New England - Experiences with Boston cabs and credit cards

Now that taxi drivers are required to accept credit cards in Boston, what have others experienced? I've found the credit card machine almost always works--almost--but the driver often whines and complains. Most recently, I was coming back from the airport, and as soon as I told the driver I wanted to use a credit card, he went off on me. "I don't get the money right away! You'll get the money back--just pay cash! I need to feed my family!" and on and on and on. My reaction was simply too bad, I paid with the credit card. My stuff was in the trunk, and as I got out of the cab, the driver started slowly driving off with my stuff still in the trunk--it seemed pretty clear he was doing this in retribution, and he did stop and open his trunk after I banged on it a couple of times. Yeesh. My other "favorite" part is the cabbies who have programmed default tip options of 20% or 25% on the touch screen. There's no way I'm tipping a cabbie 20% unless he shines my shoes during the ride!

Any other experiences?

I've had the occasional minor grumble, and the default tip thing is a bit of a joke, but nothing like your experience. I've found Boston to be better than most places for paying cabs with a CC (even before the change mentioned).

tb

If they added a default tip, I would call the Boston taxi hotline and report them. I take taxis enough that I can tell if I'm being ripped off-my ride rarely fluctuates more than $1 unless there's traffic. I tip well as a general rule unless the taxi driver nearly gets me killed or drives erratically.

Yeah they always grumble and some say it doesn't work (even though clearly the screen is flashing away on the machine in front of you). Same for me - tip starts at 20% and decreases the more they irritate me or protest.

NYC cabbies complained about having to accept credit cards, but with a fair bit of data now available, it looks like it has contributed to an increase in ridership. (I did a quick NYTimes search but could not come up with the article.)

As to the suggested tip, I'd be surprised if the driver had anything to do with the programming. I suspect it's just the way the program was written. (And, FWIW, I routinely tip 20% by choice, not because of how anything is programmed.)

It is not uncommon among cabdrivers to be living day-to-day, financially. And a very large number of drivers rent their cabs daily: that means they need to pay the cab owner a fixed amount, in cash, when they go out for their 12-hour shift. So, it's not at all surprising to me that many drivers (1)are not at all crazy about receiving deferred payment, and (2)don't give much thought to the long-term impact/benefit of accepting charge cards.

It is not uncommon among cabdrivers to be living day-to-day, financially. And a very large number of drivers rent their cabs daily: that means they need to pay the cab owner a fixed amount, in cash, when they go out for their 12-hour shift. So, it's not at all surprising to me that many drivers (1)are not at all crazy about receiving deferred payment, and (2)don't give much thought to the long-term impact/benefit of accepting charge cards.Very good points. Look, cab service in Boston sucks. But you still have to feel some compassion for these guys who work ridiculous hours for very little remuneration.

Very good points. Look, cab service in Boston sucks. But you still have to feel some compassion for these guys who work ridiculous hours for very little remuneration.

I agree-it's a terrible job. and putting up with Boston drivers-ugh!

Now that taxi drivers are required to accept credit cards in Boston, what have others experienced? I've found the credit card machine almost always works--almost--but the driver often whines and complains. Most recently, I was coming back from the airport, and as soon as I told the driver I wanted to use a credit card, he went off on me. "I don't get the money right away! You'll get the money back--just pay cash! I need to feed my family!" and on and on and on. My reaction was simply too bad, I paid with the credit card. My stuff was in the trunk, and as I got out of the cab, the driver started slowly driving off with my stuff still in the trunk--it seemed pretty clear he was doing this in retribution, and he did stop and open his trunk after I banged on it a couple of times. Yeesh. My other "favorite" part is the cabbies who have programmed default tip options of 20% or 25% on the touch screen. There's no way I'm tipping a cabbie 20% unless he shines my shoes during the ride!

Any other experiences?

I think I got the one and only cabbie that likes them as he said it meant some people would actually take a cab in certain situations. He mentioned a guy that needed to get to PVD quickly and was trying to figure out if he should call a friend or take a cab. When he heard that the cab would take credit cards, he decided to take the cab.

He did gripe a bit about the credit card merchant fee (he said it was 5%).

<begin rant on Boston cabs>

As others have stated, cabs in the Boston proper (not Cambridge) are required to accept credit cards, and they do work, no matter what the cab driver tells you! I would say on about 80% of my airport runs, the cab driver will say the credit card machine is broken or be very rude and nasty about me using a credit card. Just fight it out and insist on using the card (and leave a tip reflecting their attitude).

