A young woman is suing Arlington Blue Top Cab, claiming she was sexually assaulted after a cabbie dropped her off in a dangerous neighborhood at 3:30 a.m. because she was $1.95 short on the fare.
According to the lawsuit, first reported by Courthouse News Service, the woman was taking a Blue Top taxi from Arlington to Alexandria. When the cab arrived at her house in Alexandria, the woman says she tried to pay with a credit card.
The cabbie ran the card twice and each time said the card was rejected, when in fact the payment went through, according to the lawsuit. When the woman only had $18 in cash for the $19.95, the cabbie is alleged to demanded that he drive her to an ATM.
The ATM, located in a high-crime section of Alexandria, was out of service, the lawsuit claims. After the woman got back in the cab and told the driver about the out of service ATM, he is alleged to have pulled over, taken the $18 she had in her possession, and — despite pleas for her safety — forced the young woman out of the cab.
“Immediately after being ejected by [the driver] from the Blue Top taxi cab, while attempting to walk to a safe location, [the plaintiff] was approached on the sidewalk by a man who indicated he had a gun,” the lawsuit says. “The man threatened to shoot [the plaintiff], then dragged her into a nearby parking garage, where he brutally sexually assaulted her.”
The lawsuit, filed in Alexandria Circuit Court, seeks $5 million in damages from Blue Top Cab and the driver for negligence, fraud, breach of contract, false imprisonment and the infliction of emotional distress.
A call to Blue Top Cab management has not been returned.
Cabbie uses woman's credit card for $775 bar tab
A Chicago cabbie chatted up a west suburban woman at a Wrigleyville bar's Halloween party -- then secretly used her credit card to settle a $775 tab, prosecutors allege.
Taxi Driver Albert Williams, 30, is charged with unlawful use of a credit card after he met the 21-year-old Bloomingdale woman at the Rockwood Place bar Friday night, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Sam Cervera said.
The woman hadn't given Williams permission to use her card.
A bartender identified Williams as the man who used the woman's card, according to a police report.
Judge James Brown ordered Williams, who has prior convictions for fraud and lives on the 4600 block of North Malden, held on bail of $90,000. Kim Janssen
Taxi Driver Albert Williams, 30, is charged with unlawful use of a credit card after he met the 21-year-old Bloomingdale woman at the Rockwood Place bar Friday night, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Sam Cervera said.
The woman hadn't given Williams permission to use her card.
A bartender identified Williams as the man who used the woman's card, according to a police report.
Judge James Brown ordered Williams, who has prior convictions for fraud and lives on the 4600 block of North Malden, held on bail of $90,000. Kim Janssen
I seriously thought he was about to attack me (for trying to pay by card)
Got in near Grand Central, wanted to go to Sunnyside in Queens.Driver started driving but then after 10-15 blocks told me that his credit card machine didn't work and asked me if I had cash: f not I would have to get out. I had no cash on me but Immediately called my wife to ask her if we have cash at home - turned out we didn't. So two blocks later I asked him to stop so that I could get out (this is on Lex on 53rd). He started yelling like crazy and cursing me out. Then he pulled over, got out of the car and started screaming, "give me my $5!". I got out and said that I am happy to pay with a credit card. And since he didn't tell me when I got in that his credit card machine didn't work, it wasn't my fault that Ihad no cash on me. He continued to scream and curse, and pretended he was calling the cops (which he wasn't). I just walked away and grabbed another cab. Beware of 1N11. I seriously thought he was about to attack me
Boston Taxi Drivers Claim Credit Card Machines Are Broken
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.
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.
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