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Phuket Taxis Not Tamed Yet: Drivers Told of High Fares, Poor Service and Ripoffs
By Phuketwan Reporter Saturday, July 25, 2015
PHUKET: Tourists continue to complain about high taxi fares, lack of polite service and ripoffs on Phuket, the island's Land Transport Department chief, Teerayuth Prasertpon, said yesterday.
He was speaking to 200 of Phuket's tourist industry drivers in the first of a series of rolling seminars at Phuket Merlin Hotel in Phuket City, designed to improve standards.
''We still have complaints,'' he told the drivers. ''Foreign and Thai tourists tell us the fares are too high, the service is not good enough, and some drivers still try rip-offs.''
Reinforcing the message that improvements were still needed was Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong, who told the gathering that Thailand had to remain competitive in its appeal to tourists with the Asean Economic Community looming.
''With meters turned on, drivers are doing the right thing,'' the governor said, ''even if the fares remain high.''
There were now 329 meter taxis on the island, the meeting heard, along with 4383 saloon cars registered as taxis, 5656 minivans or buses operating in the tourist industry, and 516 tuk-tuks.
Represented at the meeting was GrabTaxi, a mobile e-hailing organisation that has established a presence in Bangkok and in a handful of SouthEast Asian countries. About 50 of Phuket's meter taxi drivers had signed on with GrabTaxi, the meeting heard.
GrabTaxi drivers were obligated to meet high standards of service, the meeting was told. Uber is the other app-based taxi group with a presence on Phuket.
Phuketwan believes that Phuket still has too many unmetered taxis and that drivers who perform badly should be pushed out of the system whenever tourists complain.
Fares on Phuket remain six times higher than those in Bangkok.That's a shock for tourists who visit Bangkok first then come on to Phuket, and for Bangkok residents.
The answer is to reduce the number of taxis on the island and make drivers work harder, rather than have individuals sitting around all day with just one or two trips bringing a reasonable income.
Until island residents can afford to catch taxis with the same ease and at the same fare rates as residents and tourists in Bangkok, Phuket's taxi system should continue to be treated as an out-of-control basket case.
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Comments
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How many years have we been hearing about this? Has there been any improvements at all? The Army came and went with little result. What happened to those charged? Was anybody actually prosecuted? What has happened to all the officials arrested over the mafia activities going on at Karon and Patong? Wat we need is a committee to look into all this, another committee!
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
July 25, 2015 12:42
Taxi drivers, as will any business charge as much as they can get and until there is competition with drivers offering lower fares, the fares being charged will only go higher. That is good business sense on the part of the taxi drivers
It is down to the government officials to effectively regulate the taxi and tuk tuk industry but sadly they have made it clear over the years that they do not intend for whatever reason to intervene
Posted by
Paul
on
July 25, 2015 12:44
"He was speaking to 200 of Phuket's tourist industry drivers in the first of a series of rolling seminars at Phuket Merlin Hotel in Phuket City, designed to improve standards."
Which were duly ignored as in previous seminars and the taxi industry, as with most tourist related industries in Thailand, continue to rip-off tourists.
What's left? Ah yes the high spending Chinese (not) and it won't be long before they realise they are being fleeced before they stop coming.
Greed goes hand in hand with stupidity.
Posted by
Graham
on
July 25, 2015 13:32
The answer is not to reduce taxi's. The answer is to have Metered Taxis with Reasonable Metered rates.
If they over crowd the Taxi service with too many taxi's then that is there own fault.
Pushing up price like you said which are 6 times Bangkok, should be illegal. If I am not mistaken, it used to be illegal.
Posted by
Tbs
on
July 25, 2015 13:44
The taxi situation is definitely worse than a year ago, now totally impossible to park a private car on beach or second roads in Patong. And when I need a taxi (dropping my car for a service for example) do any meter taxis come past? Is there a bus? Noooo, of course not! All the taxis are parked in Patong hassling tourists within an inch of their lives. The whole situation is a national embarrassment to Thailand. We all know this, I am saying nothing new. Call me a doomsayer if you like, but this is not going to get better any time soon as there is no incentive for this to change. Sorry Ed, I know you believe it will get better, but it just won't if there is no motivation for the change.