One time I was already home, and the cab driver was refusing my credit card. I told him I'm either paying with a credit card or just getting out and not paying. He still insisted the credit card machine was broken, and I should try it and see for myself. Note that this is a trick... they have to put the meter in time off mode, or press some sort of button to allow payment to occur. I responded that I know its not going to work.. because he didn't press the button for me to pay. He pretended he didn't know what I was talking about and we went back and forth for a minute or two until he finally pressed a button and walla!, like magic I was suddenly able to pay with a CC.

I have been using cash recently because I hate getting in these fights, but the whole situation pi$$es me off. I can understand them being mad if I whip out a CC for an $8 ride across town, but these are already overpriced $30+ quick airport runs.

The only thing I hate more then this, is when we cabbies try to rip me off by taking the Ted Williams. I'm usually careful to specify the route and watch what they are doing, but sometimes I'm tired and don't realize where they are taking me until its too late. My current strategy is to use cash if the cab driver is good, and by that I mean simply doesn't berate me or swindle me by taking the Ted Williams. If the cabbie tries to take me through the wrong tunnel and does anything else to let me know he doesn't value my fare, then I use a CC.

</end rant>

He pretended he didn't know what I was talking about and we went back and forth for a minute or two until he finally pressed a button and viola!, like magic I was suddenly able to pay with a CC.
For some reason this sentence reminded me of the time Yo-Yo Ma left his cello in a cab ... ;)

For some reason this sentence reminded me of the time Yo-Yo Ma left his cello in a cab ... ;)

Damn New Yorkers and your fancy instruments!

He pretended he didn't know what I was talking about and we went back and forth for a minute or two until he finally pressed a button and viola!, like magic I was suddenly able to pay with a CC.


:confused: Is that a medical term? The reason I ask is that another FT member used to use it the same way. His name was CharlesMD. Perhaps you know him? I believe he went to school in Cambridge.

alright... easy on my horrible spelling!

I'm relatively new to Cambridge so I definitely do not know CharlesMD. I must have seen it spelled that way somewhere though..

Another data point. Flew back to BOS last night, got into cab, hit traffic, so it came to over $50. I asked to pay by CC, the driver grumbled, said it wasn't working, but didn't stop me from trying. However, the machine became stuck in 'processing', so I had to abandon and pay by cash.

Was it just a one-off, or had the driver somehow 'unfixed' his credit card reader?

tb

Did the machine display the total and offer for you to pay with CC and choose a tip before you swiped? If so, AFAIK the driver set it up for you. If you just swiped your CC when nothing was on the screen though and then it said "processing", it was probably waiting on the driver.

I'm relatively new to Cambridge so I definitely do not know CharlesMD. I must have seen it spelled that way somewhere though..Well, your spelling is the oficial FlyerTalk spelling of the word. Which may explain why we don't have a lot of French participation on FT.

I've been spending a lot of time in NYC recently and have come to be spoiled by the credit card machines in the cabs. My last trip to Boston reminded me how inferior the taxis are there. :(

I've been spending a lot of time in NYC recently and have come to be spoiled by the credit card machines in the cabs. My last trip to Boston reminded me how inferior the taxis are there. :(

I know. :( I can't believe that for a city Boston's size, where many people don't have/don't use their cars, that taxis are such an issue.

I've been spending a lot of time in NYC recently and have come to be spoiled by the credit card machines in the cabs. My last trip to Boston reminded me how inferior the taxis are there. :(

I know. :( I can't believe that for a city Boston's size, where many people don't have/don't use their cars, that taxis are such an issue.Among my biggest gripes about Boston cabs compared to NYC cabs, is that when you take a cab in NYC from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan, there are zero surcharges imposed by the airport authority (The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey) and cabbies are obligated to pass on to passengers the discounted toll they pay at the bridges and tunnels for using their toll transponder (EZ Pass), whereas MassPort in Boston not only charges a surcharge for cabs leaving the airport, they also charge a higher toll for the tunnel. There is no question in my mind that Boston cabbies lose business as a result of these policies; I know I often take public transportation (as I did last night), because it's offensive to pay $30+ for a quickie cab ride from the airport to Cambridge or Boston.

Did the machine display the total and offer for you to pay with CC and choose a tip before you swiped? If so, AFAIK the driver set it up for you. If you just swiped your CC when nothing was on the screen though and then it said "processing", it was probably waiting on the driver.

It was the former, so I guess the machine genuinely wasn't working.

tb

+1 for all that is wrong with Boston cabs.

