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This Sunday, a 50-cent surcharge will be added to taxi fares, as part of the state's MTA bailout which was approved earlier this year. This surcharge is in addition to the existing surcharges, such as the rush-hour surcharge (Monday-Friday) of $1 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and the night surcharge between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Two taxi metering companies' computers (not the Taxi and Limousine Commission's) jumped the gun with the surcharge—apparently 4,000 taxi riders were overcharged by 50 cents on October 22, 25 and 26, because of a "computer glitch." The Daily News reports that riders can get refunds—call 311— if they can back up their claims with a credit card receipt or taxi receipt: "The TLC said it has made arrangements for the responsible companies to refund the overcharges." More details about the refund after the jump:
From the TLC:
Affected passengers may call 311, to report they were overcharged, or submit a claim for the refund at www.nyc.gov/tlc. GPS technology will allow any affected passenger to be correctly identified and refunded. To request a refund, affected passengers will need to fill out a form that will ask them for several pieces of information to assist in verifying their claim.
· If paid by Credit Card:
o Credit Card Statement
§ block out all but last four digits of card numbero OR Taxi Fare Receipt
o AND Name & Address (for refund payment)
· If paid by Cash
o Taxi Fare Receipt
· OR the following pieces of information:
o Trip Start Date/Time
o Trip End Date/Time
o Trip Start Location
o Trip End Location
o Amount of Trip Cost
o AND Name & Address (for refund payment)Affected passengers will be able to request the refund until December 31, 2009.
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Can they pass a law that states a cab driver actually needs to know how to get from one place to the other? Listening to them run their scams via cell get tiring after a while as well.
There already is a ban. They just ignore it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/nyregion/17taxi.html
f it
How about a $.50 surcharge for loading your fat, bloated carcasses into those '97 Accords that schlep you across the Queensboro Bridge every morning?
This comes just in time for my own holiday surcharge from their tips!
So you're going to punish a driver over something they have no control over? Classy!
Let's not forget that cabbies fought and continue to fight against the credit card machines in cabs, something that has absolutely improved life in the city, without question. I still frequently get cabbies pretending their card reader is broken, demanding I pay cash, and refusing to go to Brooklyn. And it's gotten so that a tip is now expected, not appreciated. I haven't been thanked for a tip in months.
Same experience. Though I've only had one cabbie in the last year refuse to go to Brooklyn from Manhattan, every single one of them have asked,"Cash or credit?" so I always have cash on hand. Tip usually turns out to be 25% ($24, give them $30), but it's rare they even say a courtesy thank you. Usually they're still jabbering on their cellphones then speed off as soon as I shut the door.
Um you are supposed to tip and it is expected.
I can understand your frustration over them being assholes about taking you to where you live, but you shouldn't punish all cab drivers as a result, just the ones who don't do what they are supposed to do for you.
Fuck this $.50 surcharge, why not a $1 toll on East River crossings?
I was hoping this surcharge would only apply to the guy named 50 Cent.
Taxi driver says "cash or credit/machine is broken" because he wants cash. I say "cash" and get in. When we arrive, I say "Oops, I was wrong. Don't have the cash. Have to use the card." And we both know that we're both lying, so everybody wins!
If I decide to try to get a cab from Soho to the 1st exit off the Williamsburg bridge on a Saturday night, this is how things go down:
I wait at least 5 minutes for a cab to pull up. Usually has "off duty" light on. They ask where I'm going, then say "No. I'm off duty". Then I wait again for a cab to pull up that doesn't have any lights on at all. They ask where I'm going, then pulls away. I walk many many blocks in heels, cursing. Finally, a cab with light on pulls up, asks where I'm going, then turns off light and says their off duty. Hence never going out in Manhattan on a Saturday night... bastard taxis.
That's why you have to lie to the cabbies. I always tell them I'm going some place in Manhattan, then once my butt is firmly planted in the seat and we're off, I tell them there's been a change of plans. It's a little underhanded, but fuck them.
The extra money they got because of a "glitch" where is that going now? Sure not everyone or even close to half will know they have been overcharged.
I've been paying 50 cents too much since 1987.