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One of the "adventures" of travelling in Thailand -- especially in Bangkok -- is avoiding the nets of the scammers.

"Scammers" are locals who's intention and business purpose is to take as much of your money as they can, by deceit, fraud or threat, (but not robbery). Scams are usually a multi-step process, where you -- the "mark" -- are gently ensnared in the net. Then it takes a lot of money -- often all you have in your wallet -- to extricate yourself. Scamming is an industry in Bangkok and elsewhere on the tourist tracks in Thailand. So I'm starting a thread on this topic with a post about the common "waiting taxi scam". There are many other scams besides this one.

Warning: Avoid waiting taxis in Bangkok.

How convenient. A taxi is waiting right in front of the hotel, and the nice driver, speaking decent English, is asking us where we wish to go.

Don't get in! ... It's the first act of a scam.

In Western cities there are proper taxi ranks/queues in front of most hotels and large malls. You can get into any taxi and expect to get to wherever you are going for an honest price. But here in Bangkok, taxis waiting on the street are often a pricey scam.

In the tourist areas of Bangkok, outside most hotels, there are often a few taxis waiting. The drivers approach people leaving the hotel, touting for taxi fares. Those waiting taxis are the ones to avoid.

The common openers are, "Where you go, boss?" or "Hey, boss, you want taxi?" When I shake my head, "no", the taxi touts often pull out small pictures, furtively cup them in their palm to aim at me, and in lowered voice say, "Hey, boss, you want massage? Pretty lady!" That gives you a clue to their strategy.

I have watched and listened as the taxi-touts quote 1,000 baht to the airport, when the normal fare from the area would be around 300 baht. Yet, many tourists will accept that fare.

I have watched day after day, month after month, as the same drivers loiter around the front of the same hotels. How can they make a living and pay their taxi rent if they are waiting on the street most of the time? The only way is to charge very high fares for the few riders they do get.

I have seen a few "pirate" taxis waiting, too. Painted in taxi colors - usually yellow and green, but without meters in the front window. Looking carefully, I can see that the "taxi meter" sign on the roof is crude, probably home made, and looks easy to remove.

I have watched as the taxi touts approach obvious tourists, engage them for a trip while standing next to a regular taxi, but then shuttle the travelers to "special taxi" which is just an ordinary car with no taxi markings. And no meter!

When I am with Thai friends, those taxi touts never approach. My Thai friends all seem to know about this taxi scam. When we go somewhere in a taxi, the Thais always walk to the curb and wave down a moving taxi. They never, ever, get into a waiting taxi. I've learned to do the same.

The only exception to this is at locations where 99% of the people are Thai, not tourists. For example, at Tesco/Lotus stores there may be a taxi or two waiting at the entrance during busy hours. Those drivers do not approach people, they merely wait patiently. I've never had a problem in that situation.

If you have specific questions, you are welcome to send me email or a private message.

-- Peter



Credit and "thank you" goes to Glob99 who inspired this post with his comments on another thread:
Don't take the taxis that wait outside your hotel (scammers). Go wave down a moving taxi on the street.

Another popular one is to have the meter already running, before you hop in. This happened to me at the new Airport in BKK where the fellow had 10K already on the meter and also last week in Chiang Mai Airport.

Funny thing is that an extra km (or 10) doesn't cost that much more.

The Tuk-Tuk scam is pretty infamous. If you want to take a ride, you may just get 'taken for a ride'. Its pretty 50-50, id say, whether you are taken directly taken to your destination or forced to visit various retail shops in hopes that you will purchase....

I'd say on the whole avoid tuk-tuks in Bangkok (not necessarily other parts of Asia), as this scam is pretty common.

whether you are taken directly taken to your destination or forced to visit various retail shops in hopes that you will purchase....

Ahh, the famous 20 baht rate.... I know it well. 555 :D

The tuk-tuk riders hang outside tourist sites, and then they tell you that the site is closed for a locals-only ceremony for whatever reason. Then they take you around to their crap stores until the site is "open".

I played this game once with these ganefs. When one of them approached me and told me that the reclining buddha was closed for a religious ceremony and would open in a "couple of hours", I called another of these ganefs and asked him why it was closed, he said it was for "cleaning". So I had them argue with each other why it was closed, while I headed for the entrance.