I have since gone with a shared van shuttle service to take me home to Cambridge. About $30 after a 20% tip without the nonsense of figuring out what payment method is accepted. No meter is running so I don't get screwed for an extra $8 - $10 if the Sumner is closed plus 20 minutes of detours. This is all after waiting in a taxi line for up to 30 minutes. The vans are well maintained so I don't have to play cab-type bingo.

Here is a recap of what goes through my head when I am waiting in the taxi line. "C'mon Prius.... No former police car deemed unsafe to transport drunks and murderers Crown Vic.... ohhh... a minivan with an uninsulated metal wheelchair ramp is okay.... no Crown Vic.... no Crown Vic...... DOH!!!! Crown Vic..... with the bonus dog barf plus pine tree air freshener smell"

I have since gone with a shared van shuttle service to take me home to Cambridge. About $30 after a 20% tip without the nonsense of figuring out what payment method is accepted. No meter is running so I don't get screwed for an extra $8 - $10 if the Sumner is closed plus 20 minutes of detours. This is all after waiting in a taxi line for up to 30 minutes. The vans are well maintained so I don't have to play cab-type bingo.

Which van service do you use? I live in Cambridge also and would love that option. I just never think of it because most of those vans either go to the hotels or out to the suburbs.

Which van service do you use? I live in Cambridge also and would love that option. I just never think of it because most of those vans either go to the hotels or out to the suburbs.

I found Ultimate Shuttle to be the best. They were bought out by Zebra Shuttle last year. Zebra was iffy but it looks like they folded and Ultimate became the new company.

The vans pickup at your door and drop you off at the terminal. The company uses standard Ford Econoline vans and they are in good condition. Dispatch is staffed 24 hours a day and they can get in touch with drivers should the unexpected come up. All the drivers have been very friendly. Only real gripe is they insist on picking up about 2 hours early if you book online. If you call in, you can make arrangements for a pickup closer to your flight time.

Pickup price for me is $24 and I live by Kendall Sq. I'm pretty sure it's the same price for Inman Sq. Out of habit I tip $5 for the ride. $29 door to terminal is a darn good deal IMHO. On the return leg the van is usually waiting for me by the shared van section by baggage claim.

http://www.ultimateshuttle.com/

This is slightly OT, but I thought you all might appreciate this story:

I got in a cab the other night and the driver immediately yells "NO CREDIT CARDS PLEASE!". It had been a long day and I really just wanted to get home and not deal with any fighting, so I replied that I was paying cash and let it slide. I specify to take the Longfellow bridge to Cambridge, as I always do to prevent them from taking the Mass Pike, and go back to catching up on e-mails on my phone. Next thing I know, I look up and notice I'm emerging from an unfamiliar tunnel (namely the Ted Williams). Now I am not a normally a confrontational person, but I had agreed to pay cash, requested what I thought was a pretty specific route, and really just wanted to get home, so I completely flipped out on this cabbie (cussing, screaming, etc). I think I must have scared him, as he immediately turned off the meter, and just said "pay what the normal fare is". He said that I only specifed the Longfellow bridge, and he preferred to take the Ted Williams there because the Sumner is "too shaky" :mad:. Maybe if he had fixed his check engine light it might be a smoother ride.

Anyways, based on this experience I have decided I am done taking cabs from the airport. It seems that if I want to take cabs I have to give them turn by turn directions, even going the most obvious routes. I had already been taking the silver line more often, but I think im going to make the permanent switch now. Its a shame because my company reimburses me and it is just money that cab drivers are losing by trying to extract a few extra dollars from their customers. Taking the silver line takes an extra 30 minutes to get home, but I have found it is worth it as taking cabs has just become too much of a hassle, and even a stressful experience.

doctor15, I started taking the Ultimate Shuttle and it's a much less stressful experience (see WChou's post above). When I get in really late, I've been splurging on Planettran for my rides back to Cambridge. I had quite a few incidents that you describe, including one where the cab driver was chatting on the phone so didn't here my specific directions and we got in an argument. I am so done with Boston taxis from Logan-I only take them as a last resort. Too bad a bunch of us can't get together and write a letter to the Boston Taxi Commission, and maybe get someone's ear on the City Council or Chamber of Commerce. We live here and think it's bad-can you imagine being a tourist or business traveler?

Reasons why I love my local cab company. Sure I have to call them for pickup, but it's a flat rate and cheaper than paying for one of the cabs from the line.

Reasons why I love my local cab company. Sure I have to call them for pickup, but it's a flat rate and cheaper than paying for one of the cabs from the line.Details please. Cab company? To where? How much?

