This has really pissed me off lately, but I’ve been on several business trips where the Taxi driver says - "Oh my credit card machine is giving me problems, sorry."
It got worse with my recent business trip to Boston, where 3 out of the 4 taxi drivers told me the same thing, and the last one said that his machine was giving him problems all day, and he didnt even try to see if it was working.
So he said, "how much cash you got?" I said which is all I had, so then he gave a big sigh and then pressed his machine and swiped my card and VIOLA! it worked on the first try, what a load of crap he was giving me.
Cabdrivers Deported for taking Credit Cards
Weeks ago the Philadelphia Parking Authority mailed a letter to immigrant cabdrivers telling them that credit-card payments were owed to them and to come to the PPA to get paid, drivers said.
When 26 drivers showed up at the PPA garage and impoundment offices in South Philadelphia Wednesday, 23 wound up handcuffed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who determined the cabbies were in the United States illegally, according to ICE spokesman Mark Medvesky.
All but four were released but their names were placed on a deportation list. Medvesky didn't detail why the four others were held.
PPA spokesman Marty O'Rourke would say only that "the Parking Authority worked with federal authorities on this operation."
Two of the three cleared drivers identified themselves as American citizens and said that the experience had been both harrowing and humiliating and that they, too, had been handcuffed and interrogated.
One of them, Oliver, who didn't want his last name used, said a receptionist greeted him when he went into the PPA offices on Swanson Street near Ritner Wednesday morning.
"She asked for my Social Security number and said they had a check for me and that a gentleman was going to walk me into the next room to pick [it] up," he said.
Once inside, Oliver said, Immigration and Customs officers "grabbed me and pushed me against the wall and put handcuffs on me."
"I said I am an American citizen but they didn't listen to me," he said. "They took me to the warehouse behind the office. I met a lot of guys that were handcuffed there."
Oliver, who is from Nigeria and said he has been a U.S. citizen for nine years, said that he happened to have his passport in his cab and that after he presented it to ICE officials, they let him go.
He worked briefly yesterday, he said, but "I was really emotionally messed up. My leg was still shaking. It was terrible."
Oloyede, a cabbie born in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and naturalized here in 2006, said he, too, was traumatized. "I didn't know what I did wrong," he said.
Medvesky said the sting had been conducted because cabdrivers have access to areas of Philadelphia International Airport where the public doesn't normally go. "We consider this a public-safety issue. We're constantly looking for places with vulnerabilities, like the airport," he said.
He said those arrested were from the United Kingdom, Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Senegal, Jamaica, Ivory Coast and India.
Ronald Blount, president of the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance of Pennsylvania, said that he had received different figures from the PPA but that even if the arrested drivers were illegals, the 23 were "out of a pool of 5,000 drivers."
"It's not like it's a big problem in this industry," Blount said. "At least 85 percent [of taxi drivers] are first-generation immigrants and here legally."
He said the Parking Authority itself screens cabbies every year, and they must present proof that they are here legally when their licenses come up for renewal.
When 26 drivers showed up at the PPA garage and impoundment offices in South Philadelphia Wednesday, 23 wound up handcuffed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who determined the cabbies were in the United States illegally, according to ICE spokesman Mark Medvesky.
All but four were released but their names were placed on a deportation list. Medvesky didn't detail why the four others were held.
PPA spokesman Marty O'Rourke would say only that "the Parking Authority worked with federal authorities on this operation."
Two of the three cleared drivers identified themselves as American citizens and said that the experience had been both harrowing and humiliating and that they, too, had been handcuffed and interrogated.
One of them, Oliver, who didn't want his last name used, said a receptionist greeted him when he went into the PPA offices on Swanson Street near Ritner Wednesday morning.
"She asked for my Social Security number and said they had a check for me and that a gentleman was going to walk me into the next room to pick [it] up," he said.
Once inside, Oliver said, Immigration and Customs officers "grabbed me and pushed me against the wall and put handcuffs on me."
"I said I am an American citizen but they didn't listen to me," he said. "They took me to the warehouse behind the office. I met a lot of guys that were handcuffed there."
Oliver, who is from Nigeria and said he has been a U.S. citizen for nine years, said that he happened to have his passport in his cab and that after he presented it to ICE officials, they let him go.
He worked briefly yesterday, he said, but "I was really emotionally messed up. My leg was still shaking. It was terrible."
Oloyede, a cabbie born in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and naturalized here in 2006, said he, too, was traumatized. "I didn't know what I did wrong," he said.
Medvesky said the sting had been conducted because cabdrivers have access to areas of Philadelphia International Airport where the public doesn't normally go. "We consider this a public-safety issue. We're constantly looking for places with vulnerabilities, like the airport," he said.
He said those arrested were from the United Kingdom, Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Senegal, Jamaica, Ivory Coast and India.
Ronald Blount, president of the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance of Pennsylvania, said that he had received different figures from the PPA but that even if the arrested drivers were illegals, the 23 were "out of a pool of 5,000 drivers."
"It's not like it's a big problem in this industry," Blount said. "At least 85 percent [of taxi drivers] are first-generation immigrants and here legally."
He said the Parking Authority itself screens cabbies every year, and they must present proof that they are here legally when their licenses come up for renewal.
Taken for a Ride?
Taken for a ride.
You grab a cab, you should be able to swipe your card and pay your way. But we found some who try to cab it on credit are told the machine is broken. Our hidden camera investigation found that may not be true. Are you getting taken for a ride? Hank investigates.
Our undercover producers are hailing cabs for just one reason.
"Taxi!"
We want to see if they will let them pay with a credit card.