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
July 25, 2015 13:45
Editor Comment:
The motivation should come from a government that wants to protect the tourism industry.
Ed,
I agree with you - that motivation should come from the government. So one has to ask, why does it continue to not come?
The other issue is of course the ingrained selfish mentality of the current drivers. After years of thinking this behaviour is correct and acceptable it's going to be extremely hard to change them. The solution is to get rid of the whole lot of them (take away their licenses for example) and introduce all new drivers who don't have this set of values. Maybe some nice young men from Burma who speak good English and who are motivated to work hard and offer good service.
Watching them might show the next generation of thai drivers that hard work is the way to success, not lounging under an umbrella all day shouting "Tuk Tuk taxi" all day at anyone who walks past.
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
July 25, 2015 14:01
Editor Comment:
Depriving the existing drivers - several thousand of them - of their livelihood would not be considered a reasonable solution, DT.
"The motivation should come from a government that wants to protect the tourism industry."
It should, but has not in the last 10 years and doubt it ever will
Posted by
Lashay
on
July 25, 2015 15:44
It's like Deja Vu all over again....Groundhog day??...the twilight zone??...What taxi problem..we have a taxi problem here??...Boy oh boy, this is news
Posted by
sky
on
July 25, 2015 16:08
That's why you can't get a tuk tuk elsewhere, all 516 are within 100 metres of Jungceylon. (You can't get one of them either unless you are very rich.)
Posted by
juswunderin
on
July 25, 2015 17:08
" Depriving the existing drivers... of their livelihood would not be considered a reasonable solution "
Any and all solutions that will deprive these drivers of what they obviously consider their birthright - to rip off foreigners with impunity, will be considered totally unreasonable and unacceptable.
Can you imagine a Thai official or politician campaigning to protect foreigners against being ripped off by Thais ?
That would not only be a political suicide but many would also consider it treason.
Those few brave and just Thais who have tried to do that have quickly been beaten down to the ground. Many times literally so.
There simply is no public support or even understanding for equal pricing for Thais and foreigners.
Can someone please prove me wrong ?
Posted by
Herbert
on
July 25, 2015 18:17
Editor Comment:
You seem to forget, Herbert, that the most damaging effect of the excessive fares is to deprive local residents of the ability to catch taxis. The ripoff is non-discriminatory. Those locals (and tourists from other parts of Thailand) with money are also made to pay the excessive fares. This is not and never has been a double pricing issue. Your prejudices ignore the facts.
Ed
Showing that laziness and monopoly is NOT the way to a successful tourism by taking away the livelihoods of thousands of thugs is EXACTLY the message that the government should be sending out
That message would ring around other institutions (the police for example) that this type of behaviour is not for the good of thai people and thailand in general.
It's exactly what they should do
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
July 25, 2015 20:25
Hang On- didn't Mr Ed wax lyrical about the White Knights of the DSI swooping into Phuket two years ago and ridding us of this problem? he then proceeded to slay the nay-sayers - sorry realists who have now seen the problem get even worse. Over to you Mr Ed.
Moderated in advance of being censored- sorry' Moderated'.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
July 25, 2015 23:16
Editor Comment:
The taxi issue has improved in every aspect except the fares, Mister Ree. Yet sadly, instead of complaining to authorities and their embassies, the doomsayers do nothing to fix the problem. Your so-called ''realists'' even fail to understand that change is inevitable.
'Depriving them of their livelihood' these guys are NOT poor- take a drive around some of the bigger houses in Kamala and other areas of the West Coast and see the green plates parked outside.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
July 25, 2015 23:19
Editor Comment:
Nobody said they were poor, MR. And maximising your income has yet to become a crime.
Ed
Maximizing your income is not in itself a crime, but maximizing it by illegal means absolutely IS a crime, and that's exactly what these thugs are doing. I don't need to list the ways in which they operate illegally, we all know what they are.
