BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): A taxi driver has been banned from picking up passengers at Thailand’s largest airport for allegedly using a fake list of flat-rate fares to overcharge a Taiwanese visitor for a ride from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to central Bangkok.
The driver allegedly charged her a fare 1,200 to 1,500 baht (RM160- 200). Using a meter, the cost would have been around 300 baht (RM40).
Besides being banned from the airport for life, he may lose his licence to operate a taxi.
Airport management said on Sunday (March 19) that the unnamed taxi driver had been using a fake list of fares that used flat rates according to various destinations.
All taxi drivers picking up passengers at the airport are required use meters to calculate fares, airport management said.
The driver has been banned from taxi stands at the airport for life, managers said.
A photo of his fare list was published on a Facebook page “Khao Wong Karn Thong Thiew”, Thai for Tourism News.
“Embarrassing! A female Taiwanese national who used the taxi service from Suvarnabhumi Airport was charged 1,200-1,500 baht to get to central Bangkok. The taxi driver claimed the airport set the rates,” the post said, showing the photo of a list with titled “Taxi Airport International”.
The Airports of Thailand – which operates Suvarnabhumi – left a comment on the post, indicating the group would investigate the incident immediately.
On Sunday, airport management said they had summoned the taxi driver for questioning after seeing the report online. The fare list was fake, they said. All taxi drivers have to be registered with the airport to pick up passengers and are required to use meters instead of charging flat rates, airport management said.
The name of the taxi driver has been sent to the Land Transport Department and it has been asked to consider revoking his taxi license for tarnishing the image of Thailand, airport management said, adding that the driver may have cheated other tourists on other occasions.
Suvarnabhumi Airport management also denied reports that a 50 baht surcharge for taxi rides was prompting drivers to charge flat rates, explaining the 50 baht goes to drivers.
It was levied to encourage taxi drivers to pick up passengers from the airport.
Taxi drivers will be randomly checked around the clock to prevent them from refusing to use meters, airport management said. Airport users can report any taxi drivers refusing to use a meter
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