he was tempted. Of course media makes it sound like a crazied yaba guy refusing to turn on the meter and demanding 6000baht through intimidation and then returning to do another victim.

They always ask for many to pay the tollway. I've never seen it any other way.

[snoopy21]

Just wonder why the name of the so-called "Hong Kong man" is spelled in Putonghua not in Cantonese?

[thrilled]

It should be A law world wide.If someone finds your money that you lost then you should give him A minimum of at least 10%.

I mean the people that find the money could just walk away with the money.I believe with A meaningful reward more people

Will try and find the original owner.Because of your carelessness you should be relieved of some of your money as punishment.

That way maybe you'll be more careful next time.I know I would be.

[yimlitnoy]

In my country we do not even talk about this in newspapers, most people will give back the money as we are not all born thieves. This is part of our civil education.

[2fishin2]

People of integrity do the right thing and dont expect nor accept a reward. They return no questions asked, unlike several TV members.

[anotheruser]

Good for him. I wonder how much I would pay him. 10,000 baht? Is that too cheap, Charlies?

Sadly probably zero, and probably zero shame about it too. It's not part of their culture to volunteer any reward, same with tipping unless it would obviously embarrass them like at high end 5 star dim sum restaurant.

There should be a lost property fee of 1,000baht or something that gets split between taxi office and taxi driver, at least this would go so far to make up for some of lost time and money rather than a certificate. Taxi drivers get such an unfair bashing in BKK but you realize how little they make and how dumb the meters are I never begrudge a declined trip, a few minutes or seconds later I can pick up another, for example >6mph its normal distance rate, that could mean a few hours at 10mph for a few hundred baht.

Also interesting the bashing the other guy got, taxi offered 600baht fare and the guy accepts, 50baht airport fee, 120baht tolls, leaves only 430baht in the ride, so at most the guy negotiated say 100-150 baht tip basically, not robbery. The guy then paid the guy with 1,000baht notes, and he kept quiet, crime of the century, sure he should of said something, but seeing as he's probably been at the airport for an hr and 3 hrs into his day and not paid the 600baht a day taxi rent and the 300baht lpg gas he spent another 20min queueing for, I can see how he was tempted. Of course media makes it sound like a crazied yaba guy refusing to turn on the meter and demanding 6000baht through intimidation and then returning to do another victim.

There already is a fund like this. Normally they just take it.

[jacko45k]

Ah, here is the necessary 'good Taxi' story we always get after the half dozen bad ones!

[Saenchai]

Good one Mr Taxi driver, hope you get a reward

Yes, it is heart-warming to read of such honesty and kindliness. I hope that this good taxi-driver got more than just a hug from the HK man. If it were me, I would have given him a couple of thousand baht to express my appreciation. Honesty like this needs to be praised and encouraged.

Yes, thats what i did too when same happened to me. I had something like this 3 times already here in Thailland. Knock on wood it stays like this, thankgod i can tell the story in this way now.

1. Taxt driver in Sukumvit searches me because i forgot my new iPhone in his taxi.

He drove around Nana to look for me until he found me and gave me back my newly bought iPhone 4 (some years ago). He got 1000 Baht from me

2. Honest gasonline-station worker

I arrived in my Apartment (at that time) in Huay Kwang Area, in Pratcharat Bamphen Road that day, went to the gas station to buy a coke, since thats nearer than the 7/11. As it was the first day i arrive i didnt change my Euro to Baht yet and had around 5000 Euro in my moneybag.

Of course, i lost it in the gasstation, while walking the steps to inside. I went to work in Phayathai for 6 hours, there i saw im missing my money and nearly went crazy. I dont have credit cards or other ways to get money that time. So i was in realy trouble,

I thought that maybe i loose it in gas station and went there again (7 hours later). I was 100m away still and already a worker run to me and gave me my money back.... Not one Euro missing. I gave him around 2500 Baht (70 Euro at that time). He nearly start crying because he was so thankful. That made my day

3. Near Lao Border at Ubon Ratchatani in a supermarket

I put my money bag and both mobiles on a cupboard inside the supermarket because i wanted to get an item some rows up and needed both hands. Of course after finished get it i forgot to pickup my things... my girlfriend payed that time so i didnt see i lost/forgot my money.

After some hours searching everywhere in that places i was meanwhile i went back to the supermarket agan and same like at gas station, a worker woman cam out running to me, with my belongings in hand. Not one Baht missing again. I gave her 1k Baht

Im german and things like this happened to me in germany too. Not even one time i got my money back there. Not once...

Thats my 2 cent about THais beeing crooked

[Barnet]

Oh, its that time of the month again is it? Well done honest, kind-hearted Thai taxi driver. You serve as a reminder that only 0.01% of you are really dishonest.

(Did I say the last bit right sir?)

[Laughing Gravy]

Well done that man. There is always a couple of good apples in a barrel of bad apples. I hope he reaps some good karma. Or even starts a training course for the other taxi drivers, on how to be a good human being or even a normal taxi driver.

[dcnx]

One should not make the news for not being a criminal.

[cat handler]

I would have kept it in line with the law "finders keepers losers weepers"