Thread: Cabbie fined for being rude to foreign passenger

Bangkok Post
18 Apr 2018 at 18:36
WRITER: SUTTHIWIT CHAYUTWORAKAN



Taxi driver Thongkham Srakaew, 50, is interrogated about the video clip featuring him being rude to a foreign passenger. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)

A taxi driver has been fined for being rude to a male foreign passenger after a video clip featuring the short but aggressive conversation went viral online and drew heavy criticism.

Thongkham Srakaew, 50, was on Wednesday taken to the Tourist Police Divison 1’s sub-division 3 at Suvarnabhumi airport for questioning about the incident.

The foreign passenger, who could speak Thai, posted a clip on @EasyEnglishThai2017 Facebook page, showing what happened inside the taxi he took from Suvarnabhumi airport to his residence in Muang Thong Thani on Tuesday.

He said the taxi driver used Thai words, calling him “farang khee nok’’ (roughly translated as scruffy foreigner), ‘’khee nieow’’ (stingy) and “ngee-ngao” (foolish), and asked him to leave his cab.

The insults flowed after the taxi driver demanded a fare of 500 baht for the trip, but the passenger asked him to turn on the meter.

The driver then asked for 300 baht for expressway fees, but the passenger knew the amount was too high. He then gave the driver 200 baht for tolls.

Upon reaching the destination, the meter showed a fare of 375 baht, plus an additional 50 baht airport service fee - a total of 425 baht. The passenger handed over a 500-baht banknote, and the driver refused to return the change. The passenger then asked for 75 baht, but was met with rude insults.

Suvarnabhumi airport deputy general manger Kittipong Kittikachorn and Pol Col Amnart Chomchai, superintendent of the Tourist Police Division’s sub-division 3, and a senior official from the Land Transport Department jointly interrogated the driver about the incident.

Thongkham admitted he used impolite words to the passenger. However, he claimed only part of video clip was true, and that some content was added.

Sukree Jaruphum, director of the Land Transport Department’s inspection division, imposed a maximum fine of 1,000 baht on the driver for using impolite words. He will face additional charges if an inquiry finds him guilty of another offence.



clip by @EasyEnglishThai2017 Facebook page.
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1,000 baht fine? That will learn him.

That's Danny Mack aka Danny Boy aka whatever the hell he calls himself but he's a local tv reporter. Where's Snake eyes while all this is going on

It's pretty rare that a low class Thai bloke doesn't feel he's entitled to a farang's money via scamming, lying or thieving. Of course any mention of such money results in insults and/or violence if there's a weapon or back-up nearby.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

1,000 baht fine? That will learn him.

The next two farangs are getting scammed double to pay for it.

I thought it was Dickie arriving in disguise to meet with Za sporting a new man bun, tattoos and some over-sized glasses!

My bad.

Originally Posted by david44

At C mai there's a premium sevice and Hat Yai you but a ticket price is ficed no argments

Chiang Mai have upped their game the past year. Signs everywhere at the airport telling you its 150 Baht to the centre. You just book at one of the kiosks as you exit.

Admittedly, I used Grab last time.

Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and HCMC (Saigon) are far worse than Bangkok, in that regard. And, since that arrogant cry-baby brat of a foreigner, already knew the average trip-fare, from Bhumi_to-Pakkret, then he could have just paid the 500 Baht flat-rate, and dispensed with all the Coronation_Street drama.

his thai is extremely good considering that he has only been here for 2 years, but surprisingly he remained in the cab after the driver initially refused to turn on the meter.

thats a sure sign that the driver is less than honest and that demands for extras will follow and one should exit the cab immediately and find another.

Originally Posted by taxexile

but surprisingly he remained in the cab after the driver initially refused to turn on the meter.

I guess it was at that point he thought he had a story.

Originally Posted by taxexile

his thai is extremely good considering that he has only been here for 2 years, but surprisingly he remained in the cab after the driver initially refused to turn on the meter.

thats a sure sign that the driver is less than honest and that demands for extras will follow and one should exit the cab immediately and find another.

Exactamundo!

Old mate could use that 75 baht he saved to finish off his haircut.

Should have got another taxi. It was clear from the start the driver wasn't on the level.

The passenger was a bit of a plonker too. He was overly polite even after being verbally abused by the driver.

He's apparently working as a reporter.

He was recording, conscious of making himself look good by being polite, and of getting a story by being overcharged.

OK so it was on a par with 'bear shits in woods' but that's media these days.

Sheesh.

He only recorded a snippet at the end of his journey. If you listen to the video in the OP, he says he couldn't locate his phone to record the earlier part of the conversation.

If he really is a reporter, I find it odd that he didn't have his phone to hand or couldn't locate it easily.

He really shouldn't complain about being overcharged. He already gave the guy 105 baht too much for the tollways (gave him 200, actual charge was 95 and he said he could keep the change!!). If the passenger was acting, it seems to me he was playing how to be a "victim" very well. It doesn't mean the driver was right, he certainly wasn't, and the driver was uneccessarily rude, but the passenger's behaviour and speech possibly encouraged the driver to try to take advantage of the passenger. That's my take on it anyway.

I only hope that it will not cause an outrage of international community resulting in substantial decrease of tourists arrivals...

How much are the tolls exactly? And how many are there?

I normally just lump the driver my spare shrapnel so I've never actually counted.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

How much are the tolls exactly? And how many are there?

I normally just lump the driver my spare shrapnel so I've never actually counted.

The guy in the video said there were three tolls: 35, 35 and 25.

Seems about right as I think the last time I paid a toll it was 30 and 20.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Should have got another taxi. It was clear from the start the driver wasn't on the level.

The passenger was a bit of a plonker too. He was overly polite even after being verbally abused by the driver.

Was probably intentional, anyway.
Great conduit for more viral attention whoring and promote news that isn't news to anyone - unless one keeps these closed gossipy online circles.

Damn Foreign Snobs.....

The Thai taxi drivers usually recognize immediately when the customer is not a stupid tourist falang but somebody familiar with Thai conditions. On such a person they hardly pull any tricks...

Originally Posted by aging one

I have put the kids through university while defrauding farang at every single opportunity

Just a small correction.