Main Line Taxi

Review: What started at a positve experience with a driver (named [redacted]) arriving to my house at the exact time requested, a seamless drop-off at my requested destination turned turned into a frustrating experience. Upon arrival to destination, I gave my credit card to the drive to cover the $66.50 fare, and he wrote down the credit card # on his clipboard. I game him a $10 cash tip in the meantime. I was also looking for pickup later in the day, so told him I would be looking for a ride later for a return trip home. No problem, and he supplied his cell # to text him later.

Later in the day, I proceed with a text and he texts back to say he is not in the area and no other drivers are available within 20-30 mins. No problem, I pursued another taxi company and requested a pickup. Not too much later, my Main Line taxi driver calls to let me know he can come to pick me up, but he was a little way away. No problem, I'll wait for him. After an hour, no cab and I ended up taking my "backup" from another cab company. Lo and behold a phone call from Main Line saying my taxi had arrived. At this point, I had already taken my "backup" cab the 45 min commute home and was resting comfortable.

I check my credit card statement a few days later to see 2 pending transactions from Main Line taxi. One was for the original cab ride ($66.50) and another charge had appeared for $81. Turns out the driver went ahead and charged me a fare for his failed pickup after having been over an hour late. Needless to say I have since disputed the fraudulent charges with my bank and will do everything in my power to make people aware of the difficulty I encountered. Take into consideration that this could be a case of one renegade driver, but it does reflect negatively on Main Line Taxi as a whole.Desired Settlement: As mentioned, I have contacted my bank to dispute the charges from Main Line Taxi and I have gone and cancelled that credit card. My desired outcome is Main Line Taxi proceeding to refund the fraudulent charges.

Consumer

Response:

As requested, full address of Main Line Taxi: [redacted]

Review: I took a taxi cab from [redacted], PA to [redacted], PA at approximately 2:00 am on Sunday, November 24th, 2013. I mistakenly forgot my 32GB iPhone 5S that was purchased last month in the taxi cab. Within 10 seconds I noticed my phone was missing and attempted to contact the Main Line taxi dispatcher to inform the driver to turn around that I had forgotten my phone in the car. The driver, [redacted], was unable to reached. I continued to call back multiple times on Sunday to see if the driver, [redacted], called in stating he found a cell phone. He eventually called at approximately 7:00 pm. The dispatcher contacted me and gave me [redacted]'s phone number to reach him. Our phone conversation started out with him telling me that the policy of Main Line taxi is that he will deliver the phone and I have to pay the cab fare from where he is currently located to my location. Unfortunately since I reside in [redacted], New Jersey, it wouldn't make sense for him to drive it up in his cab. I asked if I could pick the phone up at a convenient location to him. He said that is fine but it will "cost me some dough". I told him I am sure we can figure something out. I then stated how about he drives the phone to a family member or friend in center city [redacted]adelphia and that I would pay the cab fare as he stated was Main Line's policy. I told him let me get a hold of a friend or family member to make sure they are home at this hour (approximately 7:15 pm Sunday November 24th) and that I would call him back. I quickly reached out to a friend who lives in center city [redacted]adelphia whom obliged to be around to receive my phone delivery from [redacted]. I then contacted the dispatcher from Main Line taxi asking how the process worked. I was weary of the fact that [redacted] could simply turn on his meter at any time and charge me additionally for my fare since I was not in the cab to verify he was not scamming me. The dispatcher assured me he, [redacted] would not do this and that he has no reason to keep the phone. I trusted the dispatcher and called [redacted] back. [redacted] had then decided that he was not offering me the cab fare price to get my phone back and that it would be $60 flat fee. To me he intended on keeping the $60, pay no taxes on his fee and not pay Main Line taxi for the ride. I found this to be unreasonable and said "no". I told him I would pay the cab fare as he instructed as well as the dispatcher who informed me that this was Main Line Taxi's policy to return items (wallets, keys, phones, bags) at the price of the cab fare. He said "no, the price was now $60 if you (me) want the phone". I told him I want to pay the cab fare and would rather not get the policy involved. This is when he stated he did not care about my phone at all and would throw it against the wall or sell it on the "street" for more than $60 he was going to charge me for my own phone. I told him I would call him back. I then reached out to the dispatcher and told him of the incident that just occurred. Even if I agreed to [redacted]'s terms, the demeanor in which he spoke to me left me frightened. I definitely would not have agreed on any price to deliver the phone and have him meet any family members or friends in fear of their safety. The dispatcher informed me that he will get my phone back from [redacted] and that since driving a cab is his livelihood that he will turn my phone in to the headquarters of the company free from harm or damage and that I could then pick up my phone from the headquarters in the near future. I agreed to retrieve my phone in this fashion rather than having [redacted] attempt to rip me off and/or cause any other harm to myself or friends/family. The dispatcher said he would reach out to [redacted] to tell him to bring the phone to the headquarters immediately. I then got off the phone to wait. Minutes later, I received a call from [redacted] who was very upset. He asked why I contacted Main Line Cab. This deal was between him and I. He then said it will be $60 if I wanted to see my phone again. I informed him again that I am not paying him $60 and that he should return the phone to the headquarters. He then informed me that I will never see my phone again and hung up. I called the dispatcher back and informed him, again, of what just occurred over the phone between [redacted] and I. He informed me that he took notes of the entire incident and would fill in his manager, [redacted], in the morning when [redacted] returns to work. He then assured me, again, that they will get my phone back without any issues from [redacted]. The next day I called [redacted], the manager, as I was instructed by the dispatcher ([redacted]), at approximately 10:45 am on Monday. [redacted] read the notes taken by [redacted] early that morning and reached out to [redacted] informing him via voice mail that he is to bring back the phone immediately to the headquarters. [redacted] did not answer his phone or get back to [redacted] until approximately 5:30 pm that night. [redacted] then informed [redacted] that my phone was stolen out of his car. So I am to believe that my phone, that [redacted] was so eager to sell back to me or sell on the "streets" for $200+ (as he stated) was stolen less than 24 hours after speaking to [redacted] and him informing me I would never see my phone again. I find this very hard to believe. I am unable to report to the police because I must do so in person and am unable to do so during the week due to working in NYC. I would like to see [redacted]'s police report. I am upset with Main Line because they assured me that [redacted] would listen to them and get my phone back free of harm. I did not receive my phone back. I did not receive an apology. [redacted] continues to work for Main Line Taxi. This is quite a shame.Desired Settlement: I would like to:

a) have my phone back ($750 retail value), or

b) have Main Line Taxi pay me $200 which is the amount Verizon is charging me through my mobile phone insurance to obtain another phone.

Business

Response:

I can not of course prove that the phone was not stolen from the driver's taxi even though from the complaint this whole episode is very strange. I would like to reimburse the client for his $200.00 fee for the new phone, as requested, how can I go about doing that.

Consumer

Response:

I appreciate your correspondence and assistance in resolving this matter. Please forward funds by way of check to: