Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ladyandthetramp]

Well, technically it's not overcharging, but the taxi driver chooses to take a long route to your destination to earn a couple grand more. This has happened to me maybe three times that I'm aware of, and today was the first day I did anything about it. First, I noticed the route was different than usual, so I verified the destination with the taxi driver. When I arrived, I simply said "wow, it's more expensive today than usual," and then pointed at a different road that I usually come in on and said "usually the taxis come in by that route." He rounded the change up to the nearest grand when giving it back, but that didn't really appease me.

When this happens to you, how do you handle it?

[itaewonguy]

this doesnt happen to me unless the cabbie knows a route I dont..
when I get in the taxi I direct him the way to go..
the other day I was in a cab and I told the guy to turn left.. and he didnt
then I asked him if he knew where he was going..
and he ended up getting there 100 won cheaper.. hahahaha
the last 6 months I have always been going this way.. still his way is dangerous far more traffic lights and possibilty of traffic jams,.,

emmm maybe he was trying to skrew me.,, hahahaha

[ajuma]

And this doesn't happen in NYC????

The only time I had any problems with a taxi was when I was in Ulsan. The guy had NO idea where he was going! (It was only up the road and across the bridge!). He stopped two other taxi drivers to ask directions!!!!

[justagirl]

I've had it happen a few times. I think I've either refused to pay 3 or 4 times, or paid them what I knew the ride should cost.

I think I should carry around a little note that says, "I know you went the long way. I will pay you what this ride was worth. If you have a problem with that, remember that foreigner doesn't equal stupid." or something to that effect.

[Real Reality]

Aren't all foreigners just tourists in Korea?

Tourist Complaint Center
Tel : 02-735-0101
fax : 02-777-0102
Korea National Tourism Organization
40, Cheonggyecheonno,Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
E-mail : [email protected]

During your stay in Korea, if you encounter any inconvenience or have any suggestions to make your tourism experience more rewarding, please inform us via telephone, fax, or send us a special postcard available at all major tourism locations. Please include as much detail as possible so that we can better serve you. Or just simply email us at [email protected]. For any other assistance you may need, please visit or contact our Tourist Information Center (Tel: 02-1330).
http://english.tour2korea.com/01TripPlanner/TouristInfo/tcc.asp?kosm=m1_6&konum=6

TAXI STORY

After I'd been in Korea only a couple of months I had my first bad experience in a taxi: a driver in Seoul took my roommate and I on an unwanted tour of Seoul and we got totally lost. After getting out of the cab we stood disoriented and helpless with our mountains of luggage until a passing businessman came and offered us help. He drove us right to our yogwon and was incredibly obliging but, inexplicably, he spent the entire trip defending the taxi-driver's behavior.��He was confused because he couldn't speak English��(but I had spoken to him in Korean); "he didn't know where the yogwon was" (then why did he tell us that he did?); "his taxi was too big to go through the narrow streets" (then why did he agree to take us at all?). Since then, every Korean I have recounted this story to has again tried to justify the taxi-driver's actions, and furthermore, also defended the businessman's defense! In Australia, the driver's behavior would not be entirely uncommon, but the staunch defense of it by a total stranger certainly would be.
http://language.chonnam.ac.kr/4_publish/breaking/b19.htm

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
An official in the International Cooperation Division of Seoul City admitted, "The same complaints regarding visas, transportation, education, and environment are raised every year without being solved, due to the lack of cooperation from government agencies involved and their passive attitudes."
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

Tourist Sign Improvement Program
The Korea National Tourism Organization is conducting a campaign to eliminate foreign-language errors from public tourist information signs. Reports from citizens and foreign residents at large are vital to this program and would be much appreciated.
How to Report
E-Mail : [email protected]
Tel : 02-729-9548
Fax : 02-771-1994
Mail : Center for Improving Tour Signs,
Korea National Tourism Organization,
40, Cheonggyecheonno, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
Please enclose reference photos, when relevant or helpful.
http://english.tour2korea.com/01TripPlanner/TouristInfo/tcc.asp?kosm=m1_6&konum=6

[whatshisname]

I live in an out of the way place, but it is well known as there is a US navy base in my town. When I go from this town to the others, its the same 15000 won , but I can go anywhere in the other towns for that rate. Just yesterday I had taken my thousandth taxi from town B back to town A. When I got into the cab we settled on a price, and then as he was dropping me off, he said that that was the rate...each direction. I tried to explain it to him that its the same rate, every day day or night..and he was hoping I was going to back down. He started shouting in Korean and as I got out of the car, he slammed it into park and got out too...leaning over the hood, shaking the 15000 I gave him and demanding more. People were all standing around looking at this cabbie. I just laughed. He was sensing that he was gathering a crowd and this just made him louder, as he was watching the people all stopping to hear his beef. I finally told him a few korean words that he didn't think I had. He stopped and the people all started to laugh at him. A middle finger salute and a nice smile rounded out our discussion. He sped away, beaten by the lowly foreigner. Normally, I have decent service from them, but sometimes they try a few games, esp if I am coming from a bar and have had a few too many pints.

