Dec 12, 2007 7:37 pm US/Eastern
Hidden Camera Investigation: Abuses In Taxi System
Cabbies Refuse To Accept Credit Cards, Issue Receipts
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
It's frequently a love/hate relationship between cab drivers and their passengers. And after a three-month undercover investigation, CBS 2 HD has found out why.
As we've learned, there are many abuses within the cab system. Drivers talk on phones, bully you into paying cash and even lie about their credit card machines.
The following are some of the comments made by cabbies:
"It's only $4. You don't have change?"
"(The credit card machine) is not working."
"I can't give you a receipt. No receipt for passenger unless $25."
It's no wonder New Yorkers and tourists alike aren't in love with their drivers.
"It's a 50/50 chance, good experience, 50 chance negative experience," said Shirley Johnson of Harlem.
Taxi and Limousine Commission commissioner Matt Daus admits drivers are lying about accepting credit cards, and breaking the law by talking on the phone.
"This is just terrible," he said. "We want the drivers we license to have their eyes on the road and working for their passengers at all times."
CBS 2 HD cameras caught several drivers talking on the phone, many equipped with tiny ear pieces to conceal what they were up to.
Driver: "I'm on the phone."
CBS 2 HD: "Oh, you're on the phone. I didn't even see it. You have a little ear piece?"
Driver: "I'm sorry?"
CBS 2 HD: "Oh, you're just on the phone."
Some drivers even lied about it, with one saying, "Sometimes it's okay (to be on the phone)."
Okay he claims? According to TLC rules, it's a no-no, and carries a $200 fine.
But another driver explained why his fellow hacks are always yakking away.
CBS 2 HD: "I swear, it's like they're calling their friends to get directions?"
Driver: "Yeah, some of them are doing that."
That's after just three days of classes to get a hack license.
Graham Hodges, wrote the book 'Taxi!', and says drivers are just trying to make a buck.
"They're pretty aggrieved. … They are in a system now that's not working for them. They have an immense amount of money to make in a day before they make a single penny for themselves and that's tough."
Still, the TLC points out that two raises in the past three years have put about $80 more a day in cabbies' pockets, and credit card machines have made passengers more generous with tips.
Part of the problem is drivers are paying about 5 percent of the fare to take the credit cards, but they're still coming out ahead after two fare hikes.
The TLC says things are getting so out of hand with the credit card denials and phones they're launching an undercover investigation, with penalties and possible loss of hack licenses as the consequences.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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