Taxis accepting credit cards?

paulm17781

I'm just back from Chicago where every taxi accepts credit cards, it was very handy. I've seen a few here advertise that they accept them but I get the impression that most don't. Am I right?

Personally, it would really suit me if I could use my credit card in a taxi. If I saw one in a rank I would be more inclined to pick it. Do many accept them? T

mikemac

National Radio Cabs do, dead handy!
Misleading name thought they are based in Dublin

Some drivers have stickers advertising that they accept credit cards.
Good to see, it being proactive and not just sitting back doing the same as every else.

Dermo

There's a company that take credit cards for taxi's over the phone. Read about it on a blog I read: http://irishtaxi.org/?p=1647

paulm17781

Dermo wrote: »

There's a company that take credit cards for taxi's over the phone. Read about it on a blog I read: http://irishtaxi.org/?p=1647

Thanks. Have you tried it / are many drivers using it?

Dermo

paulm17781 wrote: »

Thanks. Have you tried it / are many drivers using it?

I haven't used it personally, but from the feedback I've seen from Roy (the blogger at irishtaxi.org) it seems to be going well. You don't have to hand over your credit card details or anything and the confirmation is txted immediately to the taxi driver's phone.

cassette50

paulm17781 wrote: »

I'm just back from Chicago where every taxi accepts credit cards, it was very handy. I've seen a few here advertise that they accept them but I get the impression that most don't. Am I right?

Personally, it would really suit me if I could use my credit card in a taxi. If I saw one in a rank I would be more inclined to pick it. Do many accept them? T

plus in Chicago, if they refuse to accept a major credit card you get the fare for free.

There are also a few other rights for passengers - turn off music, no talking on phone by driver,air conditioning etc.

Ham'nd'egger

The main issues with the average taxi on the street taking on a credit card machine are the up front costs of same along with the connection (They'd most likely need some sort of phone dial up), the issue of a merchant cut eating into the fare and the wait to get paid from the merchant. While most companies have these worries as well, the amount of fares that I'd take who have asked for such a facility have been very low; maybe one a week tops and with a potentially long wait on any fares in from same to be paid. It is a great idea but unless it can be done cheaply, it won't be cost beneficial to have in the car for the odd fare a week.

The NRC system IIR is put in by them and not the drivers and they sort out the driver along with his weekly account fares. Certainly, VIP and Citycabs allow for fares to be paid over the phone at the base on debit/credit cards if you like but this is on pre booked fares.

Rat_Catcher

Taxipay is not very popular with drivers. Roy sells the service so he would say that, wouldn't he?

With Taxipay you are charged a 10% (yes, 10%) surcharge.

NRC drivers apply no surcharge.

blahblah06

Global cabs uses credit cards through taxi pay there is a minimum 2 euro charge or 10% off the fare which ever comes first.

Tbh it cheaper to stop at an ATM machine to withdraw cash and saves everyone more time at the end of the journey.

If you pay by card the driver has to wait a week for his money and that's why most drivers don't use the system because there's not enough money out there now to justify waiting a week

markpb

blahblah06 wrote: »

Tbh it cheaper to stop at an ATM machine to withdraw cash and saves everyone more time at the end of the journey.

It's not about speed though - it's just about convenience. If you're in a housing estate with no ATM for miles (or the ATM is in a shop which has closed for the night), credit card is the only option. It also increases the market for spontaneous taxi trips - just like BK and McDonalds have started to take credit cards in some of their restaurants.

Yggr of Asgard

In a lot of countries paying by credit/debit card is quite common (Scandinavia/Germany/USA) and a surcharge for doing so is out of the question.

In Ireland you have a couple of companies/drivers that accept cards and they either take no surcharge (NRC) or “convenience fee” of 10% (like Taxipay/Xpert).

For my quick local run I would not use a credit card but for the longer business trip I like to pay with card because otherwise I’m out of cash for some large sums until the T&E refund hits me. With credit card that is not the case.

