"Taxi Driver Swindled for 1,200 Baht" - Pattaya People report

**SteveCM** · 14-05-2011, 07:35 PM

Taxi Driver Swindled for 1,200 Baht - Pattaya People newspaper Thailand

14 May 2011

On Friday, just before midnight at the Pattaya City Police Station, a Bangkok to Airport taxi driver Mr. Utai Yodsombat made a statement to Investigation Inspector Pol. Lt. Col. Weerawut Meelai. He had lost 1,200 Baht to a fellow, age around 25, who tricked him into giving him money by claiming he had passengers to go to the airport. Mr. Utai stated he works for Boworn Ltd, who hired him to take a passenger to Pattaya. On his way back to Bangkok, while driving past the Newstar Hotel, in North Pattaya, as he slowed down, a man drove a motorcycle up to the driver’s side of his taxi, and offered to take him to 4 tourists who needed a taxi to Suvanabhumi Airport. Mr. Utai of course was interested, and followed the man back to the hotel, parked the taxi and waited, as requested by the man, who went inside the hotel alone.

Later, the culprit walked back to tell Mr. Utai that the 4 passengers were coming down, and for Mr. Utai to wait, however, he needed his commission first for 1,000 Baht, and for the hotel staff, 200 Baht, as he had to leave. Mr. Utai paid the requested amount, as he believed the man. After 2 hours of waiting, he decided to check with the hotel staff, and discovered to his dismay that there were no tourists waiting to go to the airport. The police registered his statement, but Mr. Utai probably has no chance of seeing his money unless he can locate this trickster, and lead the police to him.

News stories placed on this website are short versions. If you would like the full story, please read the Pattaya People Weekly newspaper

**English Noodles** · 14-05-2011, 07:38 PM

poor [at][at][at][at].

**taxexile** · 14-05-2011, 07:40 PM

commission first for 1,000 Baht, and for the hotel staff, 200 Baht,

idiot.

**SteveCM** · 14-05-2011, 07:42 PM

Karma?

**Greyman** · 14-05-2011, 07:48 PM

1000 baht commission, plus 200 for the hotel staff !

How much did he think he was going to make for a taxi from Pattaya to the airport?

Karma indeed.

**Kurgen** · 14-05-2011, 10:15 PM

I dare say the next poor sod he picked up covered his losses.

**Cujo** · 14-05-2011, 10:21 PM

excellent.

**sunsetter** · 14-05-2011, 10:38 PM

cant say that thai people dont think on their feet,chap on the motocy has brains,and probably a nice healthy yabaa habit, fairplay, poor old taxi man should up his game, or retire

**yortyiam** · 14-05-2011, 10:41 PM

Waited for 2 hours ?? That's going to smart a bit . A harsh lesson has been
"metered" out here

. Skanked by one of his own!

**Albert Shagnasty** · 14-05-2011, 10:48 PM

what goes around
comes around

**English Noodles** · 14-05-2011, 10:59 PM

Some strange comments on here. Most seem to be pleased that an old taxi driver got ripped off. Personally I have always found Bangkok taxi drivers to be pretty good and rarely had a bad experience with them.

Strange fuckers some of you lot. Are you bitter? Probably.

**Lorenzo** · 14-05-2011, 11:01 PM

^ nevertheless, an enjoyable read

**sunsetter** · 14-05-2011, 11:07 PM

^^ naa mate, just dealing with reality, dont read into it too much

**Thormaturge** · 14-05-2011, 11:13 PM

I just have difficulty believing anyone could be that daft.

**DroversDog** · 14-05-2011, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Some strange comments on here. Most seem to be pleased that an old taxi driver got ripped off. Personally I have always found Bangkok taxi drivers to be pretty good and rarely had a bad experience with them.

Strange fuckers some of you lot. Are you bitter? Probably.

EN I agree. Most taxi drivers in Bangkok I have found to be very sound, and it is sad that some think it is fine that they should be ripped off.

**sunsetter** · 14-05-2011, 11:20 PM

they are without question great taxi drivers in bangkok, ive never had a duff one, well, at no more than £2 to most places in bkk central who would complain?

**Thormaturge** · 14-05-2011, 11:58 PM

I agree that most taxi drivers are honest hard working people. They often work long hours and face the prospect of being robbed of their fares on occasion.

Sadly, and unusually, this one seems to have been remarkably gullible.

crocodilexp · 15-05-2011, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Some strange comments on here. Most seem to be pleased that an old taxi driver got ripped off. Personally I have always found Bangkok taxi drivers to be pretty good and rarely had a bad experience with them.

Standard taxi fare from Pattaya to Bangkok is 800 baht. Not sure about the airport, the distance is less... I'd guess 1000 baht at most is fair. Per car, not per passenger.

The driver paid 1200 baht in commissions, hoping to recover way more from clueless tourists. He was obviously hoping to overcharge the tourists by some huge margin (2000-3000 baht would be my guess, 2-3 times the going rate). The story boils down to "greedy scammer got scammed". Not much sympathy there.

Nothing against Bangkok taxi drivers, 99% of them are straight up people and do honest work for meager pay. I even had a few insisting I pay *less* then the meter because they took a wrong turn (of course, they got a decent tip for being honest instead).

**DrAndy** · 15-05-2011, 12:18 AM

the trickster probably promised him a fare of B8000 or so

the taxi driver let his greed get the better of any common sense

**dirtydog** · 15-05-2011, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Some strange comments on here. Most seem to be pleased that an old taxi driver got ripped off. Personally I have always found Bangkok taxi drivers to be pretty good and rarely had a bad experience with them.

The taxi fare from Pattaya to Bangkok is 1,000 to 1,200baht, so he was obviously either doing a free charity run or going to rip some farangs off, which do you think? A charitable guy? Or some fucking rip off taxi driver? Remembering he has paid 1,200baht commission for these customers.

**English Noodles** · 15-05-2011, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

The taxi fare from Pattaya to Bangkok is 1,000 to 1,200baht, so he was obviously either doing a free charity run or going to rip some farangs off, which do you think? A charitable guy? Or some fucking rip off taxi driver? Remembering he has paid 1,200baht commission for these customers.

Don't be silly dog. There is no way you can twist this to make the victim the bad guy here. Your argument is like saying the working girl deserved to be raped because she was going to overcharge the guy anyway.

KOBRIEN · 15-05-2011, 12:45 AM

I always use Mr T when arranging a Taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok(900baht).
When I searched round before settling on this company I was new to Thailand and
I was quoted upto 2 - 3000 Baht for a secure safe ride to the airport(quote).

Atleast it was a reasonable amount to lose,This experience will make the driver
less trusting of a stranger next time.... And the world keeps turning!

**blue** · 15-05-2011, 12:48 AM

He probably parked up, fell asleep for most of his shift, then decided to gamble his petrol money 1200 Baht, so he would have money to give his fierce wife .
He lost and then came up with a cunning plan .....

**dirtydog** · 15-05-2011, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Don't be silly dog. There is no way you can twist this to make the victim the bad guy here.

Of course, the motorbike taxi rider asked if hewas in a charitable mood and told him he could get him some customers if he took them for free and only paid him 1,200baht, the normal cab fare for him to arrange this charitable deed, bolluxs, a conman got ripped off by a conman.

**dirtydog** · 15-05-2011, 01:04 AM

All the Bangkok taxies I have ever used fuck straight off out of Pattaya and goto Chonburi, they only get 600baht for the ride from Chonburi to Bangkok, but they don't get ripped off.

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