February 16, 2008
Taxi Commission Claims Cabbie Behavior is Improving
After announcing an undercover program to crackdown on bad cabbie behavior a few weeks ago, the Taxi and Limousine Commission says it already sees improvement.
One of the biggest complains had been taxi drivers refusing to accept credit cards from driver. Even though driers with credit card payment systems are required to accept credit card payment, many are unhappy they have to pay a 5% handling fee per credit card transaction (that cost is not passed onto the rider).
According to the Post, the TLC says there was 222 complains about drivers refusing credit card payments in December, which dropped to 150 in January - and there were just 63 complaints in the first 13 days of February. TLC deputy commissioner of uniformed services Pansy Mullings said, "Rejections have gone way, way down." Additionally, reports of rude drivers has dropped 11% between October and January. Well, drivers hearing that some of their fares might be undercover TLC employees and NYPD officers probably helped prompt cooperation.
A bevy of cabbie credit card horror stories emerged in recent weeks: There's the woman who was punched in the face, a woman who was locked in a cab, and then the many horror stories from our readers.
Photograph of a taxi fare by flat_luxe on Flickr
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One of the things that amuses me (and often frustrates me) about living in New York is its continued reliance on cash. Cash is dead. When I lived in Southern California for four years, I took out maybe $20 a month in cash, mainly for the occasional "everyone at the office chips in for a pizza" kind of thing. *Everything* went on the debit card, which allowed me to easily track my spending nearly to the penny at all times. Even in Syracuse, where I grew up and where I returned to live for a time after California, the idea that you can't use a credit card basically anywhere is crazy.
New York's the only place left in the country that hasn't moved out of the stone age and still demands cash for all kinds of stuff. Legislation is forcing the city to change, and that's definitely a good thing. Cabs, stores and restaurants that don't or won't accept credit/debit cards don't deserve my business.
PROOFREAD your website.
Its all because most cash only places do not claim much of it as income - no receipt = no proof - and therefore do not pay taxes on all of it. Thats the only reason all these places work cash only as do the cabbies (especially the black gypsie cabs).
And have you not noticed the 2.5 million illegals in New York? Obviously they're paid under the table (ie cash) and unable to open bank accounts. To say 'cash is dead' is incredibly naive. The dollar may not be worth shit but it still can be used to pay the bills. With that debit card you are unable to withdraw money from your bank free of charge? Also, you can't write down what you spend in cash to keep track of what you spend? 1 - you really should think about these things before responding in haste. Money is money. One way thats easier for you certainly isn't easier for another. And cash? Its easy.
Man, I think I actually saw some Cabbie Harassment late last night. At the southwest corner of Union Square, a cab pulled over suddenly and the passengers scrambled out onto the sidewalk right in front of me. I couldn't understand the scene at first, but as I watched it became apparent that the driver had stolen a cell phone from the two passengers. They all stood outside the cab, wandering from the sidewalk out to the street and back as they bickered. The riders would demand the phone, and the driver would get in their face and start screaming about money. One of the guys kept calling for a cop; failing that, he tried hailing another taxi.
After all the stories I've heard, I get the feeling (and this is of course purely speculative) the dudes had tried to pay with a credit card, and when the driver refused to allow it they attempted to call the TLC or police, only to have the driver snatch their phone away. I tried jogging around the square to find a cop and help them out, but as usual there is never one around. When I asked someone coming from the subway station if there were any underground, they gave me an emphatic "No".