Taxi scam: Grab driver overcharges Phuket tourist
A frustrated tourist in Phuket has once again fallen victim to an overcharging taxi driver: this time through the Grab app. Despite booking a ride at a fixed price of 264 baht, he was hit with an unexpected 100-baht surcharge midway through the trip, leaving him fuming and questioning Grab’s ability to protect customers from exploitation.
The incident occurred yesterday, March 12, when the tourist booked a red and yellow taxi via Grab for a one-way trip from Bangtao to Patong.
At 1.35pm, he entered the car, and his card was charged the agreed-upon fare. However, at 2.18pm, while still en route, the driver added an unauthorised 100-baht charge to his card without any prior discussion.
It wasn’t until after the tourist had exited the vehicle and walked away that his bank app notified him of the inflated fare. Outraged, he immediately filed a complaint through the Grab application, demanding a refund.
In his complaint, he stated, “The taxi charged me an extra 100 baht after I arrived. This is not the first time. I would like a refund.”
This marks the third time he has experienced such a scam with a local Grab-booked taxi, leading to growing concerns over a potential loophole being exploited by Phuket’s notorious taxi industry.
Grab’s response, however, was less than reassuring. The company’s terms and conditions state that if a passenger “agrees” to pay extra during the ride, Grab will not intervene. This opens the door for dishonest drivers to claim that a surcharge was verbally approved, leaving victims with little recourse for refunds.
The tourist remains sceptical about whether his complaint will be taken seriously, fearing that the driver will simply claim he agreed to the extra charge, despite no such conversation taking place.
Phuket’s infamous taxi mafia has long been criticised for price gouging and intimidation tactics, and this latest incident suggests that some drivers have now found a new way to exploit Grab’s policies.
With repeated reports of tourists being overcharged, visitors are being warned to stay vigilant when using taxi services in Phuket, especially when booking through ride-hailing apps that appear unable to fully protect customers from scams.
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