Sounds like a 20 year old telling very damaging lies to Mommy about what happened to her expensive toy while demanding a new one. If she had a card the Port Authority Police would have just walked her over to the cash machine; there are tons of them at the airport. Entitled kids that age think nothing of telling lies that hurt and defame others.

You should have gotten the medallion number and reported them to the TLC.

She must have forgotten her 'reminder' undergarments.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316580,00.html

I ran into a new one a few days ago. Returning home from uptown, the meter ran about $12. I couldn't find the device that the card is swiped in because it was so dark, I tried to turn on the overhead light but it didn't work. I complained to the driver and he replied none of the interior lights worked. I had the exact change so I gave $12.75 instead of the $14 he would have normally gotten. Now I'm sorry I didn't stiff him altogether. I also added a small

flashlight to my house keys.

I used a cab the other day with a credit card machine (don't they all have credit card machines now?) The cab driver didn't tell me it was broken—when I tried to use it it didn't work. I had very little cash on me and paid him with what I had, much less than the fare and no tip. Not my fault and I do not feel the least bit of guilt—the cab owners are responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle, this includes the credit card machine.

that's funny cause it's true, some of those guys are borderline rapists. I never knew that till my female friends told me some of their experience with cabbies.

anyway this really should be a non-story but I guess if you're white, you're right and it's all over the interwebs.

That's because a lot of these guys are from countries where it's OK to harass, fondle and abuse women. Not in my country, dude.

Like any self respecting hack would take an iPod over 20 y.o. poon.....

I call shens.

Maybe this was the excuse she used because she lost her iPod?

1. I believe it is illegal for a cab to have a broken credit card machine. This is not your problem, by simply driving around with a non-functioning machine, the cabbie is breaking the law.

2. It is also against Visa and Mastercard policy for vendors to require minimums on credit card transactions.

If a cabbie had a broken credit card machine, he'd go broke. I'm inclined to believe the cabbie - one way or another, the credit card transaction didn't go through and he wanted payment for the trip. Losing $50 is not to be sneezed at. Getting the cops involved is a good idea.

Taking an iPod as payment is not.

It occurred to me: If I was forced to "pay" with a Brand New IPOD with a receipt of $140, I'd tell the Cop he needs to provide change...

Why lose fares waiting around for a cop to render a Solomonaic decision when you can just take goods in trade? And the girl apparently didn't protest too loudly since she didn't pick up her other ubiquitous accessory and call the cops herself. What a bunch of malarkey, the card machine worked, the bitch lied about her balance and the cabbie got a used iPod which is probably worth a little more than $50. She's lucky she didn't lose her virginity on the trip because she obviously misplaced her brains.

any description of the driver?

Yes, he didn't look like a real American.

I believe someone described him as middle eastern or slovak.

You could always dial 777-777-7777 or 777-777-7777 or try 777-777-7777 (drivers welcome) and get to the airport in one of their clean chauffeur driven limousines.

Wait, did the daughter use this bogus story to hide that she used the ipod to buy coke at Marquee? I'm confused by that last sentence.

And sometimes there are situations where you must use a credit card without backup cash.

A couple of months ago I went out on a weekday, before I did so I checked MTA's site to verify that there were no changes with the F line service. Just before midnight, I went into the Broadway/Lafayette station where I waited for around 50 minutes... turns out there was some problem with the line and the F was not running downtown, I found this out by asking a cleaning person! While I was standing there for almost an hour, NO ONE bothered to announce through the PA about it. Around 1AM I had to go outside and take a cab, I had no backup money. Guess from now on I will ask the driver if the machine works before boarding!

will you also go to the grocery store and ask the store manager if the credit card machine is working before you shop? It's not your problem if you get in a cab with a "broken" card machine and you don't have cash, it's the driver's for not informing you before you get in. A lot of these drivers have a gripe with this technology, any perhaps rightly so, but if they want to refuse you a ride due to lack of cash, let them tell you. Otherwise, sorry.

If it is a bodega or vegetable stand I always ask if they accept credit cards. All too often you will bring your stuff to the counter and the clerk will say, "there is a $15 minimum on credit card." Why anyone would pay for a cab with a credit card is beyond me. Go to the ATM take out $60 and go to town. Unless of course you are cash poor and depend on credit cards to survive. If that is the case, take the LIRR to Jamaica then the Air Train to JFK- much cheaper than a filthy cab poorly driven by some filthy lowlife