Taxi drivers who only take cash

Yesterday I went up to the first taxi in the taxi rank outside the Out Patients Dept. of the hospital. I had the sense to ask him whether he had a card reader - he didn't so I got into the taxi behind him (there were only two).

I've got into taxis before where the driver only took cash and it's normally OK as there is an atm in the shop below me. If I phone for a taxi I always use the same firm as they all have readers and are quite modern with sliding doors. This is quite a boon to me as sometimes if I'm getting in and out of a taxi with two heavy bags I can find it difficult. I don't have to touch the door.

The taxi driver yesterday said that those who refused to take cards were dinosaurs as apparently nowadays it doesn't cost them any fees beyond the initial reader. Many drivers have readers set up to their smartphone which will take the fare by contactless.

What do you think about taxi drivers who only take cash?

Re: Taxi drivers who only take cash

Dealing solely in cash will be the saviour of this country, post Brexit.

Re: Taxi drivers who only take cash

Taking only cash makes fiddling tax so much easier.

Re: Taxi drivers who only take cash

Exactly, we need to encourage more entrepreneurs.

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I think it is up to the taxi driver, on how he is happy to be paid. After all it is his business and surely it is the customers responsibility to ask what means of payment is available.

My local taxi company, that I used a lot when my car died at Christmas, will only accept cash, or cheques if the person has no cash. His clients are mainly people going on short trips or to the airport ( so know what it will cost). He is an old style taxi driver, who helps the elderly to take their luggage to the door, and I would always prefer to use him that the bigger businesses that have all the modern means of payment in their cars!


We are all different!

Re: Taxi drivers who only take cash

When I left hospital, the taxi driver took all my bags right upstairs to my door. I had paid by card but I gave him £1.50 as a tip he was so kind.

Re: Taxi drivers who only take cash

A very nice man, but I think he would have done that even if you had paid in cash too. Problem is you can't choose your taxi driver!

Re: Taxi drivers who only take cash

Yesterday I asked the driver how the other drivers who only took cash managed to make a living, and he said that increasingly they weren't - they missed out on fares every day, like yesterday despite being in the front of the queue. Even elderly people are less likely to carry cash these days.

Re: Taxi drivers who only take cash

Living in the outback of Western Australia, I still pay taxi drivers with goods, like a chicken and two eggs to get to town. But from next Monday the fare will go up to four eggs, I'm told. A bit steep I reckon, inflation is much lower than that. About a quarter egg. They rip you off where ever they can.
What's this world coming to?

Re: Taxi drivers who only take cash

Sounds a bit like here Ploppy, it cost me a bucket of rhubarb and a lettuce to borrow my neighbours mobile trestle to trim my hedge!