I have settled for NRC because of the online web interface to book and the in car payment via cabcharge that does not cost extra.

While I understand that the driver has to wait a week before he gets paid, a regular fare of 80+ euro from me with credit card is better than no far at all because otherwise I might shop around for one of those 20% off deals and plan better than just order a cab when I feel like it.

Ham'nd'egger

markpb wrote: »

It's not about speed though - it's just about convenience. If you're in a housing estate with no ATM for miles (or the ATM is in a shop which has closed for the night), credit card is the only option. It also increases the market for spontaneous taxi trips - just like BK and McDonalds have started to take credit cards in some of their restaurants.

Take it from me; the amounts of times when I'm asked to accept payment on credit card is minimal, maybe once a month at best. However, the amount passenger who asks for an ATM stop for cash to pay a fare is 2-3 times a week. While I accept that they could pay via plastic in these cases they will still require loose cash so a stop at the Drinklink is the best option for them as well. Handy yes but unless it's costing me nothing or next to install and operate then it don't make things any better for me on a day to day basis.

If anything, I am asked to stop more for cigarettes and take away so if anything a fag machine and a Abarakebabra in the back of the car would suit customers better and make me money

Nolimits

Hamndegger wrote: »

Take it from me; the amounts of times when I'm asked to accept payment on credit card is minimal, maybe once a month at best. However, the amount passenger who asks for an ATM stop for cash to pay a fare is 2-3 times a week. While I accept that they could pay via plastic in these cases they will still require loose cash so a stop at the Drinklink is the best option for them as well. Handy yes but unless it's costing me nothing or next to install and operate then it don't make things any better for me on a day to day basis.

If anything, I am asked to stop more for cigarettes and take away so if anything a fag machine and a Abarakebabra in the back of the car would suit customers better and make me money

I think people don't ask to pay with credit card is just because it's unusual to opay for a taxi with a credit card. If I had no cash on me and I wanted to get a taxi, a credit card would never even enter my head, I'd be figuring out which ATM to go to on the way. If more taxis started accepting them the public would get used to paying with them.

markpb

Hamndegger wrote: »

Take it from me; the amounts of times when I'm asked to accept payment on credit card is minimal

I've never asked a driver directly if he takes credit card, I just assume none of them do (except the few that advertise it on their cars). Just because we don't ask doesn't mean we don't want it

paulm17781

I'd be the same. I've never asked about it because it is so rare. That said if it costs drivers I can see why it's not popular. Banks should be doing more to have it implemented.

Recently I had to to get cash at the end of my journey, the driver kept the meter on while I queued. I figure this was fair enough but I'd have happily paid the surcharge on a card instead.

Business travel is the main reason I ask, it's such a pain to claim expenses vs. put it on the card. I rarely use radio companies as there are so many taxis about, I must try to remember NRC.

Thanks for the replies.

Ham'nd'egger

markpb wrote: »

I've never asked a driver directly if he takes credit card, I just assume none of them do (except the few that advertise it on their cars). Just because we don't ask doesn't mean we don't want it

Which proves my point in a roundabout way; we don't have a need to unless we know it's needed and people like you know they can and will use it on a grand basis.

I am not for one minute saying it's a bad idea (It is a good one) but unless it can be supplied to drivers cheaply and with a quick flow to drivers from the merchants it won't be practical; you are talking about a sole trader basis with a cash flow in of circa €40k; to lose between 20-50% of day to day cash flow for the want of waiting is a big big ask.

Plus, as a by note should this question not be asked to all businesses and not just taxis?

Sofiztikated

You're asked to stop at ATM's because most taxi's don't take credit cards. People aren't used to taxi's taking credit cards, you get asked by mostly people not from Ireland if you do, am I right?

I know what I'd be doing, making sure to give people more options to pay me, rather than go to someone else. The little extra may mean a lot more business for the taxi. Its business, stay ahead of the pack!