Going to the Royal Palace is another notorious place for scammers especially when coming off the river bus peir. You are approached by a smart looking guy who speaks good English who tells you he is that he is the 'head guide' at the palace and that it is closed this morning as the King is visiting -don't listen to them -they just want to direct you to a tuk tuk which will take you to their 'cousin's' gem factory where there is a 'special one day sale for farangs'. It's all a scam but some poor unsuspecting tourists must fall for it or they wouldn't continue.

its very common, but i never had a problem with a taxi outside a hotel.
just look for the meter, and if they dont use it, get out of the car again.

dp

These scams are common in the tourist areas. Not really a problem. Tell them to turn on the meter - if they don't get out. AND - leave the door open so they have to get out and close it.

Frankly, never had a problem with a taxi right outside a hotel. Of course, they will try to negotiate - just demand the meter. Not a problem.

Life in Asia is one BIG negotiation - don't be shocked by it - just understand it and do what you need to do.

Understand that ANYONE in Thailand who approaches you - is trying to sell something. Of course! So, don't believe anything they say - and don't even talk to them - just continue on your way.

In ~ 750 taxi rides in Bangkok I've yet to be scammed? My protocol is to flag an available taxi (red light on, lower passenger side of windshield) with hand held below the waist, open the front passenger side door, say where you want to go, say "meter OK?". I would never get into a taxi until the destination and use of meter were agreed to. This allows for the driver to accept or reject your terms, without conflict or loss of face. If they agree, get into the taxi. The same approach can be used for waiting taxis.

Sometimes I agree to flat-rate pricing, based on the current market situation (rain, lack of taxis, challenging destination). Sort out who pays for the tolls in this situation.

I pretty much avoid tuk-tuks unless it is raining, and I don't have an umbrella. I always fix the destination/price.

There used to be a Bangkok taxi thread here about once a week, and while they've petered out lately, there must be something to it as you hardly ever see so many taxi threads about other cities?

When I saw the title of this thread I thought that is was going to be about the Gem Scam (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Scams/Sapphire.shtml). :)

In general it is true that apart from some of the more lawless destinations, any crimes that foreigners are victims of tend to be non-violent, aimed at deceiving and tricking the mark into parting with cash.

Occasionally the mark protests too much about the price of extricating themselves from the situation, so then violence can become a factor.

When I saw the title of this thread I thought that is was going to be about the Gem Scam (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Scams/Sapphire.shtml). Transpac suggested a valuable web site about the gem scam, but the link was difficult to notice on my screen, so I'll repeat it here in bold: http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Scams/Sapphire.shtml
And here is another web site with information about the gem scam: http://www.geocities.com/thaigemscamgroup/

There are so many areas where scams seem to be common in Thailand:

Taxis & tuk-tuks
Gem scam
Hotel reservations scam
Fake medicines
Van travel out of Kao San Road
Real estate purchases
Business deals
And, of course, bar girl scams already full up entire forums and many books.

What are other areas for scams?

-- Peter
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Tell them to turn on the meter - if they don't get out. AND - leave the door open so they have to get out and close it. ...

Life in Asia is one BIG negotiation - don't be shocked by it - just understand it and do what you need to do.

Understand that ANYONE in Thailand who approaches you - is trying to sell something. ... So, don't believe anything they say - and don't even talk to them - just continue on your way.Excellent advice here from tedkarma.
Worth emphasizing.

-- Peter
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If you're taking the taxi on your way to the airport and you agreed to the "set price" the driver told you, make sure the tolls are included.

I fell into the scam of one of those waiting taxis outside my hotel. I talked him down to 400 baht which not too bad in my opinion. It was so early in the morning and there's no other taxi available beside those who are waiting outside my hotel.

Once I got inside, he told me it would be more money for the toll. I tried to argue with him and finally gave up. He kept pushing for me to agree on the toll and I stick to my decision that I'm not going to give him anymore money.

I guess I pissed him off and he acted on it by driving really fast on the regular road. It works out well for me since I only have 1 1/2 more hours before my flight and he helped me get to the airport faster :D

Once I got inside, he told me it would be more money for the toll. I tried to argue with him and finally gave up. He kept pushing for me to agree on the toll and I stick to my decision that I'm not going to give him anymore money.