Ed, you say we should complain to our embassies and authorities - I have written to my embassy many times, but as you know the governor refuses to meet the consuls regularly, and even when he has, polite words are given but nothing changes
Which authorities do you suggest we complain to next - authorities that will take action and do something. I will write to them today ......
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
July 26, 2015 08:41
Editor Comment:
You throw the word ''thugs'' about DT as if every taxi driver fits the category. It just isn't the case. Polite drivers and impolite drivers share the benefits of lack of competition equally. Please explain what they've done that's illegal.
The excessive fares are a burden on Thais and foreigners - and on the tourist industry. Visitors during the Asian Beach Games noted that Phuket's taxi costs were prohibitive. Ambassadors still visit Phuket regularly and are able to raise complaints directly with the Governor. If any ambassador was able to list the names of 100 citizens who lodged complaints, it would be a step in the right direction. If five ambassadors were able to list 200 citizens each, the governor would be forced to react. Social media is there to be used.
Ed, you say "The taxi issue has improved in every aspect except the fares".
They are just as rude and ready to use violence. They are still practicing rip-offs. They are still very defensive of their parking spots. All the illegal salas are back.
Please enlighten us on what exactly has improved.
Posted by
Sir Burr
on
July 26, 2015 11:05
Editor Comment:
Taxi drivers are now all registered and their details are recorded in a data base. Two years ago, there was no official record of who was legal and who was not. Instances of resorts and tour companies being extorted occur no longer. There has been no road blockade since April, 2014. More meter taxis exist than ever before, circulating around Phuket and able to make pickups in many more places than previously. Uber and GrabTaxi have both arrived and are likely to trigger competition on fares.
People with biased mindsets prefer never to see change, Sir Burr.
''With meters turned on, drivers are doing the right thing,'' the governor said, ''even if the fares remain high.''
The meters are usually running well before any tourist/passenger ever get's into the car and usually you will find that the meter is covered over with a cloth or rag !!
Posted by
Greg
on
July 26, 2015 11:12
Editor Comment:
Did you pass on the drivers' details to the authorities, Greg, or just tolerate it? Not much point if you're an obedient passenger who doesn't seek change.
Ed
What is illegal ? The list is endless:
Operating private business from public space (the roads in Patong),
Refusing to allow members of the public to park their cars on the public road (I was chased away from parking on second road only this week)
Threatening behaviour (the way I was chased away from parking)
Still operating black plate taxis (take a walk down beach or second road, still have plenty of cars with black plates and taxi signs on them)
I also doubt very much they are paying full taxes on the money they earn (yes, I have no proof, but I think it's a pretty fair guess)
Painting illegal yellow lines on the roads in kata and Karon to make their own parking spaces
Parking on the red and white curbs all down the roads in Patong
Refusing people to park in public car parks such as at Surin beach
Need any more ??
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
July 26, 2015 12:03
Editor Comment:
You're talking about your own limited experiences and expanding those into generalisations, DT. Have you been to the police station to lodge a formal complaint?
Ed
If you do need some more :
Driving illegally modified vehicles on the public street (all those coloured lights on the tuktuks are illegal if you see the vehicle regulations website)
Driving the wrong way down one way streets (seen every day in Patong)
Running red lights (seen every day in Patong)
Side and rear entry tuktuks both operating in Patong when only one is allowed
This is a fun game - I am sure we could go on for ages.
Yes, it's great that there had not been a road blockade for a year, but no, not all drivers are registered correctly
That's the only improvement? Wow - that's progress! If we pretend the problem has gone away we can never realise change !
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
July 26, 2015 12:10
Editor Comment:
Finished your report(s) to the police, DT?
I agree with mr Greg, it is not the duty of taxi passengers to critize the corrupt not thai law obedient taxi drivers, that is the job of the Governor and other Phuket thai authorities who prefere to close their eyes and not want to get involved. Wild East! Enormous amounts of money flows in 'insufficient' transport. Insufficient for the tourists, but very rich making for the thai transport people. Nobody can deny that. Even the governor admit.-->" even the fairs remain high"..
