some simple points to remember
There are always rules and regulations and do's and don't s of every type of business. I drive a taxi and still have trouble with passengers who think they can get away with a lot of stuff they know they can't. So right here and now I will list just what you can expect (or not, for that matter) if you where to get into MY cab.
1) give the call taker the correct location, an actual physical address. The cabdriver can not find you if they don't have an address.
Make sure you have given a real phone number , not something that is disconnected or turned off. Once the driver is in your general area and have trouble finding you or nobody is coming out , then they can call and connect with you. I drive nights a lot and for safety, I REFUSE to get out of my cab (better known as my life line, safety net. So YOU are to be looking for the taxi, you are the one who called , I am just there to get you from point A to point B!
2)when the cab is actually in front of your house , please come on out. Time is money, and in most cases the meter will start ticking once you have convey to the driver to wait.
3)POINT OF HIRE- when is this. Everyone has their own thoughts of when a cab is HIRED! I have it at the point of when the passenger yells to me to wait from the front door....meter may or may not start. Now if you come out to the car and put anything of personal of yours (child, bags, laundry, etc) and you head back into the house for what ever reason, you have HIRED the cab.
Being HIRED by you means I can't leave for any other drive which may be going out near by. I am there to transport you, take your time getting into the car, meter is running and time is paid by you.
4)MONEY UP FRONT- life has become a pre-paid every day happening. The taxi is a commercial vechical, so like paying before getting on a greyhound, airplane, Amtrak are all exact payments, the cab driver is asking for estatment amount of money up front. Most taxi companies will say they have policies for money up front.....as a driver, this is not just a policy, it's my right to get money first for serval reasons :
*the passenger actually has money
*if the fare is under $5 then there may be a problem with changing a large bill for small fare. I will be more than happy to stop along the way and get change. I might even turn the meter off while you are in getting change.
*any fare which I know will be over $5 will be asked to give a X amount up front as a deposit on the trip.
*and yes, money up front if the trip is coming and/or going to a RED FLAG area, bad neighborhood.,anywhere the drivers have had problems in the past.
*ALL ROUND TRIPS will be money up front.
5) CANCEL if you don't want the cab after all. Don't wait for the taxi to arrive and then lie to the driver....we know when you do, we have the knack of reading people and know you are down right lying to us. At lease OFFER to give afew dollars for coming out. Most cab companies have computer dispatching and it is on the database showing someone at your address DID call. And as for telling me you called and cancelled., you didn't if my dispatcher hasn't told me of it. I hate going on blank calls, this is seen as the same as stealing , robbing, of short changing me....taking money from me is not a good thing.
6)Don't take you anger out on me, I am not to blame for you being late for where ever you may be going....9 out of 10 times you aren't going anywhere. If you want a cab at your front door at any give time you need to call ahead , about one hour or more
and set up a time order.
But to give you fair warning, do this only for those more important timed appointments, such as getting to work on time, or a medical or probation meeting.
7)And don't leave your child/children in the car while you run in somewhere along the way. I am NOT a babysitter. This also goes for sending you child ALONE by themselves with a cabdriver. Also any older teens won't always be allowed to ride alone. This will be up to the discretion of the cabbie.
8)Please refrain from eating , drinking in my cab. If we swing by the local buger drive thru , wait until we get to your house before you start digging into those fries. If you want to bring your morning coffee with you, have a lid on the cup or use one of the non spill cups you get at the gas stations. I WON"T TAKE RESONPIBLILTY for your disregard to hot liquid on bare skin. Got the picture!!!!
9)Don't bring any open container in my car.....I am still governed by the law of open containers . Don't ask me to go buy you alcohol
This goes the same for DRUGS of any kind....not ever aspirin.
10)Smoking - the legal stuff only! "As long as it is legal" is what I tell passenger when they ask....yes , I have had it happen years ago and now can laugh about it. (this is another blog entry for later) Now if you don't like or can't stand smoke then you are intitled to ask for a "NON SMOKING cab"
11) Most cab companies are governed by the city and have to operate under the code or ordinances, any questions or disputes you may have.....look it up and see if and what is allowed or not. This will also give you something to back up any claim you may have. If you wish to make a complaint on a driver ....be forewarned, what goes around , comes around.
This is only afew of the issues I (and other cabdrivers may have) while doing business with the public. Some of us are employed, while others are lease (non-employed or self / independed contractors) drivers. Know YOUR DRIVER and you will have a friend out there when you really need one.
Remember>I can be your best friend, or your worst enemy.....it is all up to you!!
Debbie a.k.a. GRANNIE of yellow cab
Greenville, SC"