Unless agreed otherwise you should ASSUME that you will pay the toll. It is your choice to take the tollway or the regular streets.

You are also expected to pay for them as they come up - not at the end of the taxi ride. Just hand the money to the front. Price of the tollway is posted on the booth.

Unless agreed otherwise you should ASSUME that you will pay the toll. It is your choice to take the tollway or the regular streets.

You are also expected to pay for them as they come up - not at the end of the taxi ride. Just hand the money to the front. Price of the tollway is posted on the booth.
Yes except he wanted me to pay him 200 baht more to take the toll :td:

If you're taking the taxi on your way to the airport and you agreed to the "set price" the driver told you, make sure the tolls are included.

I fell into the scam of one of those waiting taxis outside my hotel. I talked him down to 400 baht which not too bad in my opinion. It was so early in the morning and there's no other taxi available beside those who are waiting outside my hotel.

Once I got inside, he told me it would be more money for the toll. I tried to argue with him and finally gave up. He kept pushing for me to agree on the toll and I stick to my decision that I'm not going to give him anymore money.

I guess I pissed him off and he acted on it by driving really fast on the regular road. It works out well for me since I only have 1 1/2 more hours before my flight and he helped me get to the airport faster :D... he wanted me to pay him 200 baht more to take the toll.
aSiAnRiCk provides an excellent description of the waiting taxi scam that is so common in Bangkok.
Valuable for new visitors to Bangkok to be aware of this, and be prepared.

Useful to examine the factors that made aSiAnRiCk vulnerable in this situation:
Waiting taxi outside hotel
Early morning
No other taxis available
Going to airport -- presumably with luggage and therefore difficult to get out and find another taxi
Time pressure -- a schedule to keep and therefore unlikely to spend time trying to find another taxi
Once passenger is inside and the taxi is moving, then the driver increases the price.
As already explained by Tedkarma, in Bangkok, it's standard procedure for passenger to pay any expressway tools, but normally only the actual amount. In this case perhaps 60 baht, NOT 200.

In such circumstances, I don't see any alternatives to either paying the toll and having a pleasant ride on the freeway, or arguing and getting the speedway treatment on the regular road.

-- Peter
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Yes!! You guys need to learn a lesson from aSiAnRiCk! :p

don't forget this little gem, happened today on the way to new bkk from the conrad.

taxi is flagged by hotel bellman. get into taxi, luggage loaded (our mistake not to get 'meter' agreed upon in advance). doors close, say 'meter,' guy pulls out a laminated card with 'posted' rates, car starts rolling, we don't even look at it, say 'meter.'

car is rolling, i open the door. we threaten to get out. guy claims he'll drive us back around to the front of the hotel. we keep saying 'meter.' as he's driving us around the block to get back to the front of the hotel, there's a cab in front of us on the road. cabbie says 'my friend, he takes you to airport, meter. he meter, okay!' :td:

no, not good enough. i'm saying 'meter' and hubby is saying 'conrad.' guy then agrees to take us to the airport, 'for you, meter.' :rolleyes:

nope. 'bai conrad' (go to conrad). we had time, wanted to make a point. made the guy drop us back off at the front of the hotel and got in another--metered--cab. can't help but wonder if the bellman was in on it, but i really don't care...if it had been me, i would have had the original guy take me, using the meter--like he finally agreed to--and wouldn't have tipped him, but i liked hubby's idea of forcing him to take us back to the starting point and explain to the hotel guy what the problem was :D

car is rolling, i open the door.

Never, ever do that. There are people walking everywhere, and on motorbikes driving between cars, and you could have easily killed someone. You never open the door of a taxi here unless you are at the curb and stopped, and always have everyone exit on the same, curb side.


If you are uncomfortable confirming with the driver the destination and use of meter then ask the bellman to do that for you, before either your bags or you enter the taxi. Once agreed to the driver will not try to pitch a flat rate and/or refuse to turn on the meter.

don't forget this little gem, happened today on the way to new bkk from the conrad. ... [snip] ... guy pulls out a laminated card with 'posted' rates, car starts rolling, we don't even look at it, say 'meter.' ... [snip] ... there's a cab in front of us on the road. cabbie says 'my friend, he takes you to airport, meter. he meter, okay!' Thank you, karenkay, for excellent report.
Those helpful details of exactly what happened, and who said what, are very helpful for recognizing the start of the scam.

