Open letter to NY cab authority

[alisanne]

Dear NYC cab driver authority people,

I would like to make the revolutionary suggestion that you insist that cab drivers should know the location of the place where they have been requested to take their passengers before allowing the airport dispatcher to sic them on unsuspecting tourists. A working knowledge of the english language would be a bonus, so that when the passenger, in a fit of desperation, suggests they call the location, they are then able to communicate with the person at the other end. Otherwise, the passenger is placed in the position of becoming the navigator and then paying ($75!!!) for the priviledge. No matter that the driver took the "scenic route" because of his own cluelessness.
The fact that the driver then insisted on a 20% tip was just the icing on the cake.
Oh, and no, I didn't make the wedding rehearsal I was supoosed to be at, thank you so much for asking.

No love,
Me

Comments

[sassy_cissa.insanejournal.com]

Poor thing....those cabbies are really pissers, aren't they?

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

All except the ones in London. They're great! *sigh* Must be because they all speak english? *eyeroll*

[shighola.insanejournal.com]

Please tell me you got his medallion number. You can report his ass!

[bethbethbeth.insanejournal.com]

I was just going to say the same thing: there's a maximum price they're allowed to charge from the airports back into the city.

Personally? I wouldn't have paid more than $45 and he would have had no tip from me.

[bethbethbeth.insanejournal.com]

(and I'm *very* sorry you missed the rehearsal. Sorry that got lost in the midst of my indignation)

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

Thanks. I just hope my friend forgives me. *wibbles*
I suspect she will once I relate the cab ride from hell story, though... ;)

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

*sigh*
Nope. By then I wasn't thinking at all. I gave him the money and walked away. *kicks self*

[felaine.insanejournal.com]

Gad, I'm sorry.

I've never been to NYC (long way from rural Oregon), and just when I think it's a place I can't die without seeing, comes another story like that.

The locals would spot me miles away, and I'd probably end up paying to ride the elevator.

What a shame you missed your plans; hope the rest of the trip improves.

When is the wedding? Will we be graces with photos of you in a bridesmaid dress carrying a bouquet of hydrangeas?

Felaine

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

*hugs you*
You'd be fine. The NYers are okay, it's the cab drivers you have to watch out for. I don't think they're from NY. That's the problem...

LOL. No bridesmaid's dress, thank goodness!
There may be one of me doing a reading, but I'm thinking I can destroy it before it sees the light of day. Heh.

[phoenixsong71.insanejournal.com]

I believe there is a limit on what they can charge you from the airport. I'm not positive because I usually take the bus into the city from LaGuardia. I do know that that only costs $2.00 and will drop you off at the 1 train. :) I'm sorry your trip got off to a bad start. Hopefully it will only get better from here.

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

Thanks! And yes, I hope you're right. :)

[fleurdeliser.insanejournal.com]

Ack! *hugs*

Sorry your trip is off to a rocky start. I hope the rest of the weekend is super fantastic to make up for it! &hearts&hearts&hearts

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

*cuddles*
I can has Nessi nao?

[fleurdeliser.insanejournal.com]

Yesh. You has me until at least Monday. *hugs*

[shouldknobetter.insanejournal.com]

That's the modern world of customer service. I almost cry when I get decent service from anyone.

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

Gah! So very true. *sigh*

[lesyeuxverts.insanejournal.com]

*HUGS*

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

♥

[jadzia7667.insanejournal.com]

*pets and snuggles* Poor sweetie. I hope you at least have some fun at the wedding.

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

*crawls into your lap and snuggles*
Me, too. *sniff*

[angela_snape.insanejournal.com]

I hope the rest of your weekend is better than your arrival!

*hugs*

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

Thanks, doll! *hugs back*

[bonfoi.insanejournal.com]

While my horror story for NY just deals with not being able to find the domestic terminal when I was 15 and missed the bus, then walking with a box of Italian crystal highball glasses in one hand and a bag that was 47 kilos balanced on my head (I was an adventurous, overly-tired teen), then walking the back alley to the Republic Airlines (dating myself) terminal, I so sympathize with you that I'm passing along luscious, fresh-baked brownies and a long cool glass of whatever you like to have with them!

