Taxi scams, Bangkok

My friends and I, 2 girls and a guy, were looking for a cab to bring us to the Taling Chan floating market. We were scouting for a cab for the longest time outside the Grand palace to take us there using meter. We were approached by this guy at the Grand palace and he promised to bring us to the floating market with meter. Once we got into his cab, he was over enthusiastic and called to a "friend" and said will "take care" of us. He drove for 2 hours to a deserted place where his friend is to a boat which said would lead us to the floating market. When we realised that it was a scam, we quickly got back into the cab and insisted we go back to the city. His friend keep coaxing us to stay but we quickly got back into the taxi and closed the door, so they could not bring us any place else. The taxi driver got angry and screamed at us claiming that we did not go to the floating market. We insisted he drive us back to the city and he finally did. We boarded the cab at 1.30p.m. at the Grand palace and reached back to city, Siam Square at 5.45p.m.

When we reached the city, we did not want to pay the amount of THB $1600 (Singapore $60). He ran out of the cab and grabbed my friend and refused to let go. By then, my friend and I were screaming at him and he keep insisting for us to pay. Just then a police came along and we told him the story. We explained that the taxi driver was cheating us and we are not going to pay him. The police and the taxi driver could not speak English well so it was to out disadvantage. The police just stood there and whispered " Can I see your passport?" " You must pay." But most of the times, he just stood there and looked at us with blinking eyes! I think he was scared because we and the scammed taxi driver were having a very heated argument at this point. We refused to show our passports or go to the police station because our flight was in 3 hours time. The taxi driver told the police that we asked him to drive very far away! But we didn't! We even showed the police the place we wanted to go in Thai!We were so mad and seeing that the police did nothing to help and we had a flight to catch, we paid the taxi driver! We did not even go to our destination and who would have known what would have happened if he went on that boat!

Later that day, we found out that Tha Chang (the ferry pier near the Grand Palace) costs THB$9 to get to the floating market and its near the Grand palace, taking only less than 30 mins!

When we left the cabbie asked us to return him his card. I think he feared us reporting him. I later read on other websites to take picture of the cab and the cabbie if necessary to protect yourself. I would have done that. There is no one there to help you, even the useless police.

We had a very bad experience with the driver of a pink taxi. 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.

be carefull if arriving at MOCHIT bus station north of bangkok if you arriving from Changrai or Changmai because the official taxi touts with yellow vests will cheat you.I was quoted 1000 baht for a journey to my hotel which turned out was only 2 kms away.I eventually knocked them down to 400 baht but they would not accept less. when I reached the hotel it was near a sky train station only 2 stops from MOCHIT!

I have met my fair share of taxi drivers trying NOT to go via meter and try to stick me with an inflated taxi fare, especially when night falls and you are returning to the hotel late. I usually slam the door shut and walk off and find the next available taxi, not that there are any shortage!

I am no push-over tourist and you shouldn't be too, no matter how strong your currency is compared to the local currency. (Incidentally, I was chatised once for remarking on this which I find most amusing. The case was made for "aiding the locals". Well, what can I say? There are folks who are utterly and philanthropically generous....chuckle!)

Also, watch out for the Tuk-tuks. It has never happened to me but my friends had suffered in their hands. Instead of driving them to the requested location, the Tuk-tuk driver sent them to shops that they had commissions with and tried to get them to buy items off these shops. My friends were pretty much chagrined and enraged and refused to part a single cent. They pretty much swore off all Tuk-tuks in Bangkok thereafter. However, not all Tuk-tuk drivers are unscrupulous though so exercise your judgement.

4 more images

My Photos
First Photo: Taxi with Taxi meter
Second photo: Taxi with Taxi meter
Third photo: Taxi with Taxi meter
Forth photo: Taxi with Taxi meter
Fifth photo: Taxi with Taxi meter

I just spent eight days in Bangkok and due to the extreme heat I opted to take Taxi's around the city, as this is a very cheap way to get around when compared to other places.