Many major cities have "zone rates" or "posted rates".
Bangkok does not.
In hundreds of taxi rides in Bangkok, I've never, ever, seen a laminated card with "posted rates".
Here, all legitimate taxi trips run on the meter.
(Some taxis display a milage card on the back of the front seat, showing the meter charge for each fraction of a kilometer, but I've never been presented with a card of "posted rates".)
Now I'll be alert for any taxi driver who pulls out a rate card, knowing it is the first move in another taxi scam.

- Peter
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car is rolling, i open the door. Never, ever do that. There are people walking everywhere, and on motorbikes driving between cars, and you could have easily killed someone. You never open the door of a taxi here unless you are at the curb and stopped, and always have everyone exit on the same, curb side.
Transpac gives a valuable warning, which I have heard many times before: usually from taxi drivers themselves who are keenly alert to this danger.

What I can't figure out is how to get out of a taxi once the car is rolling.
If my luggage is in the trunk/boot, and the driver tries something as he did on karenkay, what's the best way to stop, get myself out, get the luggage out, and transfer to another taxi?
That's one I haven't been able to figure out.

The one time an airport taxi scam was played on me, I didn't have luggage -- just going to meet an arriving friend.
The normal, meter, fare should have been around 300 baht.
As we got rolling, the driver sternly refused to turn on the meter and quoted 400 baht.
The difference was US$ 2.50.
I stayed for the ride.

But, what if the scam had portended something much more serious?
And with my luggage locked in the back?
How to escape?

- Peter
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Here is my example of a similar taxi scam in BKK.

Left hotel. Staff out front holler a taxi from the queue out front.

I ask staffer to tell driver to put meter on.

I hop in, my bag thrown in the boot. Taxi starts off. I notice the meter is off.

So I say "meter" and point. Taxi driver basically says no, 400Baht (cant remember the exact amount, but think it was 400Baht) to airport. I say No. Meter. and point again.

The reply was basically that the fare was reasonable to the airport. I insist again. "meter". Driver turns it on and starts mumbling about how little he earns! It was a very fast trip to the airport!!

I get to the airport, the driver paid the tolls to the airport and ask "how much". He said 400 Baht. Hmmm. The meter showed something like 250Baht, and the tolls were only 60 Baht if I recall correctly.

I gave up and paid the Baht. Couldn't be bothered arguing at that point over what to me was only a few $ - didn't help that I was not running overly early to the airport!

Another scam on another journey (I thought it was mentioned here, but I can't find it) is the infamous "no change" routine. I think I had 30 Baht below my fare in notes/change, and a 500Baht note. Of course the driver "had no change" - he had looked after the toll payments, and I ended up giving a couple of hundred Baht tip.

Another slight scam is Limo drivers attached to your hotel harassing you as you wait for a cab outside. The staff seem to play along and suprisingly no cabs turn up until you either hop into the limo or give a very convincing arguement that you don't want a limo.

Still, out of all the trips I've had from Airport-BKK and BKK-Airport, the cabbies have been generally ok.

I still realise I pay the "tourist tax" in a few towns I visit, but unfortunately, there is little I can do about it unless I am prepared. Personally I'd skip cabs if possible and only use public transport, but unfortunately not overly possible in BKK.

(I've been ripped off more by cabbies in other cities -- including Singapore! but that's not really the subject of this thread, so I won't go into it in this thread).

Never, ever do that. There are people walking everywhere, and on motorbikes driving between cars, and you could have easily killed someone. You never open the door of a taxi here unless you are at the curb and stopped, and always have everyone exit on the same, curb side.
C'mon, use some common sense. I've opened doors in moving taxis if the cabbie doesn't want to understand "NO" otherwise -- just opening it a notch is a very good way to underline your point.

