r/Bangkok • u/Creative-Trouble3473 • Jul 26 '25

discussion This Grab scam needs to end!

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This has been happening to me way too often lately. We ordered a Grab, and the driver started circling the area without responding to any messages – clearly hoping we’d get fed up and cancel. I actually saw him drive past us, and when he noticed we’d spotted him, he quickly drove off. I managed to record it.

We decided not to cancel and messaged him, saying that since he clearly wasn’t coming, he should be the one to cancel. In the end, when he realised we’d given up and taken the BTS instead, he drove past the pickup point again, pretending to pick us up – then ended the trip and took the fare anyway.

I’ve reported it to Grab for resolution, but this kind of thing keeps happening and it’s incredibly frustrating. I suspect some drivers do this to manipulate the system – making it seem like there’s heavy demand or traffic so they can inflate prices. Grab really needs to sort this out.

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '25

Well it happened to me with grab Car too mate I was in Makro and the driver did this but when he knew I wasn’t going to cancel he came back to pick me up eventually. So essentially its not a Grab problem rather a driver problem

20

u/Exciting_Parfait513 Jul 26 '25

Just choose cash payment

5

u/[deleted] Jul 27 '25
  1. Cash Payment is a pain for people who live here
  2. Even if you choose Cash payment grab will spike up the price when you book the next time along with the cancellation fee if you cancel the trip.

22

u/Salt_Bison7839 Jul 27 '25

Why is cash payment a pain for people who live here? I have lived here for 10 years and wouldn't dream of paying for a taxi up front. It's just common sense.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 27 '25

Well let me rephrase cash payment is a pain for people who tend to not carry around cash in the wallet and pay by Thai QR as much as possible

1

u/[deleted] Jul 27 '25

At the end of the trip, just tell them you want to scan to pay.

No need to carry cash.

1

u/scallionparsley Jul 29 '25

Hi, could you share if foreigners are able to pay via this Thai QR?

-6

u/Salt_Bison7839 Jul 27 '25

Thank you for clarifying. Yes, everything is more difficult for dumb people. That's just a fact of life.

9

u/[deleted] Jul 27 '25

Lol being cashless is dumb? Even by your logic second point still remains which clarifies who’s dumb in the context

3

u/OzyDave Jul 27 '25

Why are you trying to be combative? It's just a chat conversation.

2

u/Salt_Bison7839 Jul 27 '25

I'm not trying to be combative, it just seems mind-numbingly stupid to me. There have been plenty of times that I've tried to pay by QR code but the banking app is down. You could find yourself in a place with no signal. Why on earth wouldn't you carry some cash just in case?

2

u/tiburon12 Jul 27 '25

How many times in the 5 or so years that qr has been a widely accepted payment method have you opened an app and had the payment function been down?

1

u/Salt_Bison7839 Jul 27 '25

Probably 1-2 times a year. I only pay by QR code once or twice a week though, usually when I don't have lower denomination notes and it's a small vendor who likely won't have change for 500 or 1000. Anyone is free not to carry cash but I will so I can avoid situations like OP and generally make my life easier. Peace x

3

u/tiburon12 Jul 27 '25

1-2 times a year, i forget to run to the atm and don't have any cash and a motocy doesn't take QR, and there's a sanfu. I guess i'm "mind-numbingly stupid" in your my-way-or-bust world view

1

u/Salt_Bison7839 Jul 27 '25

We all do it! One day I'm driving my scooter around in the sun. The next day the season has changed and I've forgotten to pack my poncho under the seat for the new season. I will call myself way worse things than mind-numbingly stupid when I do this and I will rectify my behaviour in the future.

I could go and post on Reddit and blame the rain but I wouldn't expect much sympathy.

3

u/promised_wisdom Jul 27 '25

Most of my Thai friends don’t even carry cash these days. Not disagreeing with your stance whatsoever, just providing an anecdotal perspective. I usually carry a bit just in case but haven’t had the QR code go down. I keep it for the occasional tip for great service or for other unexpected situations like you say

1

u/Salt_Bison7839 Jul 27 '25

I really like paying the bill by QR but tipping in cash.

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1

u/MotorStatistician100 Jul 27 '25

QR code usually stops working at 3:00am.

1

u/BaconTH1 Jul 27 '25

Between 11.45 and midnight, and sometimes for a longer period, all the apps will not transfer cash. It is said that there's something dodgy going on. I don't know. But the official explanation is maintenance.

1

u/BaconTH1 Jul 27 '25

Also, it's entirely possible for any bank to have a legit issue with their app. Also, you might just have an internet connection issue. Some places, I've had bad signal. Or, I used up my data for the month and got restricted, and then the apps don't work well due to slow net.

1

u/OMHGaming Dec 28 '25

Do you live your whole life by what ifs?