By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:56:19 +0000

Wow Ana, that’s a serious story! Hope you don’t let yourself put off to visit Thailand again. Besides those Taxi Drivers it has a lot to offer.

By: Ana

Ana — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:40:39 +0000

I had a very bad experience with a taxi driver in Bangkok. We came from Siam Paragon and was having a hard time finding a taxi that would use the meter, so we agreed to the flat rate of 150 baht that the driver charged us with.
The taxi driver was irritable from the heavy traffic, and was driving very fast when he got the chance. Upon arriving at our hotel, he did not see the first door (probably because of his speed) where the hotel lobby was. Instead, he went straight ahead to the next wing where there was no bridge to the main lobby. My brother who was sitting beside him called his attention (nicely) and told him that we were supposed to get off at the first door. It was roughly only 20 to 30 steps away from where he stopped, and he was also going to pass it on his way out of the hotel premises. It was raining so we thought we would just get off at the lobby for us not to get wet. He angrily shouted “200 baht! 200 baht!” and stepped on the gas so hard to make a U turn. Startled with his outburst, I sternly told the driver that we would just get off right there, and that he should not treat tourists so rudely. My brother, after being shouted at, slammed the car door as he got off. The taxi driver did not stop there. He too, got off the car, and opened the trunk. He took his tire wrench and was supposed to attack my brother with it! The hotel guards stopped him just in time and asked him to leave. While driving out the hotel premises, he left a threat to us that he will be watching us and waiting for us outside. I was able to get the taxi’s plate number from the guard. It is a hot pink taxi and the plate numbers looks something like “NS4521″ (the NS was written with curves? I guess it is in Thai? Sorry I’m really clueless, but I kept the paper with the plate number that the guard gave me).
It is only our 3rd day here in Bangkok, and we have so far rode taxis around four times. The first time was from the airport where we were charged 500 bhat. We had no problem with that since the driver just went about his business and was professional. It was a blue taxi. The second, third, and fourth time were all pink taxis, wherein not once had it been a good experience for us. For the second taxi that we rode, the driver told us that the mall we wanted to go to had closed early, and that it would be better to just have dinner somewhere near the night markets. He then suggested a “cheap and good” seafood restaurant, so we agreed. When we arrived, we noticed that the prices were ridiculously high, and later on, upon reading the same stories on the web, realized that we were scammed.
The same thing was offered to us by the next taxi driver (also of a pink taxi). Since we already knew better, we declined his offer and just made up an excuse.
Now, the last taxi that we rode had the rudest and meanest taxi driver that I had ever encountered in my entire life! These 3 encounters all from pink taxis had made me wonder if this is a common practice among them.
I really lost all the excitement I had for Thailand tonight. Shouldn’t they be doing something about these taxi drivers if they really want to promote tourism in their country?
I am really looking forward to flying home next week. I believe this has by far been the worst vacation I have ever had. I have never been scammed and treated so rudely so many times in a row! My Bangkok vacation has turned out to be very frustrating, disappointing, and infuriating,
If you have friends or relatives who are coming to Bangkok, please warn them about this particular taxi driver. Also, please ask them to read about the different scams that some locals trick the clueless tourists into. Please pass this email to your friends and family. It is best to come prepared and aware, so as to avoid these kinds of experiences. Thailand sure has plently of things to offer, but if this comes with visiting their country, I think I would rather not return unless needed, and would not recommend friends and family to come and visit too.

By: Antti

Antti — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:38:25 +0000

the number to report a taxi driver in bangkok reads in the windshield in front of the front passenger seat with the needed information (driver name, taxi number)

By: ruben

ruben — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:20:16 +0000

anybody know where to report a taxi driver in bangkok when they refuse to take you to your destination or try to overcharge you
thanks

By: MerDuriaN

MerDuriaN — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:40:37 +0000

I went to Bangkok before. Most of the drivers don’t even know how to speak English. The only way to communicate with Driver is to use the non-verbal conversation. Quite hard to understand huh
Probably next time you can introduce some multi-languages driver to me

By: JOY

JOY — Tue, 29 May 2007 04:30:04 +0000

I am a tourist guide and sometime I need the driver guide for my client in BKK,may be you can joint business.Please contact me too.

Thanks.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 06 May 2007 09:45:47 +0000

I seem to only ever have conversations about football with taxi drivers. They sure love football.

By: Nia

Nia — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:54:57 +0000

You are a strong brother, Chris. Half an hour in silence while he plyed his evangelic wares and finally wore out your cool exterior? I hope next time you try another tactic, of course without being too impolite.

“Oh, I’ve made a terrible mistake. I must get out immediately. Pull over, pull over. Please! I must get out!”

Of course don’t act TOO crazy, the guy might be armed and try to subdue you with more than the word of the Lord.

All the best, to you Chris. Nia ;)

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