If you are uncomfortable confirming with the driver the destination and use of meter then ask the bellman to do that for you, before either your bags or you enter the taxi. Once agreed to the driver will not try to pitch a flat rate and/or refuse to turn on the meter.
A few times, I've had the cabbie confirm to me and bellhop that they'll use the meter, and then change their mind as soon as we're off. This seems to depend on the hotel though: never had a problem at JW or Amari, regularly get screwed at Intercont.

But, what if the scam had portended something much more serious? And with my luggage locked in the back?
How to escape?
Well, you already made a mistake by putting your bags in the trunk. Anything smaller than an elephant goes into the backseat beside me.

If you do find yourself in this unfortunate predicament, then just open the door and insist he pops open the trunk. Get out (keeping the door open!), collect your bags, slam the door and give the cabbie the one-finger salute.

Here is my example of a similar taxi scam in BKK. Aus_Mal -

Thank you for that helpful and detailed report.
Your post was the "tipping point" for me.
I've learned a lot by reading all the posts here about BKK airport taxi problems and scams.
As a result, I have now decided to change my approach to taxis to and from the airport.

In the past, I would make the effort to get a meter taxi, and be sure the driver put on the meter.
Sometimes the driver became aggravated when I wouldn't agree to his idea of a fixed fare, and then his driving style became less than comfortable for me.

In the future, I will do it differently.
I will quote the fixed fare to the driver!
Before getting into the taxi, and before allowing my luggage to be placed in the rear, I will say to the driver, "I want go airport. I pay 400 baht. Okay for you?"
The driver will be thrilled.
I expect he will provide a safe and comfortable ride.
No arguments.
No problems.
Everybody happy.
For about US$ 11.00.

Problem solved.
Thank you, FlyerTalk forum.

- Peter
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Never, ever do that. There are people walking everywhere, and on motorbikes driving between cars, and you could have easily killed someone. You never open the door of a taxi here unless you are at the curb and stopped, and always have everyone exit on the same, curb side.


If you are uncomfortable confirming with the driver the destination and use of meter then ask the bellman to do that for you, before either your bags or you enter the taxi. Once agreed to the driver will not try to pitch a flat rate and/or refuse to turn on the meter.
a little credit, please...we were still on hotel property (it's kind of a convoluted drive) i didn't open the door wide, just enough to let him know we were serious about wanting to get out and there was no traffic around. i'd be much less likely to do it on a crowded street!

it's definitely a good reminder about confirming destination/rate before getting in the cab, however! i'm fine doing it--and have done it before, at the very same hotel with no problems--but we had a scammer this time...just part of the adventure of travel ;)

For someone traveling to BKK on holiday for the first time in December this infomation is most valuable. Peter 4 thanks for starting the thread. This has prompted me to research some of the other scams mentioned here as well. I want to mingle with the locals in Thailand, but I certainly don't want to be taken to the cleaners. Any other advise for first time visitors, or suggested threads to check out would be greatly appreciated!

It's rare I get in a cab in Bangkok and have the driver not claim to not know where the Pen is or where the Sheraton Grande is. I believe this to be a scam to run up the meter. I've learned to always know my directions.

I've also seen the tourist attraction is closed scam. I didn't realize how involved these get until reading more about it later. A "helpful" tuk-tuk driver approached us and told us the wat was closed for special prayers. How could our hotel concierge not have mentioned that? Oh well ... to help us out and kill time, he'll happily take us to another temple for the equivalent of about $2, all we have to do is stop at one shop on the way back so he can get his gas reimbursed. We say fine and get in his tuk-tuk. He takes us to some little temple and inside is someone just finishing up with some prayers. He speaks excellent English and begins a conversation. He tells us he's a pilot for Thai Air and he knows San Francisco well. We chat for a bit and then he becomes oh so helpful in marking on our map various places he says we must go shopping - the same stores he buys all his suits and jewelry. We've yet to realize he's part of the scam, so we get in the tuk-tuk and tell the driver to take us to one of the shops the "kind man" in the temple told us about. The tuk-tuk driver rolls his eyes as though this is not at all what he wants to do when in fact this is all part of the scam. We drove buy the one tailor shop, were unimpressed with what was in the window and told him we didn't need to stop. No problem. He then takes us to a jewelry shop and insists we must go in just for the gas money. We go in and spend about 1 minute and leave. Clearly everyone's disappointed. The tuk-tuk driver returned us to our starting point and we paid what we originally agreed on. I have no regrets on this one as it was pretty fascinating to see this in action, but I understand it gets far more involved in many cases. From what I read later, often time in the jewelry store there is a Western "gem buyer" who decides to start chatting with you and tells you he's been buying his gems there for years and you can make a tremendous profit on them in the US because prices there are way below retail and this shop only sells the best quality. You don't realize this guy's also in on the scam and so trust him and buy gems. The gems turn out to be fake, but you don't find that out until you're home as they insist on sending everything for customs reasons.

