Pay the Taxi Driver

Yes, the machine will have a slot where you insert your card and tap your pin on the keypad. My problem is making sure I know my pin as I am asked for it from time to time as a security measure.

GrannyGravy13

If you are spending under £100 you do not have to use your PIN if your card is contactless, sometimes they ask you to insert the card and put in your PIN as a random safety measure.

The taxi driver will give you machine, so if you have to use your PIN he will not see it.

The only time facial recognition is used is if you have an up to date iPhone or android with your cards stored on it. The phone will unlock when it sees your face. You then present the phone near to the device, and it takes payment from the card you have chosen.

Thanks for the info GG.

I suppose taxis still have sliding glass windows between the driver and the passenger. I wonder if he slides the window open then he tells me what I have to pay, or is that still printed on the sign above the dashboard.

Caleo only black cabs have the sliding window, local taxis are just four door saloon cars.

It is the same machine whether you insert your card or tap on the top.

All cabs have the digital display of the price.

If you are going to ring to order a cab, please tell the dispatcher your concerns and if you would feel safer ask for a female driver.

I live in Bristol, so a pretty large city, and all the taxis here readily take cash. I catch taxis a lot and that's how I pay.

Sometimes when you tap it you might see a message to insert your card. You then need to put in your PIN. It is not anything to worry about, just a routine occasional check.

Aldom

Lots of helpful advice already.
Just to add....I recently used a local taxi for a short journey.
I asked the driver if he preferred cash or card.
He told me for cash the fare was £10.
For card the fare would be £10.40 as he has to pass on the charge to the card company.
I paid cash.

It has been illegal in the UK since 2018 to charge more for paying by card unless it is a business card.

Any service charge must apply to all methods of payment.
A driver can be cash only. If they accept cards they can't charge you more and should be reported to Trading Standards.

Thank you Pittycity I rarely use taxis so was unaware of the passing on of the service charge being illegal.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/borrowing-money/credit-cards/the-costs-and-charges-of-credit-cards/

I did check the information before replying to your post. Useful for others to see.

I always use Uber book on the app and pay by apple pay.
Fixed price so no shocks at the end of the journey.

If you want to give a tip add on after journey in the app.

I regularly use taxis and always pay cash. It’s never a problem.

I haven't met a taxi driver yet who doesn't take cash. They prefer it, in my experience.
The rest of the family pay by card or phone.

Cash around here, probably card too.

Cabbie21

Sometimes when you tap it you might see a message to insert your card. You then need to put in your PIN. It is not anything to worry about, just a routine occasional check.

But" tap " what?

Parsley says you "tap your PIN on the keyboard" Is that what you mean by "tap" ?

Contactless is a tap with the card on the card reader (you physically tap the card onto the machine) , the taxi driver will show you where to tap although it is usually on the top of the machine.
Very occasionally contactless doesn't work and you will be asked to put your card in the machine and input the pin.
If you go on you tube there are many videos showing how contactless works.

Taxis used recently here and in London and Paris all had card readers easy to tap.
You can use cash but I imagine most drivers prefer not to drive around with large amounts of cash on them and all those I have asked have preferred card payments.

Caleo

Cabbie21

Sometimes when you tap it you might see a message to insert your card. You then need to put in your PIN. It is not anything to worry about, just a routine occasional check.

But" tap " what?

You just 'tap' your card onto the card reader - it honestly couldn't be any simpler.

Caleo - kindly, I am surprised at the questions you are asking and I’m a little concerned that perhaps using a credit card when you are out and about may not be right for you. Your question regarding taxis and the glass divider suggests to me that you haven’t used a mini cab or taxi for some time. Why are you now thinking of using one?

youtu.be/afdS8huaSrI?si=JJiVGr3k7tkTgaTA

Caleo this short YouTube link explains how to "tap and go."

(Press the white triangle in the middle of the screen to start).

And this is the symbol as it appears on my card.
It's on the back this time, which confused me at first!

I use uber or a local mini cab company, where I book and pay online via the app. It’s great as you can track your driver and know the drivers name and the make and reg of their car .

Caleo would it be possible for one of your sons to take you to a shop, cafe etc to show you how to use the card a few times?
The process will be the same in a taxi.

On the two occasions I have used a taxi in the last 12 months, the driver didnt have a card reader. Luckily, I had thought to ask about payment methods when I rang to book, so I was prepared.
What would have happened if I hadn't asked in advance, and hadn't had any cash, I don't know!

I paid cash and the taxi driver was quite happy with that. I don't do contact less so I would have used a PIN with my debit card.
For peace of mind I would ring up the taxi firm and ask. Of course, they prefer cash as so many taxi drivers have unfortunately been robbed of their takings. Good luck with your journey.