How do you handle NYC cab drivers that refuse service?
 

I've never had this problem, but I met friends from England in NYC this past weekend and they had this happen to them a few times during their visit. They didn't realize it wasn't legal. My in-laws (also from UK) had this same problem a few weeks ago trying to get to Brooklyn from downtown. Just wondering what advice I could have given them.

I just helped someone with this last week.
If the cab says off duty, well, they can refuse to go where you want since they can say they were only being nice and were willing to "help you out" if you happened to be going their way. Brooklyn is never their way.
Otherwise, if a cab is available, get in, and immediately write down the cab number while they watch. Only once inside, give the destination. If the driver protests, just remind him of the law (which is also posted in the cab) and just sit there.If the driver refuses, report it later by calling 311.

When trying to hail a cab, if you have luggage, try to hide it behind you or with one of your traveling companions, To cabbies, luggage=airports and they hate going to the airport as they can make much more money with a bunch of short trips in Manhattan

There are specific rules.

If the on-duty light is on the cab is available to anyone for a trip within the 5 boroughs. They do NOT have to accept a trip outside NYC.

If the off-duty light is on that means they are headed back to the garage and can take a passenger or not - depending on the destination (they are not forced to take anyone - but can take someone going the same direction they are if they choose).

there are 2 things passengers can do to ensure that they are not refused.

1) Get in the cab, then tell the driver where you are going. I he noticed tourists often ASK the driver if he will go somewhere before they get it. Do NOT do this. Get in, then tell them.

2) If you are going someplace outside Manhattan have the directions ready. Drivers are NOT familiar with many places outside of Manhattan - and some refuse if they don;t know where it is - and you don't seem to either.

If you are headed to the airport with luggage use a car service - such as Dial 7 - it will cost no more than a cab and you're not stuck in the street hauling your luggage around.

If a driver refuses do NOT get out, but note down the driver's name/driver number (inside the cab) - cab number is useless since many drivers use the same cab - and tell them you will report it if they refuse. Then call 311 and they will explain how to make a complaint to the TLC.

(I've been riding cabs frequently - often very frequently - for 30 years and have never been refused. But then I don;t give anyone a chance to refuse.)

I don't know if I'd want to have a driver that doesn't want me in his cab, esp if I was in a hurry to go to the airport. I always have my luggage front and center and never have to wait, no matter what time of day. If you want to be sure, you can call Dial 7 they are prompt (usually early) but cost a little more.

<i>Brooklyn is never their way.</i>

Actually, Brooklyn is where a number of the medallion bases are; I never have a problem getting home (to Brooklyn) with a downtown-heading off duty taxi.

Do get into the cab and shut the door before telling them your destination. If you're going to an "outer borough" and they hesitate, tell them you know how to get there; I've also helped direct them to the nearest major street for their return as I'm exiting at my destination. If they protest, threaten to call 311. If they continue to protest, you can either fight or get a new cab - as Austin said, I don't really want to be in a cab that doesn't want me; it can be a nasty ride.

Most of all, be confident. A bully will get one over on you every time, and sadly some of them are taxi drivers.

I'd be curious to hear on what basis they were refused.

Cab might have been off duty and they did not realize. Sometimes it is difficult to see the light on top in the bright sun. I would think (assuming they were on duty) cabs would want to go to most areas of Brooklyn since it is sometimes hard to find a yellow cab in Brooklyn so they might easily pick up a fare.

Also, please note that there are certain times of the day when it is much more difficult to get a cab in Manhattan. I believe these are around shift changes (when driver is taking the cab back to base) and also around the times of call to prayer for the many observant Muslim drivers.

it is 100% illegal for a cab to even ask where you are going before you get in the cab. when that happens to me (more and more frequently) i simply wave them off. i usually do say "that's illegal", and i tell them to move on to some other fare. i wouldn't say i'm used to it, or it's acceptable, but i'm satisfied that they didn't get my money.

"it is 100% illegal for a cab to even ask where you are going before you get in the cab."

