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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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 Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 5:50 pm Post subject: Van cabs busted for bilking tourists |
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It's good to see that Seoul is finally cracking down on illegal taxis.
Hopefully they'll get some more of them around the airports.
http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2968178&cloc=joongangdaily|home|newslist1
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The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested yesterday more than a dozen call van drivers on charges of picking up foreign tourists with less than 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of luggage and overcharging them.
The police said that a group of suspects manipulated fixed rates of their meters which charge 4,000-5,000 won ($3.69-4.62) for one kilometer (0.6 miles) and 900-1,350 won for 30-60 meters, fairly exorbitant fares compared to the regular cab fees of 2,400 won for two kilometers and 100 won for 144 meters.
�The drivers have mainly targeted foreign tourists who are considered to have less knowledge about the right taxi fares. They drove around tourist-packed areas like Myeong-dong and Dongdaemun shopping centers and Insa-dong to attract travelers,� said Kang Ki-chan, the police officer in charge of the investigation.
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They charged a lot of money for relatively short rides.
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Among the arrested, Baek is reported to have charged three Singaporean tourists 260,000 won for a 60-kilometer ride from the Western Annex of Seoul Station to Incheon International Airport using his altered meter.
Another suspect is accused of ripping off two Thai tourists with virtually no luggage by charging fares that are almost 10 times the actual rate, according to the police.
The travelers were asked to pay 400,000 won for the distance between Incheon International Airport and Bucheon, Gyeonggi, west of Seoul, but regular fees are estimated around 40,000 won.
One of the arrested, identified by his surname Myung, even locked the door when five Chinese tourists complained about an overcharged fee of 96,000 won from Myeong-dong, central Seoul, to Dongdaemun, eastern Seoul, according to the police.
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highstreet
Joined: 13 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| If they wanted to bust some drivers, they should stake out incheon airport. |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| Gangsters. They're at Gimhae Airport too. They've been there for over 10 years, so I don't expect any improvement. There was a similar newspaper article 5 years ago about Incheon Airport. |
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waynehead
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Location: Jongno
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:03 am Post subject: |
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| Where ever you go in the world, taxi drivers represent the dregs of the culture. Maybe that's a bit unfair, let's say "taxi drivers that specifically hang around airports" represent the dregs of the local culture. |
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wishfullthinkng
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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i got so blatantly ripped off one time in latvia by a cab driver. he added a huge until-then undisclosed "handling fee" when i arrived at my hotel on top of the meter fee. i got so annoyed i thought about "accidentally" swinging my suitcase straight into his genital regions but for fear of getting hunted down by the local mafia (he knew where my hotel was) and the fact i was exhausted i paid him what he wanted. this was the first time a taxi driver tried something so absurd and for me, it will have been the last.
damn taxi mafias.
Last edited by wishfullthinkng on Sun Mar 10, 2013 5:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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| From Bucheon to the airport is about 40,000 won? How much should it be roughly from Yongsan? |
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tran.huongthu
Joined: 23 May 2011
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| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 2:58 am Post subject: |
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| highstreet wrote: |
| If they wanted to bust some drivers, they should stake out incheon airport. |
+1 and its why I always make sure to arrive back in Korea on a flight that lands while the airport buses are still running. |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 8:38 am Post subject: |
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Beijing!! Where getting into a cab can turn into a three or four hundred dollar trip real easy. the favorite the cabbie drives the newbie out into the countryside into the middle of nothing stops tells newbie he is lost does not know how to get newbie to his address. Demands money newbie pissed off pays jumps out of cab and amazingly another cab stops and off they go to repeat the same adventure.
so yeah taxis rip off tourist or those theyassume to be tourist. sucks. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:50 am Post subject: |
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| highstreet wrote: |
| If they wanted to bust some drivers, they should stake out incheon airport. |
They have wardens outside the airport that try to safeguard passengers, but in reality the moment the taxi leaves the stand the driver knocks off the meter and demands a ridiculous fare.
