News Forum - Phuket officials comment on recent ‘taxi’ fiasco – everything except taxi meters

[Vigo]

On 2/3/2022 at 9:23 AM, Michael0510 said:

On my last trips to Phuket the transportation from the airport was included in the hotel rate.

The way back it was exactly the „maximum price“, which seems to be the standard price as well. It was about USD 25 for a 50 minute/20 miles trip.

For a shorter trip from Manhattan to Newark airport I pay about USD 100.

So for me it‘s hard to see the big rip off in Phuket. 

The comparison to a western fare is inappropriate. let's use your NYC to illustrate. NYC Taxicabs are regulated and in order to be allowed to operate, and for drivers to receive their medallion, the following requirements must be met;

1. Vehicles must be insured. Drivers must be insured. This can be  in excess of US $10,000 per unit excluding the NY state workers compensation charges. How many times following a Phuket taxi fatality  are we told ooopsie, no have insurance?

2. Drivers cannot  operate a taxi unless they take required education and pass a licensing exam. The drivers are then supervised. You can see the  bureau of taxi inspecting  taxis and towing them too. The regulation  and operating guidelines are 112 pages.   In Phuket, any thug or brute can be a  taxi driver, just  so long as they belong to the right clan.

3. The cost of repairs and fuel is significantly higher in NYC.  Vehicles in NYC are actually inspected.

4. Taxi cab companies and drivers pay taxes.   Most drivers  live in one of the boroughs. Let's say the driver   makes $50,000 USD  His income taxes are just under 30%. Try living on $35,000 in NYC. Even a  slum in the Bronx costs.  Do any of the Phuket  taxi thugs pay  taxes? 

 

Social services and benefits cost money. Safe roads and traffic law enforcement cost money. Yes, the Phuket taxi fare seems low in comparison, but one gives up alot to get the cheap fare. When one looks at the Phuket taxi fares in the context of the cost to operate the taxi in Thailand, one can only conclude that the fares are inflated and a rip off. This is one of the reasons I haven't set foot on the island in 5 years. It's part and parcel of the systemic and endemic corruption of Phuket. 

[Marc26]

6 minutes ago, Vigo said:

The comparison to a western fare is inappropriate. let's use your NYC to illustrate. NYC Taxicabs are regulated and in order to be allowed to operate, and for drivers to receive their medallion, the following requirements must be met;

1. Vehicles must be insured. Drivers must be insured. This can be  in excess of US $10,000 per unit excluding the NY state workers compensation charges. How many times following a Phuket taxi fatality  are we told ooopsie, no have insurance?

2. Drivers cannot  operate a taxi unless they take required education and pass a licensing exam. The drivers are then supervised. You can see the  bureau of taxi inspecting  taxis and towing them too. The regulation  and operating guidelines are 112 pages.   In Phuket, any thug or brute can be a  taxi driver, just  so long as they belong to the right clan.

3. The cost of repairs and fuel is significantly higher in NYC.  Vehicles in NYC are actually inspected.

4. Taxi cab companies and drivers pay taxes.   Most drivers  live in one of the boroughs. Let's say the driver   makes $50,000 USD  His income taxes are just under 30%. Try living on $35,000 in NYC. Even a  slum in the Bronx costs.  Do any of the Phuket  taxi thugs pay  taxes? 

Social services and benefits cost money. Safe roads and traffic law enforcement cost money. Yes, the Phuket taxi fare seems low in comparison, but one gives up alot to get the cheap fare. When one looks at the Phuket taxi fares in the context of the cost to operate the taxi in Thailand, one can only conclude that the fares are inflated and a rip off. This is one of the reasons I haven't set foot on the island in 5 years. It's part and parcel of the systemic and endemic corruption of Phuket. 

So how much should a 45 min ride from the airport be?

 

I've had clients I have let go in the past that were always trying to pay me the bare minimum 

And I would tell them, I need to pay for the lights if you want me to answer the phone when you need me

 

So how much should a 40min ride cost

 

You talk about costs and such in NYC

 

There are costs and time costs to operated a taxi out of the airport 

 

A taxi company has to pay for their car 

Has to pay for insurance

Gas

Concessions to the airport 

Pay the driver

 

And yes, make a decent profit

 

So how much should it be?

[JamesR]

15 hours ago, Marc26 said:

We went to Puerto Rico

The hopping spot was the El San Juan Casino/Hotel

We stayed in the condo 2min walk next door

1st night we went out and got pretty hammered

The next day we walked back to the Casino and one of our friends sheepily asked if this is where we were last night

Yep, we said

He said 'I paid $20usd to take a taxi home last night!"    :)

I was there around 1983.

We went to the Bacardi factory and had all sorts of tasters, we ended up drunk but luckily it was an inclusive tour so we could sleep on the bus back to the hotel. 

[JamesR]

6 hours ago, HiuMak said:

Scams and Tourist traps are everywhere. £18 to enter St Paul's Cathedral in London, 15Euros for a cup of coffee in St Marks square in Venice, 300pesos for half an hour ride in tricycle in Intramuros Manila, etc. It feels shit to be scammed, Just live and let live and I learn from all these mistakes.  

That is expensive seeing as St Pauls Cathedral is free. 

I was in Rome near the Vatican a few years ago with my wife, we went for a day trip from London, we had a cup of coffee each and a slice of pizza and it cost 40 euros.