Posted by
Kurt
on
July 26, 2015 12:31
Editor Comment:
If passengers do not complain, Kurt, then there is no problem.
"Taxi drivers are now all registered and their details are recorded in a data base. " Ed, it seems you are privy to information that no one else has seem, have you in fact seem the "register" or "data base" if so have you check ALL taxi drivers against them? I, do know, in fact still use "black" taxis, as I get a far better deal, whether you condemn me or not, facts are facts and I don't give a rats. People are still being bullied/intimidated by taxi/tuk tuk drivers, you really do need to do a bit more footwork... yes Ed, I do "walk the streets." I await your snide reply.
Posted by
Laurie Howells
on
July 26, 2015 13:10
Editor Comment:
If you can afford to catch taxis, Laurie, then you are clearly better off than almost all Phuket residents. I too have had make-believe taxi drivers attempt to offer me rides. The answer is simple, Laurie. Say No and pass on the numberplate to the Land Transport Department. Nobody is claiming the problem has been solved. But there has been considerable change for the better. The problems took years to create and only a few believe that sacking all existing taxi drivers will bring an instant solution. Anyone bullied by a driver should report it to police, Laurie. Simple.
Yes Ed, I have indeed complained to the police, and my embassy. I run dashcams in all of my vehicles and gave a USB to Kathu police a couple of months ago, showing intimidation by a minibus driver over a parking space on second road, and many photos and clips of tuktuks running red lights, illegal parking and other offences.
Has anything happened? What do you think?
When the police ride their motorbikes every afternoon the wrong way down Bangla Road (white PCX at 4.30pm daily) to reach the police box, what chance do we have ??
By all means keep your head in the sand Ed, the rest of us will be realistic.
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
July 26, 2015 13:46
Editor Comment:
One complaint? How many times have you been back to the police station?
Ed, in order for you to "push" your point of view, you harp on about " almost all Phuket residents" here's another interesting fact, that you seem to neglect, in ALL countries, most residence do NOT take taxis, Phuket/Thailand is no different. Here, on Phuket, Taxis/tuk tuk target mostly tourists, as evidenced by where they congregate. I do understand why someone would choose NOT to criticise these "mafia," the consequences could be "unhealthy."
Posted by
Laurie Howells
on
July 26, 2015 14:00
Editor Comment:
In the cities I've lived in around the world, residents do take taxis from time to time, Laurie. In Bangkok and other large Thai cities, many residents catch taxis quite frequently. Do you really think taxis are just for tourists? Have you seen where taxis ''congregate'' in other cities around the world? Laurie, you really don't get out much. That's unhealthy.
Ed
I never said "one" complaint, I merely gave one example of a recent complaint.
You should check your facts before jumping to incorrect conclusions.
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
July 26, 2015 14:29
Editor Comment:
Perhaps you should take a course in how to report the facts accurately, DT.
(moderated).
Posted by
Laurie Howells
on
July 26, 2015 14:37
Editor Comment:
Something of value to say, Laurie? When you think of something, please let us know. As for me, I have better things to do.
Ed, it appears some people who follow the truth sometimes find themselves "falsely" charged, others simply get "moderated," both instances are a shame.
Posted by
Laurie Howells
on
July 26, 2015 15:47
Editor Comment:
Readers have no interest in egos spouting nonsense for the sake of it, Laurie. We're here to protect the innocent.
I'm in Karon from New Zealand right now Taxi or Tuk Tuk 400bht to Patong when you mention Meter Taxi they laugh,also yesterday (sat 25July) Drivers openly drinking Chang in street.
Posted by
NOEL
on
July 26, 2015 16:46
NOEL
400THB is fairly good price from Karon to Patong, at higher season it starts at 500THB and goes up to a cheating limit.
There is no by law requirements for meters in Phuket taxis,and there is fairre laissez about taxi prices in Phuket - they all are contractual, i.e. whatever parties will negotiate, the state doesn't regulate Phuket taxi prices..
