News Forum - Phuket taxi drivers call for authorities to get tough on illegal drivers

[Thaiger]

Phuket taxi drivers are calling for authorities to get tough on illegal drivers. On Thursday, over 100 drivers protested about the issue at Phuket City Hall.  The president of the Patong Taxi Operators Association, Thinnakorn Chommueang, said that local, legal taxi drivers on the island province were suffering, especially those operating through apps. He said… …

The story Phuket taxi drivers call for authorities to get tough on illegal drivers as seen on Thaiger News.

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[MrStretch]

I really have no sympathy with this mafia, or any other taxi consortium/mafia in the country.

If they weren't so terribly bad at their jobs, through either predatory pricing or practices, then these "app" drivers wouldn't have such a market.

These taxi extortionists are whining means because the market forces are turning against them.  Rather than reform, they do what all Thais do, whine to the government for protection.

[Grumpish]

Pot, kettle, black. Having protected themselves for decades by the judicious application of well stuffed brown paper envelopes to the appropriate authorities, and aquiring an atrocious reputation on the way, the Phuket taxi mafia now cries foul when faced with legal competition from ride hailing apps.

[Soidog]

The hypocrisy of these people is beyond the pale.  

[CanadaSam]

They want Bolt & Grab cars clearly marked?  So that they can easily identify them and beat them up or kill them?  Dirty Taxi Mafia!

[Johntucker]

There are no legal taxi operators in Phuket, not even 1 of them use a meter which is required by law.

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

On 2/4/2023 at 10:36 AM, Thaiger said:

Phuket taxi drivers are calling for authorities to get tough on illegal drivers. …… Phuket Vice Governor Anupap issued a formal notice ordering all government agencies to take  …

many rides in the legitimate Phuket Taxis to test how legal they are. They should pretend to be Chinese tourists (they would never pass for Farang) and report back on how much they were charged according to the meter. 

[Marc26]

Outside the main cities 

Are there any beach towns in SEA that use a taxi meter?

I can't recall using one in Bali, beach town in Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia 

 

It's always been them telling you a price 

[Marc26]

I've been in Phuket for a week

 

Didn't need taxis except for airport 

Which they did try and push us in an SUV for 1300 baht when all we needed was a very nice Camry for 750

 

Last night wanted to go to Patong from Kamala 

Walked outside my hotel and this great older Thai man drove us for 500 baht 

Wife and him chatting the whole way

 

Coming back to Kamala

A gorgeous SUV 600 baht

 

Easy as can be......

[Marc26]

^ By the way

My stepson landed at 10pm on a Thursday night and there were no taxis available at the airport 

That's weird I'd say?

 

He ended up grabbing an arriving one dropping people off

[Aussieroaming]

It is hard to feel any sympathy for these taxi driver's who have revelled in taking tourists to the cleaners every day. 

[Guest1]

1 hour ago, Marc26 said:

I've been in Phuket for a week

Didn't need taxis except for airport 

Which they did try and push us in an SUV for 1300 baht when all we needed was a very nice Camry for 750

Last night wanted to go to Patong from Kamala 

Walked outside my hotel and this great older Thai man drove us for 500 baht 

Wife and him chatting the whole way

Coming back to Kamala

A gorgeous SUV 600 baht

Easy as can be......

And let me guess, no yellow or green plates at the vehicles, right?

This makes you part of the problem, sir!

500 or 600 Baht for 10km in a country, where most of the people earn only 3-500/day.

 

[Artemis080]

1 hour ago, Guest1 said:

And let me guess, no yellow or green plates at the vehicles, right?

This makes you part of the problem, sir!

500 or 600 Baht for 10km in a country, where most of the people earn only 3-500/day.

In fairness that's the Grab price now. Welcome to Phuket 2.0 Ru$$ian edition.

[Marc26]

11 hours ago, Guest1 said:

And let me guess, no yellow or green plates at the vehicles, right?

This makes you part of the problem, sir!

500 or 600 Baht for 10km in a country, where most of the people earn only 3-500/day.

There are no taxis that you suggest in Phuket

 

So how am I "part of the problem "

 

Should I walk to the airport???

 

 

As for the price

You worry about a couple hundred baht

I have a good job and money in the bank

I'm not going to worry about that....

 

The price is the price

No one's taking me for 300 baht

So again, are we supposed to walk??

 

We payed 1100 baht so that we don't drink and drive

I would have to pay well above that at home for the same trip

So I'm ok with that.....

[Marc26]

By the way

Not so easy the next day ....

 

Need 2 taxis this morning 

 

Went to the "taxi" stand yesterday 

The 3 guys playing cards and barely paying attention 

 

Wife ended up in a tuk tuk to airport and my guys 30mins late

 

Wife called last night to confirm 

 

But this is Thailand 

Frustrating at times......

 

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

11 hours ago, Guest1 said:

And let me guess, no yellow or green plates at the vehicles, right?

And if they have the words “taxi” on the vehicle they’re required to have a working meter. Never seen a meter on a Tuk Tuk yet. 

[HiuMak]

Grab and Bolt are making a killing to the Taxi industry. Well done.

 

In Phuket, I will just rent a moped and buy a cheap helmet. No issue with Police as I have a motorcycle license + International license and always travel insurance when I am travelling.

No need for these mafia Taxis

[Guest1]

7 hours ago, Marc26 said:

I would have to pay well above that at home for the same trip

You are part of the problem, with this thinking.

 

[Marc26]

28 minutes ago, Guest1 said:

You are part of the problem, with this thinking.

Again I ask you

 

If there is no proper taxis how do you suppose to get around without driving ?

 

I'm not gonna worry about a couple hundred baht when it is the only option 

 

By the way

One of the main reasons people holiday and retire in Thailand is because it's cheaper than back home

So everyone is always comparing and rationalizing pricing here vs home

[Grumpish]

1 hour ago, Marc26 said:

Again I ask you

If there is no proper taxis how do you suppose to get around without driving ?

I'm not gonna worry about a couple hundred baht when it is the only option 

By the way

One of the main reasons people holiday and retire in Thailand is because it's cheaper than back home

So everyone is always comparing and rationalizing pricing here vs home

If the Phuket taxi mafias,the police, and the authorities were not so heavily into each others plain brown envelopes, there would be alternatives.  And how about comparing like with like, such as the cost of getting to or from the airport. Phuket is typically around 800 baht for a distance of 30 kms, compared to Pattaya at around 1200 baht for a distance of around 120 kms. 

[Marc26]

54 minutes ago, Grumpish said:

If the Phuket taxi mafias,the police, and the authorities were not so heavily into each others plain brown envelopes, there would be alternatives.  And how about comparing like with like, such as the cost of getting to or from the airport. Phuket is typically around 800 baht for a distance of 30 kms, compared to Pattaya at around 1200 baht for a distance of around 120 kms. 

Well that's because Pattaya is a shithole 5555

[Grumpish]

1 hour ago, Marc26 said:

Well that's because Pattaya is a shithole 5555

So is Phuket, compared to what it was 30 yeare ago.