In early 2009, the city mandated that all Boston taxi companies operating within the city to be equipped for credit card processing. Many taxi drivers have been reluctant to accept credit cards and claim the credit card equipment is currently out of service and not working. Travelers can simply swipe their credit card from within the rear compartment of the taxi without providing the card to the taxi driver. The equipment displays the taxi fare, tolls, additional fees and allows the traveler to enter the tip amount for the taxi driver.
The Hackney Carriage Unit of the Boston Police Department which regulates taxis in Boston has received numerous taxi complaints about Boston taxi drivers not accepting credit cards as payment. To file an official taxi complaint, contact the Hackney Carriage Unit of the Boston Police Department directly at 617-343-4475 or access the taxi complaint form online.
Boston Taxi Service Complaint Form
www.cityofboston.gov/police/taxi.asp
Most taxi drivers are independent contractors and lease their taxis from Boston taxi companies. Boston taxi drivers are reluctant in accepting credit cards for various reasons.
Why Boston Taxi Drivers Refuse Payments by Credit Card
* Boston taxi companies charge drivers excessive processing fees up to 6% of the total credit card transaction.
* Drivers typically wait atleast 2 business days for cash reimbursements for credit card transactions. Additional bank fees may apply for access to the account.
* Many Boston taxi drivers rent their taxis daily and are required to pay for the taxi rental in cash upon completion of their shift.
Get a free ride! just ask to pay by card.
Let drivers complain. The law is they have to take credit cards or eat it. I know several folks who offer a credit card after their ride, the driver gets angry and kicks them out. Free ride!
Weird taxi credit card charges/overcharges
Unfortunately we just learned we have been victimized by taxi driver and/or company in Melbourne.
We took a cab ride that cost approx. $10 to the airport from the Comfort Inn and Suites Essendon and used our credit card to pay. The cabbie indicated that his EFTPOS machine was not working and used an old style swipe carbon copy machine to take our information. We received our statement this week and were charged $90.09 for this ride! Also, we have received another charge for a limo service in Australia for a date 2 weeks after we returned to Canada. We have been told that this is not the first time this has happened to cab customers in Melbourne. There has been a number of instances where a 'limo' charge has been applied to a credit card after taking a taxi in Melbourne.
The first charge, for the $90.09 came up on our statement as Black/Yellow Taxis Nth Melbourne AU. Does anyone know which company this is? I have contacted the Yellow Cabs and they say that their charges only come up as Black Cab.
The second charge, for the ride we never took. Comes up as Cab Account Aust Brunswick AU. When we called our credit card company they indicated that this was a limousine company.
We are disputing the charges with our credit card company and have filed a complaint with the Victoria Taxi Directorate.
First of all I want to warn all travelers to Melbourne about this scam (well all people that use taxis for that matter). If you have used your credit card to pay for a cab in Melbourne you should definitely keep an eye on your statements for weird charges or overcharges.
Also, I would like to know if anyone has had a similar situation or if anyone has any more information on this scam. Or if anyone knows which cab company's charges are listed as Black/Yellow Taxis Nth Melbourne.
Thank you and beware!!!
We took a cab ride that cost approx. $10 to the airport from the Comfort Inn and Suites Essendon and used our credit card to pay. The cabbie indicated that his EFTPOS machine was not working and used an old style swipe carbon copy machine to take our information. We received our statement this week and were charged $90.09 for this ride! Also, we have received another charge for a limo service in Australia for a date 2 weeks after we returned to Canada. We have been told that this is not the first time this has happened to cab customers in Melbourne. There has been a number of instances where a 'limo' charge has been applied to a credit card after taking a taxi in Melbourne.
The first charge, for the $90.09 came up on our statement as Black/Yellow Taxis Nth Melbourne AU. Does anyone know which company this is? I have contacted the Yellow Cabs and they say that their charges only come up as Black Cab.
The second charge, for the ride we never took. Comes up as Cab Account Aust Brunswick AU. When we called our credit card company they indicated that this was a limousine company.
We are disputing the charges with our credit card company and have filed a complaint with the Victoria Taxi Directorate.
First of all I want to warn all travelers to Melbourne about this scam (well all people that use taxis for that matter). If you have used your credit card to pay for a cab in Melbourne you should definitely keep an eye on your statements for weird charges or overcharges.
