Are taxi’s ripping residents off?

Annette,
I live in 1000 Jefferson. Every morning I take the building shuttle to the PATH. Some times the shuttle is full and we split a cab with everyone that was not able to get into the shuttle.

Lately, the cab drivers have been charging us $3 per person even though we all got in to the cab at the same place/time.

Can they do this? If not, what can I do/say?

Let me give you this morning’s example. Shuttle left and 4 of us agreed to split a cab. The cab stopped, we got in and he mentioned the $3 fare per person. Me and my husband got out of the cab. A second cab comes by and its 2 girls that are friends/roommates and the 2 of us. We got all the way to the PATH and the driver decided that it was $5 per couple because we didnt know the girls.

This is NOT the first times this happens. If it is ok to do this I don’t have a problem paying that but I do not appreciate when they want to take advantage of us.

Thank you,
JB“

Read the rest after the jump…

(Hoboken Taxi Issues, continued…)
From: Annette Chaparro
date: Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 10:51 AM
subject: RE: taxi Fare

Jennifer,

I have a couple of questions for you.

Is this a yellow taxi or a dark sedan type car?

Does the car have Hoboken Logos on the doors? If yes, do you remember the number that is displayed in the middle of that logo? All I need is the date, time and number.

Bottom line, this is against rules and regulations. Yellow cabs licensed by the City of Hoboken are the only ones that can pick up passengers that are not prearranged (called to the location by phone). All other licensed vehicles cannot pick up passengers off the street that are not prearranged. It is illegal for vehicles that are not licensed by the City of Hoboken to pick up any passengers from the street.

Our drivers go through a drug & alcohol test, state and federal fingerprints, submit valid driver’s license and must be on the insurance policy among other things before they are issued a license. It is not safe especially for women to get into any vehicle that does not have the City Logo on the car doors. If any our residents/passengers have a complaint against any of our licensed vehicles or drivers we can easily track them down. This is not the case for out of town unlicensed drivers and vehicles.

I am working on improving things. I appreciate you taking the time to inform me, this makes my job easier. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, complaints or ideas. Share my information with others. Next time IF the vehicle you and your neighbors are getting into is a yellow Hoboken taxi going to one stop within Hoboken, just give the driver $5.00, tipping as always is optional and get out of the cab. If the driver expects more money just tell him that “I spoke with Annette at City Hall and she told me the fare is $5.00 and you can call her if you have a problem with this or would you like me to call her now” I can bet he won’t have a problem.

I hope this is helpful and thank you again for informing me. Have a great day.

Sincerely,

Annette Chaparro
Division of Taxi & Limousine Licensing
94 Washington Street, 1st Floor
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
201-216-1090
201-239-6625 fax
achaparro@hobokennj.org

from: JB
to: Annettte Chaparro
date: Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 1:53 PM
subject: Re: taxi Fare

Annette,
I know it was a yellow cab from Hoboken the 3 times that this has happened. I dont remember the number but I do know it has been 3 different cab drivers. I will keep an eye out for next time and I will let you know.
Thank you for getting back to me so promptly,
JB

to: JB
date: Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 2:02 PM
subject: RE: taxi Fare

Jennifer,

Great! I can’t wait until you tell me the numbers. We just had a meeting on January 27, 2009 they were warned; now we take action. Again, thank you for taking the time to inform me. This is so helpful.

Annette

Hoboken NJ

Technorati Tags: cab, Multiple Fares, Overcharge, Scam, taxi

99 Responses to Taxi Scams…

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81. plaintruthiness
February 10th, 2009 |

In response to little boots who said:
Why do they give people living closer to the path a hard time if they are looking for a cab ride home? It’s the same fare and they get back to path to pick up more passengers and use less gas in that drop-off. Why do they get peeved if you want a ride to a place in downtown hoboken?
True dat. The cabbies get upset because they waited all this time in line, only to have to get back in line again so soon, and are worried they’re going to make too much money. Or maybe they’re idiots and think they’re NYC cabbies that charge by the 1/8 mile.
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82. homeworld
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to Biffy B For Mayor who said:
In response to homeworld who said:
It’s embarrassing when friends visit from the City and take a Hoboken taxi cab that picks up 2 other people after they got in and then drives around town for 15 minutes dropping the other people off first.
why is it embarrassing? are your friends too good to ride with others? what are they doing taking the train anyway? did they give the driver the day off? its embarrassing for me to tell my friends that there are some people in this town, who feel like their roses dont smell like poo poo, like you you!
It’s embarrassing that we have some dog and pony show gypsy cap system where taxi drivers pick up other passengers and drop them off first. If you wanted to do that, you could ride the bus.
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83. homeworld
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to Dr.Chico who said:
This was eye opening. I had no idea so many people were so outraged with cab prices increasing from $4 to $5. Seriously? You all have issues… If you don’t like it, clean off your god damn 10 speed, put on your effen helmet and get some exercise. I have never encountered such a large group of cheap, lazy people. I strong recommend you all move to the south immediately.
So you wouldn’t have any problem if they raised the price of the taxi fare to $12 a ride?
It went from $3 to $6 in a matter of 5 years, but apparently you have no problem with that.
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84. Journey
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to homeworld who said:
It’s embarrassing that we have some dog and pony show gypsy cap system where taxi drivers pick up other passengers and drop them off first. If you wanted to do that, you could ride the bus.
But it is hardly unique. The cab companies in many Long Island towns do the same.
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85. Wildflower
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to homeworld who said:
It’s embarrassing that we have some dog and pony show gypsy cap system where taxi drivers pick up other passengers and drop them off first. If you wanted to do that, you could ride the bus.
I agree that does suck, but if that happens to you, do what i do – don’t tip!
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86. strand tramp
February 11th, 2009 |

