FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Cabbie who bilked tourist loses licence

Cabbie who bilked tourist loses licence

THE LAND Transport Department yesterday revoked the driving licence of the taxi driver who charged a Swiss traveller Bt6,000 for a ride from Suvarnabhumi Airport to a hotel on Sathon Road. The action was taken after a complaint went viral.

Director-general Sanit Promwong said Pipatpol Jaikam was ordered to report yesterday for questioning by the department and Tourist Police.
Pipatpol’s licence allows him to drive all types of vehicles. It expires in August 2018. After he confessed, the department stripped him of his driving licence for besmirching the image of the country and its tourism industry. He was also slapped with a Bt3,000 fine for demanding a fare exceeding the legal limit. His offence will be recorded at the information centre for public-transport drivers.
Sanit said the department would levy the heaviest punishment against drivers who extort passengers, refuse service or to turn on the meter, or leave passengers stranded part way.
Already 266 drivers have had their licences suspended and five their licences cancelled. Those receiving bad treatment by taxi drivers can lodge a complaint by calling the 1584 hotline 24 hours a day, leaving a message at ins.dlt.go.th/cmpweb or sending |a email to dlt_1584complain@|hotmail.com.. They can also file a complaint at social media network such as Facebook through application and Line ID 1584 dlt.The story about the Swiss being cheated by the taxi driver was posted by Krit Karnchanabatr on his Facebook page.
Krit posted that the Swiss is a guest his company invited. The man arrived at the airport two hours earlier so he was told to catch a taxi to drop him at W Bangkok hotel. He said the taxi driver did not turn on the metre.
He said he had the hotel looked into the CCTV to spot the number of the licence plate of the taxi.
Then he called tourist police 1155. The police told him to file a complaint at Thong Lor police station but he chose to file complaint with JS 100 radio station and Suvarnabhumi Airport which told him to call 1584.
W Bangkok Hotel staffers however contacted Suvarnabhumi’s taxi counter and found the driver in question who returned Bt5,400 after the being confronted with the complaint.
Krit said the Swiss was very happy to get the money back.
 

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