It's pretty interesting how involved these can get. I didn't know the "pilot" in the temple was in on it until I read about this scam on the site below. I was amazed how closely this matched my experience, save for losing money fortunately.

http://www.into-asia.com/bangkok/gemscam/

Another scam on another journey (I thought it was mentioned here, but I can't find it) is the infamous "no change" routine. I think I had 30 Baht below my fare in notes/change, and a 500Baht note. Of course the driver "had no change" - he had looked after the toll payments, and I ended up giving a couple of hundred Baht tip.
To be fair, I've had this happen in places other than Thailand. But it's common for Bangkok taxi drivers not to be able to (or not to want to) make change.

There are two ways to get around this problem. One of them is to pay the toll yourself. When you come up to the toll gate, hand your driver that 500 Baht note. The toll station always has change. Usually you pay the toll yourself anyway. I can't recall any occasion where the driver paid the toll. (It used to be 70 Baht between Don Muang airport and Sukhumwit - I understand it's about the same from the new airport.)

Another way is to make sure you have change. If you're just arriving, get 9,900 from the ATM instead of 10,000 Baht (or 19,900 instead of 20,000), forcing the machine to give you 100 Baht notes. If you're going around Bangkok or on the way to the airport, get the hotel desk to change that 1000 or 500 Baht note into 100s (and some smaller change too).

When you have the opportunity, get 100 or 200 changed to 20s. The usual tip in Thailand is 20 Baht. 40 or 50 at the most if you're really pleased about a special service. So have four or five 20s in your side or breast pocket so you don't have to fumble in your wallet. (And yes Thai people do tip, but only these small amounts.) By the way, taxi drivers do not get a tip except for a rounding up of the fare (like from 271 to 280 or 290 let's say, certainly not 271 to 350 or even 400. (The straight fare on the metre from the Sukhumwit area to the airport should be well under 300. The entire fare counting tolls should not be over 350.)

One of the reasons you get so many scammer taxi drivers hanging around the fancy hotels is that they know the people who stay there are easy marks: over-tipping, easily agreeing to flat fares, not knowing the ropes, not caring about being taken for a measly 100 Baht. I usually hail a cab cruising on the street and I very rarely have a problem getting them to use their metres. And I pay what's on the metre plus just a few extra Baht. Unless I'm displeased, in which case I give no tip at all, or one, single Baht.

Another way is to make sure you have change. If you're just arriving, get 9,900 from the ATM instead of 10,000 Baht (or 19,900 instead of 20,000), forcing the machine to give you 100 Baht notes.This used to be my strategy, and still is when it works, but last trip (May) I encountered quite a few machines that would only dispense 1000 baht notes. Maybe I hit them after the 100s and 500s had been depleted, but I had never encountered this problem before. I also do the hotel cashier thing and ask for "small money" (ngoen lek) if I only have large bills.

I've rarely had problems with a "scamming" taxi driver in Bangkok (certainly much less so than I've had in many American cities). The worst have been those hanging around right outside the hotel. I typically hail a cruising cab on the street and most turn on the meter unasked. In the popular evening entertainment areas I've encountered more cab drivers trying to charge a premium off-meter rate, but by walking a block or two to a busy thoroughfare it's pretty easy to get a taxi on the meter.

Having lived in BKK for a year some years ago, I wanted to say billp gives very good advice: he/she is right on the mark.

Having lived in BKK for a year some years ago, I wanted to say billp gives very good advice: he/she is right on the mark.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, tide. :cool:

last trip (May) I encountered quite a few machines that would only dispense 1000 baht notes.