I appreciate there is an extra cost involved, and a time delay on the payment, BUT customers are demanding it. Just because you don't want to, doesn't mean you shouldn't.

Antoinette Harvey

Hi everyone,
My name is Toni and I work for Sremium, the providers of the TaxiPay service, Rat Catcher is correct, (it's so odd addressing someone as Rat Catcher) we do charge the Taxi customer for the facility, well he's half correct, it's actually more than 10%, the drivers pay no fees or charges whatsoever, therefore I'm surprised at the assertion it's unpopular with drivers.

The customer charge for the facility is:

2 Euro for fares under 20 Euro
10% for fares greater than 20 Euro

Here's the in-taxi P.O.S for the TaxiPay facility, I'd love to know whether or not you'd use the service if you came across it it in a Taxi, hopefully you will soon, there's over 1000 Taxis signed up for the service already!

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2040/tpay.jpg

Thank you
Toni

Cookie_Monster

that charge is scandelously high, 10% of transaction or higher :eek:
why would anyone use such a rrip off service?

Yggr of Asgard

Antoinette Harvey wrote: »

Here's the in-taxi P.O.S for the TaxiPay facility, I'd love to know whether or not you'd use the service if you came across it it in a Taxi, hopefully you will soon, there's over 1000 Taxis signed up for the service already!

Thank you
Toni

The cost for your service is too expensive for the service you provide.

First I have to do all the work by calling a 0818 number for which I am getting charged as it’s not a free phone number.

Then I need to enter loads of details which I have to ask from the driver, juggle my credit card at the same time and enter all things via a DTMF menu into your system.

Then both the driver and me get sms text messages that confirm the payment went through.

And by the time all of this is done 5 minutes are gone by.

And for that privilege I pay you 10% of the fare, which on my routes would be something like 8€, which than also won’t show up on the taxi receipt meaning I can’t claim it via T&E reports.

And giving that even for credit card not present transitions you won’t get charged 10% by Reallex you are making good money on it.

Overall a nice idea but I prefer POS terminals in the car (like NRC) where I can pay within a minute and for which I don’t have to pay extra.

And I’m sorry but your system is not the most secure either. Anybody can write down a credit card number and details and then pay with your system with a throw away phone. You don’t require an advanced registration nor do you require the card to be shown to the driver. Anybody can misuse your service, maybe that it why it’s 10% because you have to pay a high rate to Reallex.

If you would offer pre-registration of me the customer so that all I do need to do is to call the number, enter the driver details and for example a PIN code (as all is linked to my mobile) than I might be considering using a cab that has your service, but only if you bring the price down.

Nice idea but not really customer friendly.

foggy_lad

you are talking about a sole trader basis with a cash flow in of circa €40k; to lose between 20-50% of day to day cash flow for the want of waiting is a big big ask.

you lose nothing! the payment is only deferred same as when you have to pay in advance for things like phone line rental etc

Rat_Catcher

From a taxi driver’s perspective there is no good reason to encourage credit cards, cash is instant and definitive and charges, as noted within this thread, are extortionate.

From a radio group’s perspective there are benefits to advertising the availability of the service. Any increase in business for members of the group ultimately equates to an increase in members, and profit in the case of a commercial operation. Most (including NRC and Global) also derive additional profit from processing the payments.

The Taxipay set up processes transactions in a CNP (cardholder not present) fashion. Given that CNP transactions account for 80% of card fraud and that the usual verifications (postal address, IP address, etc.) are non existent this must be of concern.

The sign up process does not inspire confidence. There is no explanation of how chargebacks are handled or the extent (if any) of the driver’s liability in the event of fraudulent transactions. Bank details are requested on a non secure connection, the confirmation page is semi literate at best, listing of the “phome” number entered being one example. There was also an issue with details being published on an unrelated (since closed) website on entry.

Antoinette Harvey

Ratcatcher, methinks doth protest too much?

