3 ms·

this just happened to me in southern california. i spent at least 10 minutes with the driver at the end of a ride trying to pay him because i had no cash, and

this just happened to me in southern california. i spent at least 10 minutes with the driver at the end of a ride trying to pay him because i had no cash, and his credit card terminal had no reception because we were up in the hills (he tried several times, fiddled with settings, etc). he then called dispatch to ask some questions, and finally just wrote down my info and let me go without paying. and now i have no idea if he's going to charge me or not. you won't go "out of your mind" if this happens because when it's happening it seems totally normal and you will take it completely in stride unless you are late for a flight or are just a complete asshole. i was going back to a wedding and was kind of drunk and didn't really care. it's only when you analyze this on a macro level as a business practice that it seems insane.

k-mcgrady 12y ago
Why didn't he just drive you to the nearest ATM so you could get out cash? Surely there would be one within a 1 or 2 mins driving distance. I have a different perspective on this as I'm pretty certain cab drivers here don't accept card. Everybody pays in cash. It's easier and faster and if you don't have any on you you ask the drive to stop at an ATM on the way to your destination.
- icebraining 12y ago
  Why didn't he just drive you to the nearest ATM so you could get out cash? Surely there would be one within a 1 or 2 mins driving distance. Really? Up in the hills in a place with no cellphone connection? I don't know California, but here you could be driving for hours without finding an ATM if you're far enough in the mountains.
  - k-mcgrady 12y ago
    No idea exactly what is meant by up in the hills as I'm not from CA either. If you're taking a cab somewhere in the mountains though maybe you should be prepared for situation and have some cash on you. TO be honest the driver also should have made the passenger aware that up in the hills his credit card machine likely won't work so if they need to stop at an ATM they can.
walshemj 12y ago
why didn't you make sure you had enough cash before getting in the cab.

k-mcgrady 12y ago

Why didn't he just drive you to the nearest ATM so you could get out cash? Surely there would be one within a 1 or 2 mins driving distance. I have a different perspective on this as I'm pretty certain cab drivers here don't accept card. Everybody pays in cash. It's easier and faster and if you don't have any on you you ask the drive to stop at an ATM on the way to your destination.

icebraining 12y ago
Why didn't he just drive you to the nearest ATM so you could get out cash? Surely there would be one within a 1 or 2 mins driving distance. Really? Up in the hills in a place with no cellphone connection? I don't know California, but here you could be driving for hours without finding an ATM if you're far enough in the mountains.
- k-mcgrady 12y ago
  No idea exactly what is meant by up in the hills as I'm not from CA either. If you're taking a cab somewhere in the mountains though maybe you should be prepared for situation and have some cash on you. TO be honest the driver also should have made the passenger aware that up in the hills his credit card machine likely won't work so if they need to stop at an ATM they can.

walshemj 12y ago

why didn't you make sure you had enough cash before getting in the cab.