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Credit-card tease in a taxi
By adamg on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 10:05am
Johnathan King reports that on a trip back from Logan yesterday, he rode in a cab that was actually equipped with a credit-card machine (whadaya know, city regulations actually work). Only when he got to the end of his ride, the driver told him the reader, which spent the entire trip displaying pretty pictures and information from Boston Police, "isn't actually up and running yet."
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Comments
The last five cabs I've
The last five cabs I've taken a ride in have given me the same story. Not sure I buy it.
Liar cabbie. Refuse to pay
Liar cabbie. Refuse to pay by another means. Make him call the damn card into his dispatch office. He just wants cash to avoid the taxman and maybe even cheat his cab company.
Yes and No.
I have been driving a Boston Cab for more than 3 years now and I do see a lot complaints from customers and cab drivers.
Yes, I do agree there are a lot of cab drivers are doing what they are not suppose to such as spinning around for extra dollars, refused taking C/C, smoking... I personally do not care as long as I get what I deserved but the C/C things are driving us crazy. Please review the following and you will understanding more about why...
1. 6% from the actual fare (I don't think they take anything from our tips). If it happens that I made $3500 this month, the fee will be $210. For these days, $210 could be extremely useful especially you have a family.
2. The fund goes directly into our ATM account (Bank of America, we didn't get to pick what we want). ATM account = ATM card, we do not get any paper/E statement so therefore we actually own an account.
3. ATM card, every ATM cash transaction cost $1.50 transaction fee even you get your cash from Bank of America ATM machine.
4. Get cash from Bank of America branch teller, $5.00 fee.
5. Have questions regarding your ATM account? Each live customer service call cost $1.50.
6. Biggest problem, any questions regarding the C/C machine or transaction or you need instant helps while customers still sitting in your cab? "NSS" - No Standard Solution, when we call our dispatcher they will tell us "we have no longer handle the C/C transactions, we do not have any advice for you - have a nice day". There is no customer service number whatsoever, so we would be stuck.
If No.6 happens to you and your customer has no cash/PIN, two options either you let him/her go or take him/her to the local police station. I don't believe the second option works because the cop always tell us "hey, cut lose and let it go" because the cops never enjoyed serving a cab driver.
The above is JUST for our C/C issues, you wanna know what else we are dealing with? I don't think we have enough space in here LOL. I am complaining but sharing as it is what it is. I don't know others cultures but I am always trying to be nice and honest to my customers.
It isn't true. They just
It isn't true. They just want you to pay cash, easier to skim that way.
Pants-on-Fire Taxi
Doesn't the city have a hack division to handle these complaints and give you info? Maybe the machines should display that information.
That would be hilarious
A display on the machine that scrolls:
If the driver tells you that I'm not functional, he's full of shit. Call 617-222-CABS and report this loser. His badge number is on the placard to your left. If there's no placard, report that too. Also, please be sure to check his tires and see if they are well inflated because if they aren't then he's over charging your mileage too.
Has been done ...
I think it was Philly ... although it may have been Chicago ... did have the numbers to call if there were problems with the taxi posted on the machine - including what number to call to pay by card if the machine wasn't working.
The tires thing? If I saw that in Toronto, it wouldn't surprise me one bit. That sounds like a Toronto sort of thing to me.
Last week I was in a cab
Last week I was in a cab going from the Back Bay to Harvard Square. We wound up sitting in a lot of traffic so the ride cost more than the cash I had on me. Luckily, the cab had a credit card machine. When I pulled out my card and swiped it the cabbie went absolutely ballistic, screaming at me that I should've told him I was paying with a card when he first picked me up because if he'd known he never would've taken me, how dare I do this to him, on and on like I'd just murdered his puppy. I signed the receipt as fast as I could and got the hell out of there.
Some cities have laws that require all cabs to accept cards.
New York and Philly are among them. But New York also has laws requiring that drivers CLEAN their cabs. Philly cabs are a disgrace--totally filthy, yet you can pay by credit card. I am amazed at how NY cabs offer consistent relative cleanliness, and how far NY has gotten with its hybrid program.
Boston cabs (and Cambridge cabs, and Somerville cabs) are kind of like the wild west. You have no idea what you'll get once you get in. The cab lobby (which actually exists) wants it that way.
Boston's among them too
As of January 2009, IIRC.
Other things they're supposed to do as of 1/1/09
Clean their cabs and not talk on cell phones while driving.
That's funny
Usually the only time the cabbie stops talking on the cell phone is when he asks the passenger for directions.
Best way to avoid them, then...
I only take a cab when it's late at night and the T is far less frequent. I would rather cough up the $12 + tip to be home safe.
It really pisses me off sometimes when certain groups - like the cab lobby you've mentioned - want the public not to know what goes on, and actually "want it that way."
What does the cab lobby have to hide?