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

Brownies!
Mmmph! Fanks. *slurping ensues*

[vl_redreign.insanejournal.com]

Thought you were gonna stop taking cabs.

Two words: San Francisco.

I'm just saying. :)

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

*sigh*
I really should give them up entirely. Of course then I would have to have walked from the airport to the hotel. *considers* I do need to start an exercise program but that's a bit drastic. :P
I think I'll just have to add to the list of things I won't do anymore:
85. get into cabs when the driver is arguing w the dispatcher
86. get into cabs when the driver clearly doesn't know where he's going and won't admit that.
87. Read WsIP.
There! That should do it. :)

[moonystone.insanejournal.com]

Oh, fuck. I heard rumours about NCY cab drivers - they appear to be true. Poor you! *hugs*
I hope the rest of the weekend is better.

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

I've found NYC cab drivers to be excellent, if a bit... frenetic, lol. But once you get out of the city I think it's a bit more spotty. *sigh*

[ivylady.insanejournal.com]

That sucks, but you've just explained why I don't take cabs in NYC. I just get a subway guide and go from there. I figure I'll be better off left to my own devices and an unlimited day-pass MetroCard is $7. The cabbies really suck there.

For $75, they could have brought you halfway to my neck of the woods in CT. That's just crazy.

You know, I'm willing to bet that the cab knew where to go, but figured you were a tourist and jerked you around for the extra fare. I know it's pessimistic, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Hope everything else goes according to plan.

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

Yeah, I hate to think that but a part of me wonders the same thing. Asshole. :(
*sigh* Oh well, I guess I'm not the first and I won't be the last.

[andreth_47.insanejournal.com]

Be kind, now. Cabbies are honest people who work *extremely* hard for a living, not ripoff artists.

[ivylady.insanejournal.com]

Most cabbies are honest people, but there are bad apples in every bunch. If he didn't know where she needed to go, he should have said so and called for directions. He shouldn't have driven her around, racking up a huge fare.

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

Agreed. I just wish this guy had been up front about not knowing where he was going rather than (literally) taking me for a ride. *eyeroll*

[ziasudra.insanejournal.com]

Yikes, so sorry to haer this :\ I check my IJ flist less often and am reading this just now... how horrible! No cookies for the cab driver >:o

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

LOL. Indeed! Although he clearly doesn't need cookeis from anyone, since with my $75 he can buy plenty of his own. *eyeroll*

[jaddziadax.insanejournal.com]

I agree with the comments about customer service.. thankfully most of the customer service around here seems well off compared to other places... but no one WANTS to come to central Texas as there is NOTHING here :/

sorry your trip started out sucky... that guy will get his dues >:[

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

Texas? *perks* I live just north of you. Maybe we should plan a midwest/Texas slash gathering sometime. :)

[jaddziadax.insanejournal.com]

I'm about 40 miles off of Waco O:
maybe if i get that job i applied for i can do something like that XD

[andreth_47.insanejournal.com]

It's a shame you didn't make your rehearsal! I totally understand why you're upset, and I'd like to second everyone who said that hack was way out of line. He should've charged you what the standard fare was, and I can't believe he had the gall to insist on a tip.

But I must put in a word for cabbies, too. I drove hack for 5 years in a city of 3 million, and folks, it's a hell of a tough job. Be kind to your cabbies!

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

Yep, agreed.
The cab drivers the rest of the weekend have been fine, they got me to where I needed to be safely and with good humor, so they got good tips. :)

[calico_jynx.insanejournal.com]

ugh, babe, can I beat someone up for you? Srsly not impressed with crappy taxi man *glares* I hope the weekend is awesome apart from that xxx *hugs/snogs/licks/hugs*

[alisanne.insanejournal.com]

*cuddles*
The rest of the weekend went fine, luv! The wedding was lots of fun, I may post about it later, actually.