Details please. Cab company? To where? How much?

Watertown Taxi. Flat rate between BOS and Watertown for 29.50 plus tolls. They'll also handle West Cambridge, Newton, Waltham, and sections of Brighton and Allston. http://www.watertowntaxi.com/coupons.html

A lot of other local taxi companies have similar deals and can pick up from BOS if called.

Looks like WHDH 7News is doing an investigation on this issue tonight at 11PM. I'll post the link when available.

Oh, to non-Boston folks, Hank Phillippi Ryan is not a man.

EDIT: Here is the link to the story:
http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/hank/BO135125/

Looks like WHDH 7News is doing an investigation on this issue tonight at 11PM. I'll post the link when available.

Oh, to non-Boston folks, Hank Phillippi Ryan is not a man.

Awesome-I'm out of town as usual so would appreciate the link! :)

Hank Phillippi Ryan is not a man.


Are you sure?

Are you sure?

/Self forehead slap
DOH! I walked into that one :)

Here's the Hank Phillippi Ryan story from Channel 7 News:

http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/hank/BO135125/

The comments are the bottom of the link are interesting... I haven't done my research so I don't know the veracity of their statements, but it certainly does provide some insight to the "other side" of the coin. (Not saying I agree or disagree with anybody - just noting that there are differing viewpoints on the topic.)

Looks like WHDH 7News is doing an investigation on this issue tonight at 11PM. I'll post the link when available.

Oh, to non-Boston folks, Hank Phillippi Ryan is not a man.

EDIT: Here is the link to the story:
http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/hank/BO135125/

Thank you for posting the link. I watched the clip but it left me a bit confused. Several times the reporter seemed to suggest that you swipe your credit card at the beginning of the trip. Is that right?

Thank you for posting the link. I watched the clip but it left me a bit confused. Several times the reporter seemed to suggest that you swipe your credit card at the beginning of the trip. Is that right?

In about a dozen cab rides since they started accepting credit cards, I've never swiped before the trip.

Revisiting this thread almost a year later...

On the plus side, I must say it's been a while since I've had a Boston taxi driver either complain about accepting a credit card or trying to tell me the machine doesn't work. And I have yet to find a machine that didn't work.

On the down side, I'm now starting to see big signs in cabs saying "Driver pays 6% on all credit cards" or somesuch. While I do feel bad for the drivers, it's not right to burden the customer with an issue that you (meaning the driver) don't like. Similarly, when I go to a restaurant, I don't want to hear the waiter complain about their tips. If you seriously hate it that much, get another job or organize some action to fight it!

I had only one in the past year who said his machine didn't work. I argued for a while, asking what would he do if I didn't have cash (I didn't, but my friend, who loves to see a good argument and said nothing, did). He just persisted I need to get it. I tried the machine anyway.

It didn't work, but the argument was sure fun! :D

whenever the driver says the machine is broken...i take out my cell phone and say "i have your medallion number and going to call the hackney division...low and behold the machine is now working and the tip i give is then 5%

whenever the driver says the machine is broken...i take out my cell phone and say "i have your medallion number and going to call the hackney division...low and behold the machine is now working and the tip i give is then 5%
Right. They can do a manual, just like the stores can.

I will note that very rarely now do I get any flack at all about using CC's in Boston cabs. Only twice since my post above (and I use cabs quite often) have I received even so much as an 'ugh' from the driver. One guy b!tched me out, but I'm not afraid to give it back. ;)

I actually just started travelling recently and so far things have been OK. I call a Cambridge Cab Company to pick me up on the way to the airport and haven't had any issues with the credit card machine. I did have one Cambridge Cabbie try to charge me 50 cents for two bags.

I didn't have time to argue, so I paid the $1 but left no tip. The Hackey division in Cambridge says 50 center per bag handled by driver. My driver didn't bother to get out of the cab and I put my bags in and trunk and took them out. He didn't seem to understand why I was bothered by this.

I have been ok with cabs coming from the airport, but my last cab did give me grief for paying with a credit card and leaving the tip on the card. I honestly didn't have the cash because I was in a rush and didn't have time to make it to the ATM.

The worst experience I had was last year and my first trying to pay with a credit card in a cab. The credit card machine showed a $0 fare and the driver told me to type in the fare plus tip. What happened? I was charged the $14 fare plus a $17 tip. Sure enough this showed up on my credit card statement as a $31 charge. I didn't have a receipt but I filed the online form for Boston Cabs on the City of Boston website and sure enough, the police found the cabbie ill informed me and I got a $17 refund in the form of a money order.