You'd probably find the same feeding frenzy outside of every airport in the world. Part of the problem is that they tend to build airports far away from the main destinations. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| rollo wrote: |
Beijing!! Where getting into a cab can turn into a three or four hundred dollar trip real easy. the favorite the cabbie drives the newbie out into the countryside into the middle of nothing stops tells newbie he is lost does not know how to get newbie to his address. Demands money newbie pissed off pays jumps out of cab and amazingly another cab stops and off they go to repeat the same adventure.
so yeah taxis rip off tourist or those theyassume to be tourist. sucks. |
I think it behooves tourists to assume there are sharks there and to try to learn as much about the terrain and country as possible and find out what public transport is out there, what is the common cost of taking cabs, learn some phrases of the language, so they might think you've been there before. |
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optik404
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
| highstreet wrote: |
| If they wanted to bust some drivers, they should stake out incheon airport. |
They have wardens outside the airport that try to safeguard passengers, but in reality the moment the taxi leaves the stand the driver knocks off the meter and demands a ridiculous fare.
You'd probably find the same feeding frenzy outside of every airport in the world. Part of the problem is that they tend to build airports far away from the main destinations. |
I took a cab from the airport a few times into Seoul, cause the buses and train weren't running. I wonder what would happen if I refused to pay the 70,000WON they always charged. The meter isn't on and it takes about 40minutes to get to my place from Incheon, would probably be around 40K.  |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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| optik404 wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| highstreet wrote: |
| If they wanted to bust some drivers, they should stake out incheon airport. |
They have wardens outside the airport that try to safeguard passengers, but in reality the moment the taxi leaves the stand the driver knocks off the meter and demands a ridiculous fare.
You'd probably find the same feeding frenzy outside of every airport in the world. Part of the problem is that they tend to build airports far away from the main destinations. |
I took a cab from the airport a few times into Seoul, cause the buses and train weren't running. I wonder what would happen if I refused to pay the 70,000WON they always charged. The meter isn't on and it takes about 40minutes to get to my place from Incheon, would probably be around 40K. |
Actually, I also paid 70,000 won to go to the airport once. I suppose it should have cost about 50,000 or so. He initially quoted me 15,000 when he meant 150,000 won. We argued at the airport. It was my fault. I should have asked for the number in Korean. Of course, I refused to pay 150,000 won. That's insane. I gave him 70,000. If I wasn't in a hurry to get to the airport, I wouldn't have done that. Anyway, I would never take a taxi to the airport in Seoul. In Canada, Bangkok, sure, but not in Seoul.
I make sure I have plenty of time to take a bus or train to get to Incheon Airport. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| optik404 wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| highstreet wrote: |
| If they wanted to bust some drivers, they should stake out incheon airport. |
They have wardens outside the airport that try to safeguard passengers, but in reality the moment the taxi leaves the stand the driver knocks off the meter and demands a ridiculous fare.
You'd probably find the same feeding frenzy outside of every airport in the world. Part of the problem is that they tend to build airports far away from the main destinations. |
I took a cab from the airport a few times into Seoul, cause the buses and train weren't running. I wonder what would happen if I refused to pay the 70,000WON they always charged. The meter isn't on and it takes about 40minutes to get to my place from Incheon, would probably be around 40K. |
I have refused multiple times and even forced the driver to turn around and drop me back at the stand because he switched off the meter. Sometimes you can negociate a compromise. But you really have to be firm.
But usually the drivers regard it as their right to rip off foreigners anywhere near the airport. And the sheer aggressiveness and trickery of it all is just awful.
Whatever you do, never pay for a taxi by credit card. |
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darkjedidave
Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Location: Shanghai/Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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| When I'm traveling with friends (3-4 people total) we take a taxi van from Incheon to Sinchon and ends up being about 90-100,000W, its worth it in a group when you're lugging dive or climbing gear |
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