January 16, 2009

Passenger told to pay taxi driver with iPod at airport

Travel expert and problem-solver Christopher Elliott recounts the story of a passenger who had to surrender her iPod to a New York City taxi driver after his machine refused to accept her credit card for fare to the airport.

Apparently some Port Authority police officers told her that was her only choice and she complied.

Regardless of how the situation was bungled, it’s worth noting that the stated rules of the Taxi and Limousine Commission do not offer immediate remedy to a passenger with either a broken credit card reader or malfunctioning card. The lesson here may be never assume the credit card machine is going to work properly in a taxi cab; you should always have back-up cash.

See the relevant (or irrelevant, as the case may be) credit card rules from the TLC:

Can I use my credit/debit card for all fares? Yes, drivers must accept credit/debit cards for all fares; there are no minimums or fees to use your credit/debit card.

What happens if my credit/debit card does not work?
If the credit/debit card payment does not process, passengers can pay in cash or use another card.

If after swiping my credit/debit card, the driver informs me that the card transaction did not go through and requests cash, what should I do?
The Passenger Information Monitor (PIM) located in the backseat informs the passenger if the credit/debit card is approved.

If the screen indicates that the credit card has been approved, your card will be charged and the driver will be paid. In most cases the last four digits of your credit card number will be noted on the receipt.
If you are double charged, call your credit card company to request a chargeback. You may also call 311 and bring a consumer complaint against the driver. If you want to press charges, you must agree to participate in a TLC consumer hearing. Passengers should always ask for a receipt.

Is a driver allowed to refuse to let a passenger use his/her credit/debit card?
No, drivers are required to accept American Express, MasterCard, VISA and Discover (and some will accept the JCB Card) for all fares. The driver must accept credit/debit cards for any fare amount. If a driver claims the credit card system is broken and/or prevents a passenger from using their credit/debit card, please report the medallion number to the TLC by calling 311.

What if a driver says the system is not working?
The passenger should note the medallion number and call 311. Drivers are permitted to work with a broken system for up to 48 hours as long as they have reported the problem and are awaiting repair. Almost all (90%) system repairs must be completed within six hours.

January 16, 2009 10:57 AM in Arrivology, Techology, Transportology

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