PHUKET, THAILAND – A tuk-tuk driver in Patong accused a Russian passenger of refusing to pay an agreed fare and then claiming he had been overcharged, triggering an online debate over prices and fairness.
Allegation in Patong over unpaid fare
A tuk-tuk driver working in Patong in Kathu district said a foreign passenger refused to pay for a ride. At the same time, the man allegedly claimed the driver had tried to rip him off.
According to the driver’s account, the dispute stemmed from a journey that ended in a confrontation in a hotel lobby. He later posted a video of the incident on social media, where it drew widespread attention.
Video shows confrontation in hotel lobby
In the clip, the driver was seen confronting the passenger inside the hotel and demanding payment. He stated that the man had agreed to the fare before the ride but then allegedly refused to pay upon arrival.
The driver could be heard saying in the video, in paraphrased form:
“He said before the service that it was okay, but when we arrived, he refused to pay me.”
said the driver, who added that he might start collecting fares in advance in future.
Agreed price: 300 baht plus tip
Later, the driver told ThaiRath that the passenger had accepted a fare of 300 baht for the trip from Bangla Road to the hotel. He also said the man had promised a tip of 200 baht on top.
The driver therefore presented the case as a clearly agreed payment that was then not made. However, the report only reflected the driver’s version of what happened before the ride began, and no account from the passenger was included.
Counterclaim over alleged 3,000 baht demand
According to the driver, the passenger told hotel staff that the tuk-tuk driver had demanded 3,000 baht. The driver denied this and said the allegation had damaged his reputation.
The video showed the passenger asking hotel employees for help and requesting that CCTV footage be checked. He said the cameras would prove that he was the victim in the dispute.
Unclear outcome of the payment dispute
The report stated that it remained unclear how the argument ultimately ended. The driver did not say whether he eventually received the fare.
It was therefore not known whether there was a settlement at the scene or whether the conflict ended without payment. The case continued mainly through the online circulation of the video, where users discussed the incident and broader questions of fair pricing.
Similar case in Pattaya over app fare and surcharge
A comparable dispute was reported in Pattaya in January, involving a motorcycle taxi driver and two Russian women. The driver also shared a video of that incident on Facebook.
He said the ride had been booked via an app showing a fare of 31 baht, but a second woman had wanted to join at the pick-up point. He then demanded double the price and claimed both passengers had agreed to the higher amount.
Online debate over safety, rules and fairness
According to the report, the women ultimately paid only 31 baht, which sparked controversy on social media. Some users sided with the driver, arguing that the motorcycle was designed for one person.
Others criticised the driver for carrying two passengers at all, saying this could breach traffic regulations and raise safety concerns. The case illustrated how quickly fare disputes in tourist areas became intertwined with questions of rules, security and fairness for both drivers and passengers.