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In Chicago at least it's common for a cab driver to claim that the credit card machine is not working in an attempt to force people to pay cash. I couldn't tel

In Chicago at least it's common for a cab driver to claim that the credit card machine is not working in an attempt to force people to pay cash. I couldn't tell you how many arguments I've gotten into with drivers over this. Fortunately, the city requires the vast majority of cabs to be able to take credit to be allowed to pick up a fare. It's amazing how many times reminding the driver about this has made the machine start working...

deet 15y ago
Square is definitely in use in some cabs in Chicago already. In the past month, I have paid for two trips using Square. Both taxis seemed to have working credit card terminals, but the drivers instructed me to not use them. So evidently Square is preferable in at least some way. As a customer I certainly appreciate being able to receive an electronic receipt.
- 198d 15y ago
  Now, do you think that is the driver personally using square to accept card payments as it's more economical for him to manage that stuff himself rather than relying on the cab company?
  - deet 15y ago
    That seems likely, but I don't have evidence either way. In one case the transaction came through as what I presume was the driver's name, the other as "SQ *TAXI OF CHICAGO". Still, the that fact that out of three recent cab rides, the two trips involving credit cards were both paid for using Square is an impressive sign. As noted by others in this thread, drivers here regularly try to use the "machine is broken" tactic, despite the law. If Square's existence makes taking credit cards sufficiently easier for drivers then cab riders will directly benefit.
  - malay 15y ago
    Last July I took a taxi in Chicago and the driver was using a Square card reader. I take a few taxis every week in various cities, always paying by credit card (so it can be expensed), and it was the first and only time I've seen a taxi driver using Square. I asked him about it and he said it was personal and he had not seen any other drivers using one. It's non-sensical and as an earlier poster noted, also a bit of a political issue, since the existing terminals force the driver to pay 6% versus 2.75%, with no ad revenue sharing. I talk to the drivers here in Boston quite often, and they have no choice on the terminals they have in the cars. One would think that if drivers are forced to accept credit cards, they should at least have the option of choosing a vendor.
learc83 15y ago
Our local McDonalds do this after about 10:00pm. They turn away so many customers that I'm convinced the late shift employees just don't want to do any work.
daenz 15y ago
> Fortunately, the city requires the vast majority of cabs to be able to take credit to be allowed to pick up a fare. Could you elaborate on this? I'm in Chicago and have had cab drivers claim the same thing (about the CC machine being broken)
- kgermino 15y ago
  Basically, one of the requirements to operate a Chicago cab* on any given day is to be able to accept credit cards. Because of this, if the driver flat out refuses to take your credit card they're not eligible for the fare. If you're really having problems with a driver I suggest calling 311 (or threatening to at least). I've never had to do this, but when I called to formally complain about a taxi the first question they asked is "are you in the cab?" so they must have some sort of action plan for that. *I believe this only applies to fleet cabs (not independents), but that's virtually all of them anyway. Note: 2am so I'm not going to look up the specifics right now, but if you want to know more, feel free to email me (in my profile).

deet 15y ago

Square is definitely in use in some cabs in Chicago already. In the past month, I have paid for two trips using Square. Both taxis seemed to have working credit card terminals, but the drivers instructed me to not use them. So evidently Square is preferable in at least some way. As a customer I certainly appreciate being able to receive an electronic receipt.

198d 15y ago
Now, do you think that is the driver personally using square to accept card payments as it's more economical for him to manage that stuff himself rather than relying on the cab company?
- deet 15y ago
  That seems likely, but I don't have evidence either way. In one case the transaction came through as what I presume was the driver's name, the other as "SQ *TAXI OF CHICAGO". Still, the that fact that out of three recent cab rides, the two trips involving credit cards were both paid for using Square is an impressive sign. As noted by others in this thread, drivers here regularly try to use the "machine is broken" tactic, despite the law. If Square's existence makes taking credit cards sufficiently easier for drivers then cab riders will directly benefit.
- malay 15y ago
  Last July I took a taxi in Chicago and the driver was using a Square card reader. I take a few taxis every week in various cities, always paying by credit card (so it can be expensed), and it was the first and only time I've seen a taxi driver using Square. I asked him about it and he said it was personal and he had not seen any other drivers using one. It's non-sensical and as an earlier poster noted, also a bit of a political issue, since the existing terminals force the driver to pay 6% versus 2.75%, with no ad revenue sharing. I talk to the drivers here in Boston quite often, and they have no choice on the terminals they have in the cars. One would think that if drivers are forced to accept credit cards, they should at least have the option of choosing a vendor.

learc83 15y ago

Our local McDonalds do this after about 10:00pm. They turn away so many customers that I'm convinced the late shift employees just don't want to do any work.

daenz 15y ago

> Fortunately, the city requires the vast majority of cabs to be able to take credit to be allowed to pick up a fare. Could you elaborate on this? I'm in Chicago and have had cab drivers claim the same thing (about the CC machine being broken)

kgermino 15y ago
Basically, one of the requirements to operate a Chicago cab* on any given day is to be able to accept credit cards. Because of this, if the driver flat out refuses to take your credit card they're not eligible for the fare. If you're really having problems with a driver I suggest calling 311 (or threatening to at least). I've never had to do this, but when I called to formally complain about a taxi the first question they asked is "are you in the cab?" so they must have some sort of action plan for that. *I believe this only applies to fleet cabs (not independents), but that's virtually all of them anyway. Note: 2am so I'm not going to look up the specifics right now, but if you want to know more, feel free to email me (in my profile).