5 ms·

In Dublin I called a cab company to reserve a taxi the night before a flight, and explicitly asked for a cab with a working credit card machine, which they assu

In Dublin I called a cab company to reserve a taxi the night before a flight, and explicitly asked for a cab with a working credit card machine, which they assured me would happen. The next morning the cab arrives on time – great – I get in and we drive to the airport, at which point the driver reveals that their credit card machine is conveniently "broken". The driver insists I leave my luggage in the cab as collateral while I go inside the airport to find a cash machine. This ends up taking about 15 minutes, I have to pay $5 in ATM fees, I'm anxious the entire time he's going to leave with my luggage, etc. Yeah, I don't mind paying more.

res0nat0r 5y ago
In the usa at least, and in many states the cab companies are required to allow you to pay with a card. I've not dealt with this scam in a while but will tell them tough luck and they're not getting paid and proceed to get out. They usually change their mind quickly.
- squeaky-clean 5y ago
  The scam hits a bit differently when you have $500 of luggage in the trunk. I've also done the "No working credit card reader? Sucks for you then" and walked away. But never when there's luggage locked in their trunk.
  - dnautics 5y ago
    Yes I was hit by this scam as a college student in Chicago and that was the last time I took a cab ever.
alasdair_ 5y ago
>The driver insists I leave my luggage in the cab as collateral "no" usually works here. It's not on you to deal with the problem of a broken credit card machine.
- virtue3 5y ago
  And how are you planning to get your luggage if it's in the trunk?
  - tolbish 5y ago
    This is Dublin, not a developing country, so I would think the taxi driver would not want to go to jail.
  - alasdair_ 5y ago
    “Give me my luggage” works well in Dublin.
csomar 5y ago
Just refuse. He has the choice to accompany you to the ATM, or trust you. He can't hold you hostage. Remember, it's "his" problem not yours.

res0nat0r 5y ago

In the usa at least, and in many states the cab companies are required to allow you to pay with a card. I've not dealt with this scam in a while but will tell them tough luck and they're not getting paid and proceed to get out. They usually change their mind quickly.

squeaky-clean 5y ago
The scam hits a bit differently when you have $500 of luggage in the trunk. I've also done the "No working credit card reader? Sucks for you then" and walked away. But never when there's luggage locked in their trunk.
- dnautics 5y ago
  Yes I was hit by this scam as a college student in Chicago and that was the last time I took a cab ever.

alasdair_ 5y ago

>The driver insists I leave my luggage in the cab as collateral "no" usually works here. It's not on you to deal with the problem of a broken credit card machine.

virtue3 5y ago
And how are you planning to get your luggage if it's in the trunk?
- tolbish 5y ago
  This is Dublin, not a developing country, so I would think the taxi driver would not want to go to jail.
- alasdair_ 5y ago
  “Give me my luggage” works well in Dublin.

csomar 5y ago

Just refuse. He has the choice to accompany you to the ATM, or trust you. He can't hold you hostage. Remember, it's "his" problem not yours.