*tiny fists of rage*
Okay, so I've done something today that I've never, ever done before. I've wanted to, but I usually talk myself out of it.
I refused to tip my taxi driver.
Here's the story:
[Exterior scene: LAX airport]
Our Heroine: *steps up to the head of long taxi line after 30 minute wait*
Cab Driver: *gets out, smiling*
Our Heroine: Do you take credit cards? *has had problems with this before and is thus paranoid*
Cab Driver: *manages to smile and look annoyed at the same time* Yes of course. Where are you going?
Our Heroine: *gives proper address* *gets in cab, gives proper address twice more*
Cab Driver: *takes off, headed down California freeway system of doom*
Our Heroine: *zones out, naively trusting in cab driver to take to destination*
Cab Driver: *pulls off freeway into downtown LA* *starts wandering the streets aimlessly*
Our Heroine: *notes cab fare is now $42*
Cab Driver: *pulls back on the freeway*
Our Heroine: *growing increasingly concerned, pulls out laptop to double-check address*
Cab Driver: *asks harshly for address again* *asks for phone number*
Our Heroine: *gives phone number, after verifying address was correct, WHICH IT WAS*
Cab Driver: *calls hotel, doesn't understand directions, asks three times, finally gets it*
Our Heroine: *fumes*
Cab Driver: *finally pulls over on the wrong side of the street*
Our Heroine: And what's the fare? *has to ask twice*
Cab Driver: *points to the meter which says $78*
Our Heroine: Are you insane? I am not paying for the time and distance that you wandered around lost.
I then proceded to argue with him for five minutes, while he kept trying to give me a "deal" - 'Only $65' 'Only $50' etc.
At this point I point out that the sticker on his window says flat rate from LAX to downtown is $38 - which I'd seen but was going to let go, because the difference was only a couple of dollars. He finally said, ok, $42.50. And since that was about what was on the meter when we pulled into downtown, I agreed. And then he had the unmitigated GALL to ask me if I wanted to leave a tip. I said no curtly and fumed the whole time he ran my card.
After I got out, I couldn't keep my mouth shut and I told him that I would have given him the tip - which I would have done, it's a business trip, it's not my money - if he hadn't tried to cheat me. To which he got upset and tried to say I gave him the wrong address. Which I did not, any of the five times I gave it to him. *FUMES*
Okay so. I have his name, I have his cab number. Should I file a complaint? Or should I just let it go?
I refused to tip my taxi driver.
Here's the story:
[Exterior scene: LAX airport]
Our Heroine: *steps up to the head of long taxi line after 30 minute wait*
Cab Driver: *gets out, smiling*
Our Heroine: Do you take credit cards? *has had problems with this before and is thus paranoid*
Cab Driver: *manages to smile and look annoyed at the same time* Yes of course. Where are you going?
Our Heroine: *gives proper address* *gets in cab, gives proper address twice more*
Cab Driver: *takes off, headed down California freeway system of doom*
Our Heroine: *zones out, naively trusting in cab driver to take to destination*
Cab Driver: *pulls off freeway into downtown LA* *starts wandering the streets aimlessly*
Our Heroine: *notes cab fare is now $42*
Cab Driver: *pulls back on the freeway*
Our Heroine: *growing increasingly concerned, pulls out laptop to double-check address*
Cab Driver: *asks harshly for address again* *asks for phone number*
Our Heroine: *gives phone number, after verifying address was correct, WHICH IT WAS*
Cab Driver: *calls hotel, doesn't understand directions, asks three times, finally gets it*
Our Heroine: *fumes*
Cab Driver: *finally pulls over on the wrong side of the street*
Our Heroine: And what's the fare? *has to ask twice*
Cab Driver: *points to the meter which says $78*
Our Heroine: Are you insane? I am not paying for the time and distance that you wandered around lost.
I then proceded to argue with him for five minutes, while he kept trying to give me a "deal" - 'Only $65' 'Only $50' etc.
At this point I point out that the sticker on his window says flat rate from LAX to downtown is $38 - which I'd seen but was going to let go, because the difference was only a couple of dollars. He finally said, ok, $42.50. And since that was about what was on the meter when we pulled into downtown, I agreed. And then he had the unmitigated GALL to ask me if I wanted to leave a tip. I said no curtly and fumed the whole time he ran my card.
After I got out, I couldn't keep my mouth shut and I told him that I would have given him the tip - which I would have done, it's a business trip, it's not my money - if he hadn't tried to cheat me. To which he got upset and tried to say I gave him the wrong address. Which I did not, any of the five times I gave it to him. *FUMES*
Okay so. I have his name, I have his cab number. Should I file a complaint? Or should I just let it go?