If you've been in the back seat of a Boston cab lately, you've seen the fancy brand new machines. Last July, the city's Hackney division -- part of the Boston Police Department -- told drivers: You've got to take plastic, or you can't take passengers.
Mark Cohen, Director of Licensing, Boston Police Dept.
"The police department is absolutely dedicated to make this work."
We found lots of cabs were with the program we hopped in, tapped the screen, swiped the card and were on our way. But we found some cab drivers trying to trick passengers into paying cash.
Watch this: "Do you take credit cards?"
The driver first asks: "How much cash do you have?" And then he tells our producer his credit card machine "doesn't always work." Knowing the score, she pushes the buttons, and it works just fine.
And our investigation found passengers say this driving deception is happening all over town.
Taxi Passengers:
"They say oh no the credit card machine is broken today."
"There will be a sign right by the credit card machine, or over the credit card machine, that says its broken."
"They'll insist that the machine is broken."
But then, when these savvy passengers insisted they had no cash, suddenly the machines were fine.
Taxi Passengers:
"It always works."
"If I try it, it does work."
"First it was broken, then it worked."
Officials admit, they know the "machine is broken" line is frequently just a line.
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7NEWS
"How often are the drivers just not telling the truth?"
Mark Cohen, Director of Licensing, Boston Police Dept.
"More often than not."
In fact, over and over, drivers told our undercover riders their machines were out of order.
And it's not just us. We found complaints about this are pouring into the police department. Just since last July, they've gotten 245 of them. That's more than one every day.
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7NEWS
"That's a lot of complaints."
Mark Cohen, Director of Licensing, Boston Police Dept.
"Well, I think we have our work cut out for us."
Why would cabbies do it? Credit card companies charge the drivers a fee for each transaction, so that mean they make less money for each trip. If they can get you to pay in cash, they cash in. That's against the rules, but here's what drivers don't know.
Police showed us this computer in police headquarters. It runs 24/7, recording and storing every taxi trip and every taxi transaction. So when customers report a broken credit card machine, the police can check to see if the claim is true.
Mark Cohen, Director of Licensing, Boston Police Dept.
What will happen is we we bring that driver in, and if he doesn't have a good reason, there's a chance that he will lose his license for a day or two.
Police hope cabbies will realize that in the long run taking credit cards is a good thing, encouraging more passengers and bringing bigger tips. But if you think you've been deceived, check out the link below for how to report it!
In the newsroom, I'm Hank Philippi Ryan.
To report something to Boston Police Hackney's Division: http://www.cityofboston.gov/police/taxi.asp
(Copyright (c) 2010 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
My cabdriver forced me to pump gas bec. he didn't take cards
In the middle of my cabride, my cabdriver mentioned he didn't take credit cards. Since I didn't have an ATM, the question became how to pay for my ride.
His answer, 'fill up his tank.'
Not only was I forced to pay for my driver's gas (as that was the only way he took credit cards)...he even made me pump!
His answer, 'fill up his tank.'
Not only was I forced to pay for my driver's gas (as that was the only way he took credit cards)...he even made me pump!
Always have cash to pay for a cab
My biggest nightmare was when I was delayed at LaGuardia and arrived at O'Hare around 1AM on a Thursday (so Friday at 1AM) and had a conference call at 8AM. After getting back to Lakeview around 1:30AM, the cabbie said his credit card machine broke and offered to drive me to an ATM. I lived literally next to a Jewel, so I went there, and took out the money (with the ATM fee).
My cab ride was 41 dollars, and he received 43. I said "if you would have let me pay by credit card, I would have gave you a nice 20% tip, but because you wanted cash, and made me walk to an ATM at 2AM, I deducted my ATM fee and some extra". Boy, was I pissed...if I wasn't so exhausted, I would have called 311 on him...I know he could have called it in. It was 2AM, I had been in a suit since 7AM the day before, and I couldn't wait to get home!
My advice? Always bring extra cash for cabs...it makes it a lot easier all the way around.
My cab ride was 41 dollars, and he received 43. I said "if you would have let me pay by credit card, I would have gave you a nice 20% tip, but because you wanted cash, and made me walk to an ATM at 2AM, I deducted my ATM fee and some extra". Boy, was I pissed...if I wasn't so exhausted, I would have called 311 on him...I know he could have called it in. It was 2AM, I had been in a suit since 7AM the day before, and I couldn't wait to get home!
My advice? Always bring extra cash for cabs...it makes it a lot easier all the way around.
Current process for Charging a Credit Card
First, let’s review the current process for those of us who try to pay for a ride around the city with plastic. After the jump, of course. You won’t regret it.
- 1. Try and determine if the cab has a VISA sticker on the outside.
- 2. Get in the cab and tell the driver first that you have to use a card and risk being told that they don’t accept cards. OR wait until payment time comes and risk being told that “it don’t work” and is magically broken today.
- 3. Threaten to simply not pay for the ride or to report them to the taxi cab authority (which I doubt would accomplish much).
- 4. After they begrudgingly agree to take your card, they take no less than 4-5 minutes to find a pen and start to fill out the little form. This often requires you to tell them how much you want to tip before they have even run your card.
- 5. NOW the fun begins. They then pull out the 1980’s style, absolutely archaic slider machine that creates a carbon copy of your card info by manually moving a heavy piece of metal and plastic over the top of it several times (and they usually do is lots of times just for effect).
- 6. Next is time for them to hand you the form and your card…and for them to drop the pen. Once they’ve found the pen again, you can sign the form. Sometimes, if you are lucky, they even ask for your phone number so they can call you if “they have any problems”.
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