I was last there in June and and I never had any trouble getting 100s out of an ATM, at the airport and many other locations in Bangkok and upcountry, so you must have just been unlucky.

Be extra leary of any thai (particularly of older age--appears to be more "trustworthy") who approaches you and suddenly speaks with perfect english...especially by the river.

just an update, the taxi scam from the conrad bangkok to the airport continues.

left the conrad yesterday to bkk. this time, had the bellman ask the driver for the meter before putting in our belongings. driver agreed. husband also confirmed with the cabbie that the meter would be used.

all our suitcases in the car, we get in the car, close door, car starts to roll, hubby says 'meter?' and cabbie points to a laminated sheet (AGAIN!!!! :mad: ) attached to the back of his seat with a list of fares.

"NO!" we shout simultaneously, and again i open the door (same as before, not a busy street, just the drive-around by the conrad). guess this guy figured we meant business and didn't bother with the 'my friend will take you' bs, he just flicked on the meter. he did honk while driving by a bunch of cabs (the 'my friend will take you' cabs from the previous story). we laughed as we drove by.

he did give us some story about the new airport, different from the old one, whatever, wah wah wah, but i was too annoyed to really listen. look, dude, you agreed to the meter, run the meter. sheesh.

anyway, at this point i'm hoping this means the conrad bellman is not in on it, since i did hear him check w/the cabbie in thai about running the meter, but i'm considering writing a letter to the hotel anyway. it's the last thing that happens to you in thailand, you don't want to be left wondering if the hotel is in on it.

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say "chai meter cop" (or "chai meter ka" if you're female) as a polite way to ask them to use the meter.
Genuine question, as my Thai is rather rudimentary, but is that grammatical? I've found "poet meter na khrap" (lit. "open the meter") rather effective; the 'oe' there is a weirdish vocal not unlike the 'ea' of "earth".

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i thought similar... but that was straight from my thai language teacher.

i told her that i was saying "ao meter khrap" when i got into taxis, and asked if that was polite/acceptable. she told me "chai meter khrap" would be better.

Both of you are correct - "chai meter" or "poet meter" means the same thing. The former literally translated means "open meter" and the latter, "use meter". If you want to be more polite, "poet meter dai na khrap" i.e. "can you open meter" (lit.)

just an update, the taxi scam from the conrad bangkok to the airport continues.

left the conrad yesterday to bkk. this time, had the bellman ask the driver for the meter before putting in our belongings. driver agreed. husband also confirmed with the cabbie that the meter would be used.

all our suitcases in the car, we get in the car, close door, car starts to roll, hubby says 'meter?' and cabbie points to a laminated sheet (AGAIN!!!! :mad: ) attached to the back of his seat with a list of fares.

"NO!" we shout simultaneously, and again i open the door (same as before, not a busy street, just the drive-around by the conrad). guess this guy figured we meant business and didn't bother with the 'my friend will take you' bs, he just flicked on the meter. he did honk while driving by a bunch of cabs (the 'my friend will take you' cabs from the previous story). we laughed as we drove by.

I've had this happen often, whether it's at the Conrad, Millenium, or from any hotel in BKK. Just be firm, and if they give you a hard time, say to stop. BKK taxi's are still better thank CGK taxi's.

anyway, at this point i'm hoping this means the conrad bellman is not in on it, since i did hear him check w/the cabbie in thai about running the meter, but i'm considering writing a letter to the hotel anyway. it's the last thing that happens to you in thailand, you don't want to be left wondering if the hotel is in on it.

I honestly don't think that the bellboy is in on this. I've stayed countless times at the Conrad over the last couple of years and out of that (literally maybe 30+ trips to the airport) only once have I had the cab driver not want to turn on his meter (I fixed that by saying I'll pay what I've always paid).

I've taken cabs that were dropping passengers off (i.e. random cabs) and cabs that were summoned from the small pool that always seem to hang around the Conrad (at the Wireless Road entrance). No problems either way.

When in cities in which I'm travelling in for the first time, I always ask the hotel what an average fare to the airport would be. Then if the taxi does not turn on the meter and I fail to notice, I just hand over that, and only that, amount.