This is not true if the cab's "off duty" light is lit. If the cab's officially "off duty", then the cabbie will pull over and request where you want to go before agreeing to take you. According the to the taxi rules, when a cab goes off duty, the cabbie switches on the light and makes a notation on the trip sheet that he or she is now off duty. By regulation, the cabbie can add one more trip below this notation, and can choose to accept no trip or just a trip that is along the way to the garage. Therefore, it is allowed for an off duty cabbie to ask your destination before entering the cab.

Unfortunately, one of the major shift changes of the day, when many cabbies go off duty, takes place at 4PM--exactly when taxis would be in the greatest demand.

Thanks for your replies. I wasn't aware of the 311 system. Like I've said, I haven't experienced this either but it's good to know.

From what was explained to me, they were refused on no basis at all. They were simply told "no". One put on the "off duty" light after being asked to go to Brooklyn.
I did find this article:
http://www.vosizneias.com/66406/2010...o-to-brooklyn/, maybe it explains my in-laws problem as it was a weekday, around 3:00pm (no luggage).

Less sure of the other couple's circumstances but I do know that no luggage was involved, it was during the day and within Manhattan. They also had one put the off duty light on after they gave their location another simply said he wasn't going in that direction.

I've never experienced this but when I'm having a hard time hailing a cab I've found it a good solution to go to a big hotel and get in the taxi line. It may add a few minutes of walk and wait time, but I'm sure that the taxi that pulls up is going to take me where I want to go.

The name of the commissioner of the TLC, the agency in charge of cabs and cab drivers is David Yassky. Just say, "Do you knew who is David Yassky is? Because he is the head of the TLC and a family friend. Now do you want to take me?"

Also GGreen offers excellent when she writes, "Most of all, be confident. A bully will get one over on you every time, and sadly some of them are taxi drivers."

Oh, I remember the "bad old days" trying to get to Brooklyn before (a) the 5-borough law was enacted and (b) even Park Slope wasn't a popular place to live! I learned then to be polite, confident and firm...

I found the original Post article referenced (but not linked) in the link above. (Actually, the blogger just copy/pasted the entire Post piece word for word...)
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/b...ROHSiu9PfloSUJ

At first, coming from the unknown source of the blog, I was ready to dismiss the findings - I take a cab home about once a week and have never been told they can't take me because of the BB construction. How weird! It's not like the bridge was even remotely smooth sailing before.

Aduchamp, I like that suggestion of using David Yassky's name. It's even almost not a fib for me: he represented my district, and don't all politicians know their constituents? :D

This is no problem for me because I have no interest in being in a car with a driver who doesn't want me in his vehicle.

HTTY

It can be a problem for business travelers trying to get to Laguardia at 4:00 PM with luggage whose expense policy won't allow car services.

Brian_in_Charlotte: the company won't allow a company service like Big Apple (where you have a voucher etc) or *any* car service? That sounds so odd to me because the price of a "regular" car service is basically the same as a yellow cab - and can be less if you get stuck in traffic (flat fare vs. meter running). Is it because of the type of receipt you would receive?

ggreen, that doesn't surprise me at all. Many businesses set up expense account rules that really don't make sense. They may say something like "you may take public transportation, a scheduled shuttle, or a taxi, but private reserved car services are not allowed". Never mind that the car service could even be cheaper -- someone in an executive-decision-making position decided that's the way it should be.

Neo, I do agree - and thus am glad I'm self-employed (keep ALL the receipts!). I was curious because there is a distinction in NYC between private reserved car services (like Big Apple) and your average corner car service you call when you need. However, beyond corporate-decision-maker vagaries, it might be a reason because the run-of-the-mill car services don't usually do good receipt. (I know this firsthand, see first parenthetical LOL.)

Then again, if you're in town on business, you probably don't have a good way to find and use those local car services... Back to square one. ;)

Yes, it's just as NeoPatrick describes. Corporate expense policies often don't make a lot of common sense and it's almost never worth fighting.

So what you're saying is they were refused BECAUSE they were going to Brooklyn. What they need to do is get IN the cab BEFORE saying where they're going as per the advice above. If they're refused, take note of the cab number and report them.