The return plane ticked with Ryanair only cost £40 each, nearly as much as the snack. 

[JamesR]

1 hour ago, Vigo said:

The comparison to a western fare is inappropriate. let's use your NYC to illustrate. NYC Taxicabs are regulated and in order to be allowed to operate, and for drivers to receive their medallion, the following requirements must be met;

1. Vehicles must be insured. Drivers must be insured. This can be  in excess of US $10,000 per unit excluding the NY state workers compensation charges. How many times following a Phuket taxi fatality  are we told ooopsie, no have insurance?

2. Drivers cannot  operate a taxi unless they take required education and pass a licensing exam. The drivers are then supervised. You can see the  bureau of taxi inspecting  taxis and towing them too. The regulation  and operating guidelines are 112 pages.   In Phuket, any thug or brute can be a  taxi driver, just  so long as they belong to the right clan.

3. The cost of repairs and fuel is significantly higher in NYC.  Vehicles in NYC are actually inspected.

4. Taxi cab companies and drivers pay taxes.   Most drivers  live in one of the boroughs. Let's say the driver   makes $50,000 USD  His income taxes are just under 30%. Try living on $35,000 in NYC. Even a  slum in the Bronx costs.  Do any of the Phuket  taxi thugs pay  taxes? 

Social services and benefits cost money. Safe roads and traffic law enforcement cost money. Yes, the Phuket taxi fare seems low in comparison, but one gives up alot to get the cheap fare. When one looks at the Phuket taxi fares in the context of the cost to operate the taxi in Thailand, one can only conclude that the fares are inflated and a rip off. This is one of the reasons I haven't set foot on the island in 5 years. It's part and parcel of the systemic and endemic corruption of Phuket. 

I have not seen any taxi thugs in Phuket up to now.

There are guys on the side of the road holding a piece of cardboard with "Taxi" written on it, you go up and ask how much it is to wherever you want to go and if you do not like the price you haggle for a few seconds, if no success you walk to the next one.

It is all so simple, no thuggery etc involved. 

 

[JamesR]

4 hours ago, AussieBob said:

One day my team (from Sydney) and I went out to a big dinner in Melbourne to celebrate a big win. We went straight to the restaurant from the business centre where the deal was closed and signed off.  We had stayed in the same hotel in the City and travelled each day to the business centre for the negotiations by taxis, and on the last day we caught a couple of taxis straight to the restaurant.  One of the guys (Phil) got so drunk that he decided to leave a bit early and get some sleep.  When we asked him did he know where the hotel was, he said that he would be OK.  After another hour or so we finally finished up and we walked across the park to the hotel - I picked that restaurant because it was close to the hotel.  We were walking up the steps to the hotel when guess what - Phil pulled up and got out of a taxi and it drove off.  We thought (of course) that he must have paid a visit to a GF (or something).  But when he looked up he said loudly "how the *** did you guys get here".  He had been taken for a taxi ride for over an hour, when it was a  5 minute walk 

[JamesR]

On 2/4/2022 at 4:17 AM, Marc26 said:

I think this post represents so many guys that come to Thailand 

To me, there are so many guys that aren't shit where they come from

So they come to Thailand, get a little attention that makes them finally feel special for once in their life

Then they get all hostile when that attention wanes

I don't get the anger and hostility so many have 

Well I guess I do, I just explained where I think it comes from

Scorned lovers almost

They became obsessed with a place and now are bitter it didn't love them back 

For most it's just a holiday destination 

Some have family ties

But it's just like any country

It has it's good and it's bad

The hostility is just downright weird to me

Well I suppose if a lot of them come, find a girl twenty five years younger, buy a house, car and then it all disappears, so they would be upset.

I have said many times, logic seems to leave so many guys when they arrive at BKK, they should look around and see what is normal, I have never seen a Thai couple who have such a great difference in their age, that is the preserve of the old bloke with a young ex-bar girl as they walk down the street hand in hand (until the money runs out).

Then comes the anger.

[Vigo]

11 hours ago, JamesR said:

I have not seen any taxi thugs in Phuket up to now.

There are guys on the side of the road holding a piece of cardboard with "Taxi" written on it, you go up and ask how much it is to wherever you want to go and if you do not like the price you haggle for a few seconds, if no success you walk to the next one.

It is all so simple, no thuggery etc involved. 

Too many are thugs particularly those of that work the kata-Kamala  stretch.  Pre Covid, they were like blow flies outside Jungceylon. Have a look at some of the news articles that  feature their violence at the  mall. They are often aggressive. They are thugs because of  what they do when hotels try to offer transport to guests, or Grab or Lyft venture onto their turf.  They are dishonest because of the refusal to comply with the taxi meter regulations. Where were you when the attempt to launch the airport and inter city bus system was welcomed with violent attacks?

Edited February 5, 2022 by Vigo

[LoongFred]

On 2/4/2022 at 1:17 PM, Bifrost said:

Turists Misunderstand ? no they are just surprised to pay 10 times more than in Bangkok  cause the island Phuket is runned by criminals mafias and gangsters - thieves currupt official who onle have one goal ; To rip of turist and be as ruse ans possible and treat innocent truist as dirt !   Fhuket island I hope wil  go down in its own swamp.  they taxi fares wil never change the whole ssytem is to rotten no official want to do anything about it.     

That's a good reason to avoid both Pattaya and Phuket.