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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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coralreefer_1
Joined: 19 Jan 2009
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 Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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One other thing I would point out that may help reduce the chances of someone getting ripped off would be knowing and understanding where you are taking a taxi from.
For example..if you are taking a taxi from a bus/train/airport, or otherwise some other terminal where taxis are lined up in a line waiting for passengers..you are more likely to get ripped off since these guys dont do much but sit around and wait for passengers. These are the guys that once taking a passenger and returning, must go to the back of the line and wait for what could be a LONG time before they get another fare. If you use one of these types of taxis for say..a fairly short 3,000 won ride..you may find yourself more likely to either get a grumpy driver who lost his spot in line for only 3,000 (as compared to someone who may be going a much farther distance) or a driver that may try to squeeze a few extra kilometers out of the ride.
Taking the taxis that are not in a line, but rather waving down one free-floating on the streets will reduce the chances of getting ripped off since mostly these guys thrive on "bulk" fares...meaning that it is likely (but certainly not always) they want to get you to your destination as quickly as possible so that they can get another passenger as quickly as possible.
Also, not sure if it has been mentioned, but if a driver suggests a flat rate rather than running the meter...simply refuse and demand they use the meter. (totally and completely illegal in every way) This is a scheme not only to perhaps get more money for a trip, but also to make a trip "off the books" so to speak..meaning the driver pockets more cash from the trip not being recorded with the meter. This tends to happen quite a bit in places where many people are going to the same destination (for example, a subway station where many students take a taxi to a university, or a bus station where many people take a taxi to the nearest subway station) |
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sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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Its not where they drive that cabbies can rip you off. Its often the rate they charge. The rate is NOT the same. Some rates go up at a faster rate if they press a certan button.
Its a common thing.
Side note, those that claim never to have been ripped off probably have at least once but didn't know it. Ignorance is bliss. |
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FMPJ
Joined: 03 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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| sirius black wrote: |
Its not where they drive that cabbies can rip you off. Its often the rate they charge. The rate is NOT the same. Some rates go up at a faster rate if they press a certan button.
Its a common thing. |
I'd love to see some evidence of this. Like I said, taxis twice a day for about 10 years, and I've never seen anything like this
| sirius black wrote: |
| Side note, those that claim never to have been ripped off probably have at least once but didn't know it. Ignorance is bliss. |
Possible in some cases, but I've had three jobs in 10 years, so my taxi trips have been extraordinarily consistent in departure, destination, and duration--the fees have been equally consistent (with allowances for traffic, of course--I pay a buck or two more on average during rush hour). Right now I go from downtown to lower Gangnam and back every day, and I can predict by the time of day how much it will cost, within 400-700 won. No ignorance, nor bliss. |
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dgove
Joined: 23 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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| After midnight the rate goes up a bit I believe. but I don't think they push the button to make it go faster during the day. Bad taxi experiences are pretty rare, I've been here 2 and a half years and only have had one bad experience. It's not something you should worry about when you come here. |
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OneWayTraffic
Joined: 14 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:57 am Post subject: |
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| FMPJ wrote: |
| sirius black wrote: |
Its not where they drive that cabbies can rip you off. Its often the rate they charge. The rate is NOT the same. Some rates go up at a faster rate if they press a certan button.
Its a common thing. |
I'd love to see some evidence of this. Like I said, taxis twice a day for about 10 years, and I've never seen anything like this
| sirius black wrote: |
| Side note, those that claim never to have been ripped off probably have at least once but didn't know it. Ignorance is bliss. |
Possible in some cases, but I've had three jobs in 10 years, so my taxi trips have been extraordinarily consistent in departure, destination, and duration--the fees have been equally consistent (with allowances for traffic, of course--I pay a buck or two more on average during rush hour). Right now I go from downtown to lower Gangnam and back every day, and I can predict by the time of day how much it will cost, within 400-700 won. No ignorance, nor bliss. |
Concur with this. I took a taxi every Tuesday 12:35pm from SE Seoul to Sincheon. The cost never varied more than 500won from the average. The drivers favored about three routes, but I never noted any amazing difference.
Of course it could have been different when I was new in the country, or at night. That's a whole different ball park. Still we're talking peanuts compared to what the country gave me. |
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gobbledygook
Joined: 18 Feb 2012
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:29 am Post subject: |
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| Can anyone tell me in Korean what I should say to the driver when I get on the car, say if I want to go to 'xyz' ? or do I simply hand over the paper with the address written on it? |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:50 am Post subject: |
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How do you stop the stupid meter from ticking over an extra 100w while you hand him payment?