[jaganath69]

Living as I do in Gyeonggi, well actually, its just outside Seoul in Goyang/Ilsan, we often get the "out of Seoul surcharge" demand at the end of the trip. This is despite negotiating the metered fare. All I do is sit in the taxi and refuse to budge until the cabbie sees reason. I am not a difficult man, but contract is contract, verbal or no, and I think it is a point of principle.

Cheers

Jaga

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Actually, Koreans have to pay that too. He can't legally pick up a fare in Seoul because he has Kyongi-do plates so he, in theory, has to drive back to Ilsan empty. The cops will bust him if they see him picking up fares in Seoul. In theory.

[kprrok]

I don't ever really worry about it. The most I've ever been "over-charged" is like 200 won tops! I'm not oging to go pissing around about 200 bloody won. I have more important things to do. Heck, most of the time, I just hand the guy 2000 and walk away, even if it's only 1500 or 1800. I just can't be bothered sometimes.

Yeah, if they tried to shaft me by a few thousand, I might care, but I never take cab rides that long, so it's not an issue.

KPRROK

[manlyboy]

If they won't follow my directions, I say "stop the car". That usually brings them into line. I've never had to do this in Korea though. I find it better here than in some countries where it's like it's immoral to NOT try and rip you off.

[saharzie]

A few times me and some friends were going from Hongdae to Itaewon. The quickest route is going through Hyochang Park area, but the taxi drivers always try to go onto the river expressway and then turn back onto Itaewon at the far end adding about 4000 won to the journey. The first time it happened (and we forgot to give the guy directions) the driver apologised and deducted 5000 won off the fare.
The second time the driver was really taking the piss and he went all over the place. A journey that should have cost about 7000 won (max) ended up costing 14000 won. We gave him 7000 won and he wouldnt open the central locks and began shouting. My friend read his name off the dashboard and shouted that as well as "you think we are stupid" in Korean. He let us out and took his 7000 won.

[Hollywoodaction]

Take out pen and paper. Write down the driver's name and license number that appears on the license that is posted above the glove compartment. That will put him in line. If it doesn't , call the Korean National Tourism Organiztion (http://www.knto.or.kr/eng/) with that information to file a complaint (that's what the ombundsman office recommended to do a couple of years ago in their weekly column in the Korean Herald).

[pet lover]

This post serves no purpose.

[captain kirk]

The public school had a dinner, so I took a cab which was halfway across town. He took what looked like a beltway that might circle the city to speed things up a bit. If that's what was happening, then he would offramp to near the school. Instead, and it was night, he sped onward along the highway. Like an enraged gorilla at the end, because all he did was smile and continue driving quickly to some other city, I pounded on the door and commanded him to STOP. Before that happened, a phone call to the boss determined there was a similiarly named place to the neighbourhood of the school fifty miles away.

[dg611]

Gave up taking taxis and bought my own car! I only take them when I have been drinking or coming home from the airport. But...in the past 8 years of living in Korea...I have been in my share of taxis...most of them are ok and they give you the best deal (taxis are much cheaper here than most other developed countries in the world) Here are a few tips that might help

1. If you are travelling a route you usually go...have exact change ready to pay for the odd driver who winds up costing you more than 1000 won more than your usual (taking into account traffic and road conditions of course) Give him the usual charge folded up so he has to open it and tell him "wollae __(amount of fare in korean)___Ajosshi shil soo hesseyo....Dohn doh upsayo. (Usually 3000 won, You made a mistake, I dont have anymore money.) Smile and get out of the cab. Most drivers will not bother to chase you.

2. If you notice a driver going a way you are not familliar with, it is helpful to know the name of the street or direction that you usually go..for example "hyochun kongwon euroh gayo." tells the driver to use that particular route (in this case "use the hyochun park route). If they think you know the correct route, they will usually not try to stiff you.

3. one cannot underestimate the value of learning some korean for dealing with taxis...destination names...route names...anything that will hint the driver that you know your destination.

4. What to do if you do not know the correct route....nothing..you are at his mercy...you are screwed. enjoy the ride.

5. A final method that usually solves problems...."Keurum, Kyungchalseo kapshida" (Ok then, lets go to the police station) Taxi drivers hate police stations and the police will often help you out if you do not lose your temper and stay calm and try to explain your situation.

good luck to all.