i know what a “dog and pony” show is, but i don’t understand how it applies to cabs…and a “gypsy cab” is a non medallion cab such as indian way, so i don’t know why you would apply that term to the yellow cab system. all in all you’re not making any sense on that post other than saying that the “cabs suck.” with that point i will agree.
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87. The Honorable Biffy
February 11th, 2009 |

I’ve yet to not get to my location using the Hoboken Cabs…has anyone else ever NOT gotten to their location??
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88. bmoc04
February 11th, 2009 |

My guy tried dropping me off on Grand although I said Garden. It wasn’t just a simple misunderstanding. He insisted he was on Garden Street. He did this after taking me in the cab first, and then dropping off the other 2 passengers on the complete other side of town. I had him take me to 8th and Park as to not have to go around the block and have him get lost again.
On Monday, I was with a friend of mine and we were going to the same stop. The driver insisted that we squeeze in the back so he could let more passengers in.
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89. Biff McFly
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to The Honorable Biffy who said:
I’ve yet to not get to my location using the Hoboken Cabs…has anyone else ever NOT gotten to their location??
Of course you’ll get there, it’s more a question of how long it takes to find one that will take you, the time it take shim to find at least 2 other fares and then what priority you’ll be in the drop-off.
How many Biffs are there on this site????
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90. The Honorable Biffy
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to bmoc04 who said:
My guy tried dropping me off on Grand although I said Garden. It wasn’t just a simple misunderstanding. He insisted he was on Garden Street. He did this after taking me in the cab first, and then dropping off the other 2 passengers on the complete other side of town. I had him take me to 8th and Park as to not have to go around the block and have him get lost again.
On Monday, I was with a friend of mine and we were going to the same stop. The driver insisted that we squeeze in the back so he could let more passengers in.
You act like he broke the law?
Have you ever lived in Astoria? They do the same thing — they do the same thing when you get off the LIRR to go to an Islanders game. They do the same thing in Oneonta, where I went to college (from what i can remember). A taxi is not yor god given right!
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91. Stpaddygirl
February 11th, 2009 |

How many Biffs are there on this site????
I’m thinking about changing my login to Biffygirl
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92. Biff McFly
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to Stpaddygirl who said:
How many Biffs are there on this site????
I’m thinking about changing my login to Biffygirl
then i will change to St. Paddymcfaddy.
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93. MartyMcFly
February 11th, 2009 |

No, Biff, you leave her alone.
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94. Biff McFly
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to MartyMcFly who said:
No, Biff, you leave her alone.
No you’re gonna get it!
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95. Stpaddygirl
February 11th, 2009 |

Family squabble?
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96. 8thStGuy
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to Stpaddygirl who said:
Family squabble?
They are quoting Back to the Future, you filthy tramp!
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97. Stpaddygirl
February 11th, 2009 |

Eh not really up on movie references…
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98. mooshu
February 11th, 2009 |

Where’s Biffy B? He’d make this page even more hilarious!
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99. homeworld
February 11th, 2009 |

In response to strand tramp who said:
i know what a “dog and pony” show is, but i don’t understand how it applies to cabs…and a “gypsy cab” is a non medallion cab such as indian way, so i don’t know why you would apply that term to the yellow cab system. all in all you’re not making any sense on that post other than saying that the “cabs suck.” with that point i will agree.
Dog and pony show was a colloquial term used in the United States in the late-19th and early-20th centuries to refer to small traveling circuses that toured through small towns and rural areas.
And according to Websters, a gypsy cab cruises in search of passengers illegally.
I was being facetious… You know, when someone says they’re starving, they’re usually not really about to perish from lack of food.
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