Slight correction - "chai meter" = use the meter
"buet meter" = open the meter

And the polite question would be "buet meter, dai mai, khrap?" = Open the meter, possible or not, please? (Driver's answer would either be "Dai" = Possible or "Mai dai" = Not possible.)

Or "chai meter, dai mai, khrap?" = Use the meter, possible or not, please?

Women replace "khrap" with "ka"

...the polite question would be "buet meter, dai mai, khrap?" = Open the meter, possible or not, please? (Driver's answer would either be "Dai" = Possible or "Mai dai" = Not possible.) Good advice.
That translation from Sonoftheheartland perfectly fits the Thai language I hear everyday around Bangkok.
The other translation attempts above are just enough "off" to add confusion.

And Sonoftheheartland's version has the added advantage of being perfectly polite: a very important aspect to Thai culture, especially in any awkward situation.

I asked my Thai girlfriend what she would do if a taxi driver refuses to use the meter.
Her response would be to tell the driver, "mai bpai" -- "Don't go" -- with no further discussion, and then get out of the taxi.

- Peter
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Slight correction - "chai meter" = use the meter
"buet meter" = open the meter

Sorry - I accidentally mixed them up when typing. Thanks for the correction

Dear Tide,

"Mai pen rai" -- No worries, mate, as the Aussies would say.

Or the Laotian/Isaan equivalent of mai pen rai -- "Bo bpen yahng, dawk" Use this and you will get a lot of smiling feedback and respect.

Agreed also if the driver says, "Mai dai." Just say "Mai bpai" and exit the taxi.

In hundreds of taxi rides in Bangkok, I've never, ever, seen a laminated card with "posted rates".
...

(Some taxis display a milage card on the back of the front seat, showing the meter charge for each fraction of a kilometer, but I've never been presented with a card of "posted rates".)

I was in a Bangkok taxi this morning that had a laminated card with posted rates. They were the rates to destinations outside Bangkok and IIRC, I have seen them before in some taxis. They state the distance to the town and the rate for taking the taxi there. The town names were generally listed in English and Thai.

After reading this thread, I checked and there was nothing there that could have been interpreted as Don Muang, Suvarnabhumi or Airport so any taxi driver trying to claim that the laminated card is for the airport rates is a scam artist.

For those that are interested, getting a taxi from Bangkok to Narathiwat was listed at B12,000. That was the furthest distance I could see listed when I looked quickly!

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12000 baht!??!!

for that you can get RT tickets from BKK to any airport in thailand, including Kho Samui vai Bangkok Air!

or hire a driver for a month!

that's more than most Thais earn in a month. nearly double the average monthly salary... similar to paying $2000 - $3000 US for a cab ride in the US.

For the record, Narathiwat is probably about as far as you can go from Bangkok and still be in Thailand. It's about 1,200 Km away, on the border of Malaysia. Perhaps the high fare includes hazard pay?

Once someone looked on a map to locate Narathiwat, hopefully he or she would realize only a crazy sense of insane adventure would convince someone to take a taxi there. As others say, lots better ways to spend 12,000 baht. "A fool wanders, a wise man travels."

Had a fun incident with the meter scam a couple of days back. Get on a cab going from the Oriental to the Sukhothai. Driver says "how much you want to pay?" and doesn't turn on the meter. I tell him "40 baht", which is certainly below the 50-60 baht that it usually costs. He turns on the meter immediately.

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Here's a new one.
I haven't seen or experienced this; just read about it on the Internet.
No comment about where this took place, but my guess is just outside one of the parks that are home to flocks of pigeons.

...we got swarmed (no exaggeration!) by these people shoving little baggies of corn and seeds into our hands to feed the fat, stinky pigeons for good luck. We were forced to do this (against our will) and then were yelled at when we walked away without giving the people any money.
That comment about "forced to do this (against our will)", is a bit hysterical.
The simplest thing to do with the street hustlers here is ignore them, don't even look at them, and just keep walking away.

- Peter

Had a fun incident with the meter scam a couple of days back. Get on a cab going from the Oriental to the Sukhothai. Driver says "how much you want to pay?" and doesn't turn on the meter. I tell him "40 baht", which is certainly below the 50-60 baht that it usually costs. He turns on the meter immediately.

^ ^ ^ ^ :D