cabs to logan, round two

[ifotismeni]

okay ladies and gents, last time i called upon the collective wisdom of davis_square to recommend a taxi company, i lived in somerville and just wanted general recs. i now live in arlington (don't know if this changes anything dramatically for cabs), need an early ride to logan, and have yet another taxi question --

can anyone recommend a taxi service aside from metro cab that accepts credit card payments? i have good experiences with green cab but i really need to be able to charge the fare (for receipt/expensing purposes). i could have sworn green took credit cards but i just called them and they said no? *sadface*

i wasn't a big fan of metrocab when i've taken it. so any recommendations for other cab companies would be great.

♥ thanks!

Comments

[georgy.livejournal.com]

I've never had a problem getting a written receipt from a cabbie for expense purposes, for any cab company. Usually they'll hand me the receipt to write it out myself, but I like to ask them to write it out for whatever amount I am giving them.

[ifotismeni]

a good point. i have to admit i'm a bit leery of having the cash on hand for the cab trip though :(

[georgy.livejournal.com]

Why?

[ifotismeni]

going on a long trip, the less cash i have on me the better (less chance to lose it)

[georgy.livejournal.com]

But... if the cash is for your cab ride to the airport, you will only have it with you on your trip for a grand total of 30 minutes. *confused*

[ifotismeni]

... is it that hard to understand it's just easier for me to pay with credit card??

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

what do you mean?

[ifotismeni]

LOLOLOLOL ffs.

[empressov.livejournal.com]

They must now take credit cards you realize.

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

"Must"? By law? I can't see that having much effect, given the hassle I've had from individual cabbies even when their company officially takes cards -- they say they don't have slips, or don't have the machine, or whatever -- just so you'll give them cash.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Keep five bucks handy. Tell them you're tipping in cash. They'll never lose a slip again.

[ifotismeni]

might want to tell green cab that, as they tell me that they don't.

[ron_newman]

'Must' in which town or city?

[mderidder.livejournal.com]

That's Boston cabs, and not yet...

[lerta.livejournal.com]

Having had bad experiences with both Arlington Yellow Cab and Veterans Cab, we've taken to just using Green Cab for our airport trips (living in East Arlington).

Veterans Cab didn't reliably show up. And Yellow Cab had one cab driver we got twice in a row who lied to us about the flat fare (we made him call the dispatcher on his radio to check it the second time, and he was pissed - made for an uncomfortable ride).

[veek.livejournal.com]

I haven't taken a cab to Logan from Arlington, but have called one a few times to take me from Arlington Heights to Somerville at ridiculous hours of night, and they've been prompt and friendly and generally lovely. I've no idea whether they take cards, but yeah, they'd probly give you a receipt without a problem. (I hear you on the not wanting to lose cash bit, though.)

Their phone number is 781.648.1400.

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend PlanetTran (http://www.planettran.com/Green-Transportation.php). They're pricier than a cab, but they're always on time, the cars are really clean, the drivers courteous and knowledgeable, and they only use hybrids. Plus they email you the credit card receipt, so you don't have to worry about losing it on the trip.

[ifotismeni]

how much pricier? they sound good but i don't want to pay $100 for a (normally) $40 cab ride, for example.

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

Their website does quick quotes based on your street address and destination, if you want to check.

[ifotismeni]

oh, thanks! it's apparently $70 for me. hmm....

[wandelrust.livejournal.com]

Second the recommendation. I haven't used a cab to the airport since I found them, and been nothing but pleased.

[ckd]

Extra bonus: they also have FastLane transponders, so on your way back home from Logan you're not stuck waiting for the cab driver to dig out money before you get into the tunnel.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

we've used ambassador brattle. not sure if they take credit cards though. We've also had trouble in the past with flat rates, with various cab companies, and had to call the dispatcher to confirm the rate we were told was what we would pay. One cabby (not from AB) then took us the longest, most circuitous route ever, it was very annoying.

Anyways, that doesn't really answer your question. :)

[lac.livejournal.com]

You could also hire a car if you really feel the need to do a credit card. You may want to check with Boston Coach to see what their rate is. I think it may be a little pricey but my mom hired them to take us the airport last year and they were friendly, on time (early even) and we made it to the airport in no time.

Don't ask me what happened IN London from the airport to what was supposed to be Marlyebone station. But the driver was still really nice.

[ifotismeni]

an interesting tip, thanks! i'll look into it.

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

hire me!

ahaaaha! I don't think anyone would want me driving to Logan. XDDD

[ifotismeni]

i would have asked, but i need to leave the house at like 5am on monday :P

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

I dunno... 5am, I think I'm still likely to hit someone on 93. XD

[ifotismeni]

O_o you'd have to be *trying.* traffic isn't heavy on 93 that early!

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

I don't like driving about 40 mph right now! XDDD

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

I'd recommend Arlex ( aka Medford/Arlington/Lexington/Winchester yellow cab ). Arlex has their main garage close by in Ball Square.

Also Somerville Green/Yellow always seemed to want tunnel tolls for the drive back to Somerville. Arlex covers a different area, and theyve never asked me for tolls. You could also try Malden Transportation ( Medford Blue Cab ).

I'd also say forget about the credit cards. I used to take cabs for business all the time and the accountants did not want credit card bills, they wanted receipts from the cab company.

For a ~$30 amount, I'd be more worried about the security of the credit card transaction than the security of carrying that amount of cash around. This is not to pick on cabs but I always use cash if its for small amounts at point-of-sale locations I don't visit often.

I don't know how credit cards are handled in cabs, whether theyre verified over wireless, whether there's good encryption. You certainly don't want your account number called in over a taxi radio.

[ifotismeni]

well, i asked a question about cc-accepting cabs for a reason. does arlex accept cards?

[edit] looks like they do. good rec, i think i will give them a try!

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

OK, but don't forget to get the slip from the cabbie when you pay, I'm pretty sure as far as the tax man is concerned that's the real receipt.

And I hope that you're carrying some amount of cash for incidentals.

[ifotismeni]

i hope you realize you're being incredibly patronizing.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah.

Green Cab

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

is great.

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

I have always had good experiences with Somerville Taxi. Give them a call and see if they take credit cards.

[kidsmokes.livejournal.com]

I read this whole thread and just loled.