Regarding the charge, I guess as with other facilities discussed here, Taxi drivers can absorb the charges themselves, however we prefer to give Taxi drivers the choice in this regard. (are you a Taxi driver Rat Catcher? I'm surprised you're advocating charging Taxi drivers rather than a facility charge to the customer!)

Regarding Charge-backs, As with all charge-backs they are dealt with on a case by case basis, however as the card never needs to leave the customers possession and the fare is input by the customer, the Taxi driver would have a very good case, we foresee very few charge-backs, there will be the odd mistake here and there but these will be noticed by viewing the instant SMS messages received by both the Taxi driver and the customer.

Thank you everyone for the feedback, we're most grateful.

Kind regards
Toni

Ham'nd'egger

Sofiztikated wrote: »

You're asked to stop at ATM's because most taxi's don't take credit cards. People aren't used to taxi's taking credit cards, you get asked by mostly people not from Ireland if you do, am I right?

We get stopped by people who wish to take cash out of an ATM. People need cash for other transactions and are happy to stop and draw from an ATM, regardless of how they wish to pay for a fare. The mix of the about 1 a month who ask if they can pay via non cash tend to be more so Irish people, Irish people being by a long way out the major market for Irish taxis.

Sofiztikated wrote: »

I know what I'd be doing, making sure to give people more options to pay me, rather than go to someone else. The little extra may mean a lot more business for the taxi. Its business, stay ahead of the pack!

Again, I said it's a good idea provided that it's not affecting my day to day cash flow and costing **** loads to operate at my end. When you are running a business with a very low cash flow, operating and offering plastic payment and it's relevant credit terms becomes costly to the vendor.

Sofiztikated wrote: »

I appreciate there is an extra cost involved, and a time delay on the payment, BUT customers are demanding it. Just because you don't want to, doesn't mean you shouldn't.

Are they demanding it? I doubt it but if they are then those drivers I know who have such a facility are not inundated with users of it.

Rat_Catcher

You are most welcome Toni.

I don't recall advocating any system, in fact I noted that there is no advantage to the driver in encouraging card payments.

Your assertion that chargebacks are assessed on an ad-hoc basis suggests that Taxipay/Roy reserve the right to reverse payments made to drivers in the event of a fraudulent transaction. If this is the case, why are such terms not specified at sign up?

It is the fact that the card does not have to leave the customer's possession that gives rise to the obvious inherent security issues. There is no delivery address, no IP address, no signature, in fact nothing to verify the validity of the transaction.

macca 16

I've been using a co-op in South dublin that go as www.chipandpintaxis.ie . They have chip and pin machines in the car , have no surcharge to me , are always on time & don't charge me for using the M50 . One of their drivers even gives me a complimentary Irish Times . I travel a lot for business and stumbled across these guys & it has proved a great find.

Rat_Catcher

Good find macca. I am an advocate of co-ops, two others worthy of mention are Foxrock Taxis and ASAP, Clondalkin/Ballyfermot.

Chip & PIN is the only real way to process card payments these days.

Cookie_Monster

macca 16 wrote: »

I've been using a co-op in South dublin that go as www.chipandpintaxis.ie . They have chip and pin machines in the car , have no surcharge to me , are always on time & don't charge me for using the M50 . One of their drivers even gives me a complimentary Irish Times . I travel a lot for business and stumbled across these guys & it has proved a great find.

shill much?

paulm17781

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

shill much?

Even if... I was looking for advice on taxis accepting credit cards. Shill or not, it's still the information I was looking for.

Victor

Rat_Catcher wrote: »

From a taxi driver’s perspective there is no good reason to encourage credit cards, cash is instant and definitive and charges, as noted within this thread, are extortionate.

Driver safety? The less cash on board, the less tempting it is to rob a driver.

That said, 10% is robbery itself.

bumble1

I have used chipandpintaxis.ie twice , they have never let me down used one of their van taxis to the airport .