You should check that the taxi's credit card machines don’t mysteriously break when you arrive at your destination, creating an awkward and occasionally contentious situation.
It’s fluky, but I’m sure the true taxi of the future will have overcome this glitch.
Why do taxi cab drivers in San Francisco hate taking credit cards?
I've had cab drivers claim the machine is broken and argue with me about taking credit cards (from SFO) and saying the money comes out of their pocket. I tip nicely but i prefer to only use my cash for situations where credit cards really aren't an option and credit cards for everything else.
Dean Clark, Out of work teacher, having to drive ...San Francisco Cab Drivers Pay 5 to 10 percent of the fare to the credit card processing fees, so if your fare is 50.00 dollars they pay up to 5.00 to take your credit card. San Francisco Cabbies do not make a lot of money and are not covered by health insurance, retirement, nor uninsured motorist. In addition are responsible for paying taxes as an independent contractor. Every money they get a San Francisco Cab Driver needs. I myself as a cab driver don't mind taking credit cards, but the fees are killing the money I need to put food on my table for my family!
Dean Clark, Out of work teacher, having to drive ...San Francisco Cab Drivers Pay 5 to 10 percent of the fare to the credit card processing fees, so if your fare is 50.00 dollars they pay up to 5.00 to take your credit card. San Francisco Cabbies do not make a lot of money and are not covered by health insurance, retirement, nor uninsured motorist. In addition are responsible for paying taxes as an independent contractor. Every money they get a San Francisco Cab Driver needs. I myself as a cab driver don't mind taking credit cards, but the fees are killing the money I need to put food on my table for my family!
NYC Taxi companies are double charging credit cards
We spoke with the TLC after they reviewed our mailed-in complaint letter. We went over each of the double-charges on our statement and learned that the four charges that showed up on February 22 were in fact erroneous double charges.
The TLC official said that they have received numerous complaints about this. They explained to us that many cab drivers are still trying to discourage people from using credit cards. The drivers sabotage the meter so as to make it appear as if their system is unable to accept credit cards. When the passenger swipes their card the first time and the driver says, “It did not go through”, the charge did in fact go through. On one’s credit card statement, there will be a charge but no medallion will be associated with it. When the passenger swipes the second time, if the driver relents and enables the system, that charge will then be associated with a medallion.
If you see back-to-back identical charges from a NYC taxi on your billing statement, you were likely double charged. Look to see whether there are medallion numbers associated with each charge.
As if it were not bad enough in New York City to have many taxi drivers, years after the introduction of the credit card payment methods, still pretending to have broken credit card machines or becoming hostile and violent to passengers trying to use credit cards, the taxi drivers and cab companies are now double charging credit cards. BatteryPark.TV has been monitoring the monthly business card reports and has spotted numerous cases of identical, back-to-back, charges run through by taxi companies.
We are initiating a full investigation with our bank and the TLC. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, this is a link on the TLC web site related to these problems. You can file a complaint with the TLC at this address:
Pansy Mullings
Deputy Commissioner
Taxi and Limousine Commission
2455 BQE West
Woodside, NY 113377
The TLC official said that they have received numerous complaints about this. They explained to us that many cab drivers are still trying to discourage people from using credit cards. The drivers sabotage the meter so as to make it appear as if their system is unable to accept credit cards. When the passenger swipes their card the first time and the driver says, “It did not go through”, the charge did in fact go through. On one’s credit card statement, there will be a charge but no medallion will be associated with it. When the passenger swipes the second time, if the driver relents and enables the system, that charge will then be associated with a medallion.
If you see back-to-back identical charges from a NYC taxi on your billing statement, you were likely double charged. Look to see whether there are medallion numbers associated with each charge.
As if it were not bad enough in New York City to have many taxi drivers, years after the introduction of the credit card payment methods, still pretending to have broken credit card machines or becoming hostile and violent to passengers trying to use credit cards, the taxi drivers and cab companies are now double charging credit cards. BatteryPark.TV has been monitoring the monthly business card reports and has spotted numerous cases of identical, back-to-back, charges run through by taxi companies.
We are initiating a full investigation with our bank and the TLC. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, this is a link on the TLC web site related to these problems. You can file a complaint with the TLC at this address:
Pansy Mullings
Deputy Commissioner
Taxi and Limousine Commission
2455 BQE West
Woodside, NY 113377
Sorry the machine is down
The City of Chicago requires that all non-independent taxis accept credit cards. (almost all cabs in the city are affiliated) However, when trying to pay with a credit card it is not uncommon for the driver to say something like "Sorry the machine is down," especially if they believe that you may be a tourist. It is however, considered polite and fair, as it does cost them to process the card, to pay in cash for short (ie. less than 15$) trips. If you can only pay with credit consider adding a dollar or two to the tip.
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