If the cab lobby can pay half-a-mil plus for a cab medallion, I'm sure they can be a hell of a lot more transparent with their practices. If they aren't forthcoming with answers, perhaps it's time to boycott cab riding. If the cab lobby lost a lot of its business because someone publicized its secretive and shady practices, you'd see a pretty damn quick turnaround in getting its passengers back.
Has anyone used this?
http://www.cityofboston.gov/police/taxi.asp
Has anyone used this with any luck? They claim to call you back within 10 days. I might bookmark it on my phone for future use. Boston cabs are even more of a disgrace than the T.
It's simple then--refuse to
It's simple then--refuse to tip then. They take cards, they get tip. Cash, feck off.
BPD Hackney Unit
I emailed them a couple of years ago about a cab that had hauled ass the wrong direction up our one-way street to avoid post-game traffic -- happens all the time, but this time I happened to note the plate number. They wrote back within a week or so to tell me that the driver been issued a fine and suspended for a day.
A few weeks later I see a cab doing the same thing, this time with his horn blaring and his middle finger extended -- presumably the same guy, but I couldn't see his plate. What could I do but laugh? And curse him, of course.
Which is a long way of saying that yes, in my experience the Hackney Unit does follow up on complaints.
Ever been to Japan
Every cab is spotless - no rust, no dents. The seats have clean white covers on them (I'm guessing replaced regularly or they wouldn't be clean or white). Sometimes the drivers even wear white gloves. By comparison their cabs used to be outrageously expensive - so you could use that as an explanation. Our fares are almost on par with them now (I think about $6-7 to get in a small cab and $8-9 to get in one of the larger more luxurious cabs - not sure how the meter rates compare - but probably similar).
And every one of them knows where they are going.
One thing that's the same - their cabbies don't speak much English either. :-)
Hard to make a living driving or keeping up a cab when you have to pony up the price of a house to buy the medallion.
I used one on Tuesday. The
I used one on Tuesday. The "not working" line is BS.
Credit cards in cabs in Boston
I don't know if anyone is aware that taxi drivers have to pay 30% for every transaction with a credit card. This means that most cab drivers (that sit and damage their bodies and minds by sitting cramped up all day) have to pay by the day to rent a cab; $100 or more. To take credit cards they have to pay $3 for every $10. Your arrogance assuming that every cabbie is a hustler is just ignorant of people who have to work hard to make a living. Of course, the banks that put these machines in the cabs are raking in this money and, of course, THEY got lots of bailout money. this is the WORST year for driving a cab in Boston, which is always awful.
Stop being arrogant and start looking at service providers as people.
Clarification and more details?
Are you saying that this 30% is just for supporting card payments, *in addition to* whatever other costs, such as cab rental and dispatch?
For supporting mobile card payments alone, 3% sounds much closer to fair.
Credit cards in cabs the str8 dope
The city mandated that all Boston Taxi Cabs be equiped with functioning credit card machines by 7/15/2009. To the best of my knowledge if someone had a machine installed prior to that date they were under no obligation to use it.
Here is why:
The deal was made on our behalf's by the city of Boston. You know the guys who can't ever seem to turn a buck ? They made an awefull deal and stuck us with contracts that run 3-10 years and 6% processing fees.
Most cabbies rent their cabs and have to pay cash daily. The owner I rent from is nice enough to let me pay at the end of the three days I work.
I drive Friday Saturday and Sunday nights. I pay $225.00 which is due Monday morning. This past weekend I did an unsual amount of credit card jobs and with the Monday holiday I won't be getting paid until Thursday at the earliest.
I had to call the owner today and explain this and he was to say the least frustrated. I went and gave him the cash I had to spare (after purchasing 3 full tanks of gas it was not much).
We'll "stop being arrogant..."
@RMK:
...when the baddest of the Boston cab drivers stop jerking us around.
I will be fair and state that the cab drivers I've encountered have been very good in getting me back and forth, and are not "hustlers." I've always paid cash for my fares - but in the instance I have no money and I have my credit card, I would see no problem in using it.
It seems, though, that your level of arrogance in telling us not to complain is quite telling. If you're a cab driver yourself or a medallion owner, it's understandable your hubris hides your discomfort - or maybe a little bit of chicanery.
You claim that card companies "that got bailout money" are charging 30% is misleading, if not false. This would likely be 6% - so where did you get 30%? (Maybe the other 24% is for gas and keeping the vehicle clean?)
As for cabbies being "hustlers," not all of them are. But perhaps you'll get the odd one who has reckless regard for your safety, one who makes sure to squeeze every single dollar out of you because it's 2am and it's because you're a captive audience. Nothing raises a red flag like a $38 cab ride (plus an expected "tip") that was supposed to cost $15.
Perhaps you'd like to enlighten us on our "ignorance?"
BS
you are full of it.
The credit card fee for cabs is 6%, not 30% so stop lying to the general public and accept credit cards or go the F out of business.
Welcome to the 21st century idiot.