Taxi driver banned over no meter

>> A taxi driver who did not install a meter on his car has been banned from providing services at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Airport authorities said Thinkimo Seesopha, a taxi driver with the code number 511064, who drove a green-yellow Toyota Innova with licence plate number Mor Chor 2772, has been prohibited from accepting passengers at the airport since yesterday.

The airport has passed the information on to the Department of Land Transport, which may take legal action against the driver.

The ban came after a passenger made a posting on the popular Pantip community web board on Thursday.

The passenger said he had queued for a taxi in front of the first floor of the terminal on Thursday about 2.10pm.

After telling Mr Thinkimo that his destination was Bang Wa skytrain station, the driver refused to calculate the fare based on the meter and demanded a lump-sum fare.

The driver then asked him what he usually paid for the trip and he told him the fare was normally 250-400 baht in a metered taxi.

At this point, the passenger noticed there was no meter installed in the car and there was a sign saying “800-900 baht in Bangkok and 1,000-2,000 to the provinces”.

The driver said his taxi, which was regarded as a large-sized vehicle, was not equipped with a meter as the equipment had not been installed in all taxis similar to his in the airport.

After the passenger expressed dissatisfaction, Mr Thinkimo dropped him off on the fourth floor of the terminal, which was not an area designated for the taxi service.

The passenger later complained about the incident on the website.

Airport authorities launched a probe after being advised of the issue.

They questioned Mr Thinkimo, who confessed he had tried to cheat the passenger by not using a meter.

Suvarnabhumi airport stressed it was strictly regulating taxi drivers, particularly in regards to fare calculations based on meter readings.

They said taxi service providers were regularly inspected by airport staff.

Those who fail to comply with airport regulations or cheat customers face stiff penalties ranging from temporary to permanent banning from providing services at the airport.

Passengers who face problems with taxi drivers registered with the airport can contact the taxi coordination centre at 02-1320360 or 02-132-9199.