How do you stop the driver from trying to drive that extra 20 yards after you say "stop"? |
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Kimchifart
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 7:11 am Post subject: |
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| hossenfeffer wrote: |
I've been in Korea for several years now and have only been scammed twice by taxi drivers. The scam worked the same way both times. It was at night. The meter was around 12,000 won. I handed the taxi driver(s) 15,000 won from the backseat. The taxi driver quickly exchanged the 10,000 won note for a 1,000 won note and claimed that I made a mistake. This was NOT a mistake because both times I didn't have a 1,000 won note. The end result was that I had to pony up another 10,000 won note.
If this happens to you, take a picture of the taxi driver's information that is displayed above the glove box and have a Korean friend call the cab company to file a complaint.
To avoid this happening at all, pay with T-money or a credit card every time.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Hoss |
Been here for years, got scammed once in Gwangju on my first ever day here and never again after that. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
| How do you stop the stupid meter from ticking over an extra 100w while you hand him payment? |
Break it.
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| How do you stop the driver from trying to drive that extra 20 yards after you say "stop"? |
I'm making an assumption about you, but perhaps the drivers are looking for a safe place to pull over. |
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jpe
Joined: 15 Aug 2011
Location: Seoul, SK
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| gobbledygook wrote: |
| Can anyone tell me in Korean what I should say to the driver when I get on the car, say if I want to go to 'xyz' ? or do I simply hand over the paper with the address written on it? |
"XYZ, kajuseyeo" (Please go to XYZ)
Although you should know that XYZ is not safe at night. Bring a buddy. |
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Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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In my time in Korea, I've had very few questionnable experiences with taxi drivers. In fact, I've had more good experiences than bad.
First I always say hello in Korean with a smile when I get in. Then I state my destination and also a preferred route, so the driver knows I know the way. For example, I'll name the bridge I want the driver to take, or the name of the major street to follow so the driver is sure of which way to go.
This all takes some language skill, but I think with some practice, short descriptions of route markers is not hard to do.
The biggest trouble I have is safety related: drivers driving unsafely or not having good vision because they are too old, etc. Also, I find taxi drivers are very curious about my status and will sometimes get to personal questions, which I brush off nicely.
But in general, I've met some really cool people, and I get to practice my Korean with them. More often than not, the drivers are bored and just want to chit chat, and they in turn take me to where I want to go efficiently.
One word of caution though, I don't think it's ever a good idea to take a taxi alone when you're bombed after a night out. I think that is the time when most of the trouble happens. |
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Chimie
Joined: 05 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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I've had a few taxi's drive unsafe or WAY too fast (Driving into oncoming traffic in Hongdae 8pm Saturday night to get around a slow car, or last week the guy from Suwon to Itaewon who was going 200kph+)
Though last week was my first truly bad taxi experience. We were coming back from a local pub, it's about a 6,000W fare. There were 4 of us in the car. 3 of us live near enough to each other, and the 4th lived about a quarter mile down the road. We told him, when we got in, we were going to split the fare and drop her off first. He said OK.
Granted, the girl who was getting out first turned off the stereo so she could hear us in the back (imho, never touch a cabbie's stereo) nonetheless, he didn't say anything, we got to where we were dropping her off, she gave us 1,500W for her share, and got out. We told the driver our apartments were about 500m up the road (we were drunk and it was 4am...) He then told us we had to pay off the entire fare and he'd start a new one. He claimed it was Korean law that any time anyone got out of the car, a new fare had to be started. The Korean we had with us told him that wasn't true so the driver told us to pay and get out then. I always pay with my card in Taxis (to avoid the quick-change scam) and the driver, with the meter STILL running, turned on the card reader. I've used my card in taxis a lot. I know when the machine is on. It turned on yet he still sat there and let the meter run up 1200 more won while holding my credit card. In the end, the fare was nearly 2500 more than it normally is because he just sat there after kicking us out---so we essentially paid another fare without even getting the ride. When I got out, the driver started yelling at us in Korean about something. I just walked off not wanting to start anything but our Korean friend went back and took some verbal abuse for no reason. |
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soulofseoul
Joined: 23 Mar 2010
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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why do people complain about taxi drivers driving crazy or fast?
Where dont they do that? its like wherever foreigners are living, they say the taxis are so dangerous and lunatic drivers. Like drivers back home are angel drivers :roll: :roll: |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Jane wrote: |
| Then I state my destination and also a preferred route, so the driver knows I know the way. For example, I'll name the bridge I want the driver to take, or the name of the major street to follow so the driver is sure of which way to go. |
Really good advice. But I eventually get into a complacent state over time and get burned on occasion, forcing me to pay attention or state my preferred route. I had a driver turn a 6K ride into a 10K because I wasn't paying attention - I just assumed he would go the usual way that like 99% of cabbies take for that particular trip. My Korean unfortunately wasn't good enough to call the guy out on his error - going a really circuitous route between two very close points - but I complained in English relatively politely about it and told him to go a specific way the rest of the route. He got all sulky about it despite the extra cash he made.  |
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warmachinenkorea
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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