Also, I would like to know if anyone has had a similar situation or if anyone has any more information on this scam. Or if anyone knows which cab company's charges are listed as Black/Yellow Taxis Nth Melbourne.
Thank you and beware!!!
Why is the taxi credit card machine always broken?
What's up with Red Top cab drivers who always have credit card machines that are not working or they do not have the credit card slips? If this was a one time thing, I could understand but it's not. I am a regular cab passenger or I hire cabs to take our company's business associates to the airport or other destination. I am not sure why a good majority of cab driver's only want to deal in cash; maybe because they loose money paying fees, or they don't want traceable transactions....but I have a feeling there must be some regulations/guidelines governing these types of transactions. In the future, I will make note of every cab I take or get for another person, where the driver gives the same line about broken machines or no slips.
1 in 7 credit card rides successfully refused in NYC (more attempted)
47—"slightly" accepted credit cards.
9 drivers refused to accept credit cards at all.
1 driver accepted the credit card, and then tried to levy his own $0.35 transaction fee.
The nine drivers who refused offered a litany of poor excuses, including:
"There is a minimum cab fare for credit card use." (There isn't, according to the Taxi and Limousine Commission.)
There is a 35-cent transaction fee for credit cards." (Not so.)
"It's too short a ride." (No such thing.)
"It better be a good credit card." (Passengers can always pay with cash if the card is declined.)
The device doesn't have to be activated until the new year. (If it is installed, passengers can use it.)
If a cabbie gives you a hard time, you are in good company—Matthew Daus, New York's Taxi Commissioner, has been twice refused.
9 drivers refused to accept credit cards at all.
1 driver accepted the credit card, and then tried to levy his own $0.35 transaction fee.
The nine drivers who refused offered a litany of poor excuses, including:
"There is a minimum cab fare for credit card use." (There isn't, according to the Taxi and Limousine Commission.)
There is a 35-cent transaction fee for credit cards." (Not so.)
"It's too short a ride." (No such thing.)
"It better be a good credit card." (Passengers can always pay with cash if the card is declined.)
The device doesn't have to be activated until the new year. (If it is installed, passengers can use it.)
If a cabbie gives you a hard time, you are in good company—Matthew Daus, New York's Taxi Commissioner, has been twice refused.
Credit Card failed so forced to pay with Ipod
A 20-year old California college student touring New York City with a bum credit card was forced to pay her cab fare with an iPod nano, according to MSNBC.
According to reports, Natalie Lenhart took a cab from Manhattan to JFK airport, but when she tried to pay the $59 fare her credit card was rejected. So instead of running, like 95 percent of Americans would do, Lenhart faced officers at the airport who made her hand over her iPod nano, packed full of oldies such as James Taylor, valued at $140.
What kind of communist cop makes you pay a bill with personal property that is nearly twice as much as the debt? It sounds like some sort of gypsy cab scam that an American tourist would encounter in Eastern Europe.
When James Taylor read the story in the New York Post he was pretty peeved. So upset, in fact, that he decided to send Lehart a new iPod filled with his music.
A New Yorker “Would never have put up with it,” Taylor told the Post.
A true New Yorker would have had a few choice words for the driver and the cops I would imagine.
The cab driver has offered to return the iPod if the fare is paid.
According to reports, Natalie Lenhart took a cab from Manhattan to JFK airport, but when she tried to pay the $59 fare her credit card was rejected. So instead of running, like 95 percent of Americans would do, Lenhart faced officers at the airport who made her hand over her iPod nano, packed full of oldies such as James Taylor, valued at $140.
What kind of communist cop makes you pay a bill with personal property that is nearly twice as much as the debt? It sounds like some sort of gypsy cab scam that an American tourist would encounter in Eastern Europe.
When James Taylor read the story in the New York Post he was pretty peeved. So upset, in fact, that he decided to send Lehart a new iPod filled with his music.
A New Yorker “Would never have put up with it,” Taylor told the Post.
A true New Yorker would have had a few choice words for the driver and the cops I would imagine.
The cab driver has offered to return the iPod if the fare is paid.
Forced to use ATM vs. Credit Card Machine
The last time i wanted to pay with credit card, the guy made me go to an ATM (LGA to water street ride) and pay him in cash... his machine was broken. As a matter of fact, I have yet to see a cab with cc machine that isn't broken...
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