Daily I found myself having to repeatedly insist that the cabbie turn on the meter. Most would pull away once you got in and never turn on the meter. Often I would ask the driver to turn the meter on and he would completely ignore me, acting as if he hadn't heard me. So I would insist more forcefully that he turn on the meter, then they would try and quote me a flat rate, which was often three or four times the metered price. I'm normally pretty laid back and take things in stride but after eight days of fighting with dishonest drivers my patience was starting to wane.

Add into this that most carry no change, or claim to not have any change so if you don't carry a lot of small bills and change, expect to pay more than the meter.

In eight days I think I had one honest driver who immediately turned on the meter and made change for me, but I told him to keep it as it was nice to find an honest driver.

It's not the money that matters as with exchange rates the scams were in reality only a couple dollars at best. Not a big deal. It’s just the principle of it.

After eight days of scam artists and few honest people, I was more than ready to leave the city.

If you take cabs in Bangkok, Always insist the meter be turned on and carry plenty of small bills.

I benefitted alot from this website and would like to contribute my latest surprise.

Came back from bangkok yesterday. Upon arrival with my hubby, we headed for public taxi stand as many advised. We were given a chit, metered taxi with 50baht surcharge. Fair enough. We got up the taxi (plate number attached), my mistake was not checking on the meter thinking that its supposed to be metered as stated. The driver started up the highway and broke it to us he wans 400baht. I asked for meter, he says spoil. We politely ask to get out. He got fed up and on the meter and slowed the taxi to 40km/h!! He stated this is the speed we will get for 'metered' taxi. What a rude shock. We offered him 300baht. He clearly showed he wasnt happy but accepted telling us to pay toll, he sped up to 80km/h. He took us thru 2 tolls (40+35 baht) (we only needed to go thru 1 toll (35baht) on our way back to airport upon our return). Our hotel was at Pratunam area. He was smart to counter us asking for meter by slowing down so be prepared.

Throughout our 7 day stay, my husband really was hesitant to take taxi. It's not money, it's just having to face such a situation. Luckily we stayed pratunam so we walked.

We asked a taxi driver to pick us to airport. She said ok but never turned up. Time agreed was 6am. Phone number given was incorrect.

Dear travellers, please take note of the cab rides.

NEVER trust a taxi driver to bring you to your intended destination. This is especially if you are headed to a RESTAURANT, A SHOP, MASSAGE PLACE or anywhere where you intend to spend money. Even with instructions to your destination written in Thai, road map, etc, will not help.

Most taxi drivers will pretend to be blur or confuse about directions. But trust me, they know exactly where you want to go with 100% certainty..... the period where they exhibit a momentary lapse of memory is when they are thinking of which alternative (imitation place) of the destination you intend to go.

1. The basic rule in Bangkok is that there are fake everything and buyers beware.
2. Never ever trust your taxi driver to bring you to the place you want to go for FOOD, SHOPPING, or ANYTHING RELATED TO AN EXPENDITURE (MASSAGE, RESTAURANTS, etc). This is inspite of giving them specific directions written in Thai.
3. The problem is, for every famous place, there is an imitation (eg the famous Somboon Restaurant versus the fake Somboondee Restuarant). All taxi drivers will automatically bring you to the fake places period (regardless of instructions in Thai / English, etc). They are paid 30% commission on every dollar you spend.
4. All fake places charge at least 5x - 10x the price of the original places.
5. I had a simple seafood dinner consisting of 800grams crab, 900gram Fish/Seabass, a fried rice and a plate of vegetables (Kangkong / Morning Glory). The cost came out to a shocking 7,000 bahts. The correct price should probably be only about 800 baht to 1,000 bahts in Bangkok.
6. Even the restaurant owners will lie to you upon being confronted. They will lie about the road / location they are on, the name of the restaurant, etc.

Leave a Comment

At Least Do This: Use a credit card to pay if you suspect of being scam. Then deliberately sign under a different name or initials. Upon receiving the bill, tell your credit card company that you didnt sign for that bill. One scam deserves another scam!! The only people who loose out are the original scammers as the credit card company will back charge the restaurant or shopping place.
Alternative: Always take the sky train or MRT if you intend to go to any restaurant or shopping places. Make sure you have a photo of the place you want to go to.......otherwise be prepared to be brought to a fake location where prices are easily 5X to 10x of the origional.