If nothing, the Boston Hackney Division is quite good at responding to requests.

Boston cabs have the highest fares in the country. I remember a few years ago, back when gas was > $4.00/gallon, the city authorized cabs to increase their fares. Now, during the last two to three years of non-$4 gas, the fares never went back down. It is ridiculous that it cost me ~$25 to go 6 miles to get downtown.

It also bothers me that the default tip is 15-20%. As an FYI for all, you DO NOT have to push one of those buttons. When the screen comes up to ask how much of a tip you want to give, you can manually type in the exact amount. In this city, 10% for the typical driver who is yelling on his phone and complaining about using a credit card is more than generous.

I actually just started travelling recently and so far things have been OK. I call a Cambridge Cab Company to pick me up on the way to the airport and haven't had any issues with the credit card machine.

What cab company do you call in Cambridge which has credit card machines? Most may "swipe" your card but then just write down the # on a piece of paper and manually process it later, which I do not think its safe.

Generally I pay cash on my way to the airport from Cambridge, and pay credit card in the Boston cabs on the way home.

Boston cabs have the highest fares in the country. I remember a few years ago, back when gas was > $4.00/gallon, the city authorized cabs to increase their fares. Now, during the last two to three years of non-$4 gas, the fares never went back down. It is ridiculous that it cost me ~$25 to go 6 miles to get downtown.

It also bothers me that the default tip is 15-20%. As an FYI for all, you DO NOT have to push one of those buttons. When the screen comes up to ask how much of a tip you want to give, you can manually type in the exact amount. In this city, 10% for the typical driver who is yelling on his phone and complaining about using a credit card is more than generous.
For once, NY really is the model. Not only did the Taxi Commission crack down and start pulling cabs with non-functioning CC readers out of service, but, they did a study and found that people who pay with a CC actually tip more and better.

The fleet owner / cabbie pays an interchange fee for each "swipe" so that lowers his net, but the better tips apparently more than make up for it.

It's been a long-time since I have had a NY cab with a malfunctioning CC reader and longer since a cabbie has tried to discourage its use.

Boston is a cut below, but we do expect our people nationwide to tip approximately 20% and that seems to be what our clients are experiencing too.

What cab company do you call in Cambridge which has credit card machines? Most may "swipe" your card but then just write down the # on a piece of paper and manually process it later, which I do not think its safe.

Generally I pay cash on my way to the airport from Cambridge, and pay credit card in the Boston cabs on the way home.

I call 617-547-3000, which I think used to be the dispatch number for Yellow Cab Cambridge, but now is Ambassador Brattle. I generally only call a cab to catch my early morning flights before the T is open, so it never takes more than 10-15 min for a cab to arrive. I think for the most part they swipe my card, but I've definitely also run into "my machine's not working...let me fill out a slip manually."

I use Veterans Taxi (Waltham). Flat rate to/from the airport, always takes credit cards without an issue - and for the return, if you call in advance, they are in the limo lot to take you home - they know where they are going so you don't have to do turn by turn directions to a cabbie who is already on his phone.

Boston cabs really are the worst in the country. The dispatchers are surly, the prices are the highest in the country, you have to give directions the whole way to avoid getting ripped off, and the attitudes are brutal. That being said, it's a tough profession.

Boston cabs really are the worst in the country. The dispatchers are surly, the prices are the highest in the country, you have to give directions the whole way to avoid getting ripped off, and the attitudes are brutal. That being said, it's a tough profession.

driving in the Boston area is no picnic, but it does not excuse some of the behavior that I've witnessed from cabbies. I came home on a redeye with my fiancee, gave directions to the taxi driver to take the Sumner and he took the Ted, which was bumper to bumper with people trying to get onto 93. Instead of a 15 minute cab ride, it turned into a 45 minute cab ride. That was my last taxi ride from Logan. I take limos now.

I got in a cab from downtown to Logan Airport a few weeks ago. I asked if $20 cash was enough, he said $25. Ok fine. He took me to the airport and then I took out my card to pay. He said, "Cash! Cash only!" I said, "Well, I told you I only had $20 cash when I got in the cab. I can pay $25 on my card or give you $20 cash." It was a quick decision for him, $20 cash. They must be hit with hard CC fees and/or have to pay his boss a cut if he is paid by CC. I think if they don't use a meter and accept cash, they don't have to report the passenger to their boss.

Odd.. IIRC they are charged 6% for credit cards. My guess is he is trying to avoid reporting the fare to his boss/lease owner.