The authority of Chicago is evaluating the costs and benefits of early plan that would requires city taxi drivers to accept credit cards, but most of the taxi drivers are not happy about having to accept payment by credit card; with drivers arguing that the 5%t credit card transaction fee would end up trimming their wages which they cannot pass on to passengers. As a result, a $20 taxicab ride may just charge the driver one dollar, on the contrary, 10 of those fees per day can add up to over $200 each month in losses. Moreover, drivers expressed deep concerns that must the card system go down because they would lose always the fare if the traveler is not carrying any hand cash.
On the other hand, passengers and traveler are unhappy over the refusal of their credit cards can threaten to report the driver to Chicago’s Department of Consumer Services (DCS). But the cab drivers still refuse their cards because day by day gasoline price and maintenance charges become high and if they accept cards then it would be an extra pressure for them. According to Ron Flores, one of Chicago’s 5,500 cabbies, with the price of gas and passengers who do not tip, drivers can loose money transporting riders who use credit cards. However, cab drivers say they have a better idea for the passengers; and that is the passenger and traveler can offer a bigger amount tip to the cab driver before he rejects the card. So, if you plan to go any where and want to pay taxi fare by plastic, you should prepare to give extra tip to the driver!