Proposed 5 percent taxi fare increase dependent on customer satisfaction

Fares for taxi services in Thailand might go up by five percent if the passengers who utilize them are content with the service. This will be measured by an overall decrease in the number of customer complaints lodged with taxi companies and transportation officials.

According to Deputy Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruck, the Ministry of Transport will decide if taxi fares should be increased this year.

In 2014, the Ministry approved a fare hike of 13 percent. However, the Ministry only allowed a fare hike of eight percent and withheld the other five percent until feedback showed that taxi drivers had improved their services.

Now, the withheld five percent is being considered. The less complaints there are, the more inclined the Ministry will be to increase the fares.

Ormsin noted there are still a large number of taxi drivers who decline passengers on sight or after hearing their destination, and that some reportedly overcharge passengers by tampering with the meters or refusing to use them altogether.

He has been quoted as saying that the proposed increase in fare must be carefully reviewed, regardless of the level of complaints. He also said that the Ministry is currently working with taxi drivers to ensure better overall service for passengers before the rise in taxi fare could possibly go into effect.

The Department of Land Transportation could also be considering an increase in the taxi surcharge from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, reported Bangkok Post.

Supposedly, the current surcharge of THB50 could be increased to THB60 for sedan taxis and could go as high as THB90 for van-style taxis.

Source: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/