Can anyone explain why there are several saloon cars - some with Bangkok plates - parked along Rat-U-Thit road in Patong with the sign 'taxi' on their roofs but have no yellow identification stickers, no green license plates, and apparently no credentials? Is it open season for rogue taxi drivers?

Posted by Sam W on May 22, 2013 08:27

@ Sam W. Look at the photos. At least one of the taxi's shown in the picture is a black taxi, and he is protesting in front of the governor's mansion! It is more important in Phuket to be aligned with one of the "taxi co-ops" than it is to get legal with the government. It has been reported that many if not most of Mook Andaman's taxi's are black. One airport black taxi driver was accused of raping a Chinese tourist just this week. Boggles the mind.

Posted by NomadJoe on May 22, 2013 09:21

No Pay no Gain. I nearly got beaten up,last year, by a crazy, very stressed, young driver in a Bangkokplatet new black minivan.His reason was i drived to slow on my bike on Nanairoad. When i stopped at a restaurang he rushed out from his so called taxi and started screaming. Fortunally a police came and sortet the maniac out.Phuket is out of the question for me now.

Posted by One Expat 13 years on May 22, 2013 09:31

@SamW

Can you explain why customers should be bothered whether it is registered taxi or not? Is there any different level of protection of customers rights, and yes, what are the customers' rights, if any? I mean in practical way.

There is no any substantial difference for clients whether there are stickers or not. stickers helps a bit municipal budget as well as stickers producers.

Posted by SUe on May 22, 2013 10:33

If their families need incomes why not apply for the jobs as airport bus drivers. oops I forgot, what airport buses!

Posted by Mister Ree on May 22, 2013 11:07

There would be so much work around for them..if they would consider to work at least 8 hours straight every day ! But it's much easier to overcharge tourists and work instead on hour a day only... Claiming that they need income for their families is nonsense, as there's a shortage of labor in many fields in Thailand, also for untrained people.

Posted by Resident on May 22, 2013 12:20

One Expat 13 years do not lose interest in Phuket ifs you want a quiter pace there are plenty of places, like Rawai. Patong is like any other busy night life place there are some aggressive people.

Posted by Lost In Translation on May 22, 2013 18:22

Sue

Most important difference is insurance.
A taxi needs to be licensed and certified for commercial use and has to have proper commercial transport insurance. If your illegal taxi has an accident, you are not covered. At all. You have to pay for everything out of your own pocket.

Commercial transport insurance is many times more expensive than private use insurance but since you can't tell from the outside, nobody seems to care. Accidents are not exactly unheard of on Phuket.

Posted by ThaiMike on May 22, 2013 19:29

@ThaiMilke

These are valid points on the side of the driver/owner or person who is in possession of the vehicle.

Still, what constitutes any tangible value for the customer of taxi in Phuket?
Potentially, as per your mentioned points, it would improve solvency of driver/owner of the vehicle in case of accident.

But I meant value fro customer in practical sense. Have you ever heard about paying significant compensatory or other damages in traffic accidents in Thailand? Me not, sorry. Whether or not vehicle is insured, it doesn't make any big change.
In this particular situation it would be more wise to have a proper insurance on the side of passenger. Most visitors aren't aware of the risks that are and that aren't insured, eg. snorkelling is not covered by any regular travel insurance, you need to pay an extra preimium and make an apparrent mention of this risk in policy. Same about riding elephants, hiking through jungles, any watersports, riding motorcycle taxi, any ride on speedboat or most ferries etc., not to mention any diving activity.

Posted by SUe on May 22, 2013 22:27

This would make better reading!

About 3000 tourists gathered around the Governors mansion in Phuket city to lodge a protest about a lack of solution to the transport problem & the monopoly by tuk tuks!

Posted by slickmelb on May 23, 2013 02:25