It's good not to mention that you are almost missing a flight, otherwise they may charge half of the airfare..
Posted by
Sue
on
July 26, 2015 20:00
When I need a taxi in Patong, I go straight to a "Black" Taxi. They are usually in good nick, and it's the driver's own car, so he drives carefully. I also just picked up a hitchhiker yesterday - maybe if we all started hitch-hiking and picking up hitch-hikers, then there would be less demand for the overpriced tuk-tuks that hog all the parking places in Patong.
Posted by
Harvey
on
July 27, 2015 00:47
"The taxi issue has improved in every aspect except the fares" - wow do you lived one hell of a sheltered life to even try post an argument in favor of that statement. D o yu own a taxi or something?
The taxi system is as bad asnit was 2 years ago and absolutely nothing has improved. You mention a database - thats normal. Its not something you should be shouting about as an improvement. Its embarrassing they hadn't had one at the beginning.
What happened to all the grand-plans from the authorities? The holding station for taxis? No taxis on beach-road? No taxis outside Jungeylon in the current form? No salas outside resorts and hotels?
Nore and mor ei have hear dof tourists complaining about the fares - the service provided - the rudeness of taxi drivers - the standard of driving which can be witnessed by sitting on Thepkassatri road everyday and just watching.
Please Editor we are not fools and as easily persuaded as you are. Get out and about and open your eyes.
Posted by
Ciaran
on
July 27, 2015 08:25
Editor Comment:
All Phuket taxis have signs on their sides telling passengers the number to call to complain, Ciaran. There are twice as many meter taxis as there were two years ago. The service has improved because standards have generally been lifted. Seminars continue to be held. Nobody is suggesting there is not still work to do.
Doomsayers, of course, fail to use their eyes and ears and find it impossible to think logically. The entire word changes, but no-hopers still prefer to imagine it will always stay the way it was last week. Go on saying ''nothing has changed'' if you wish, Ciaran, but don't expect to con the rest of us.
The editor has suggested several times to readers of Phuket Wan that they should send their grievances with the taxi's and Tuk Tuk's to the police
I think this would be futile since the police have shown themselves to be reluctant to act
I suggest that they write to the Prime Minister. Should the Prime Minister be made aware of the problems on a regular basis he may decide to act
Posted by
Paul
on
July 28, 2015 07:47
Ed
I see that 6 meter taxi drivers have been arrested for adjusting their meters to increase fares for journeys driven
A prime example of maximising income by illegal means
I am sure I will get a snide remark that it's only 6 drivers, but it's only 6 who have yet been caught
It's very clear that the taxi problem in phuket is not being improved
Posted by
Amazing Thailand
on
July 29, 2015 04:43
Editor Comment:
The fact is, they were caught, AT. If that's not an improvement, I don't know what is. If your glass continues to be half-empty, perhaps you need to change bars.
The high fare of transportation is always been a big problem for all the people. What I see in Phuket is very simple. The drivers are greedy and lazy. They don't think 100 baht is money. They just want easy money. There is only one option; replace them all.
Posted by
Alex
on
July 30, 2015 16:33
Editor Comment:
That is not a practical solution.
tuk tuk don't want change just their own little thiefdom they will continue to buck and rebel even rigging meters unless they want tourists to disappear they need to get serious with regulating the tuk tuks and enforcing those regulations or this joke continues near unabated to phukets depriment these tuk tuks have earned a dedicated police taxi squad to solely enforce and regulate them.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
August 14, 2015 21:50
Just got a meter taxi from the airport to bang Tao beach. Door to door 430 baht including the 100 baht airport surcharge. Fantastic service.
Posted by
Conquestador
on
August 17, 2015 09:00
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How many years have we been hearing about this? Has there been any improvements at all? The Army came and went with little result. What happened to those charged? Was anybody actually prosecuted? What has happened to all the officials arrested over the mafia activities going on at Karon and Patong? Wat we need is a committee to look into all this, another committee!
Posted by Arun Muruga on July 25, 2015 12:42