the Price of Taxis

Cab service returning from a trip and a visit to a relative in this nearby town was arranged in advance since I had to make a medical appointment the same day. The pick up time was set and it was emphasized that an appointment was involved.

The greater Houston area has only one major cab company that owns several brands. All are dispatched from one center as well, and I used this company. The cab showed up ten minutes later than scheduled and then made a stop in the first mile to get gasoline! It was only dumb luck to make the appointment in time with the kind of traffic the city has and this was very stressful.

In addition, the cab was far from clean and the driver looked scruffy. He also did not bother to help me up into a rather high vehicle despite seeing that I walk with a limp nor did he help get my suitcase out of the cab on arrival. He even scratched himself several times during the ride and his backseat ashtray was overflowing and smelled.

You can't get a better rate as the city sets them for all cabs, so service is the only thing to choose and this was terrible. I complained and the company never even replied.

When I went home from the appointment, I called one of the few small cab companies and got a clean cab and a helpful cabbie who was also clean and looked well groomed. He had a thick accent and would ask to be sure he was understood, which was considerate. He got the tip and some of what the other guy did not get.

If rates are set and can't be discounted, there's little to choose from except service. I learned that some of the small companies are excellent and drivers more considerate than the big company.

If you can, get business cards from excellent drivers and call them when you need a cab, especially when you need a scheduled pick up. I know have a deck of several of these cards and get much nicer service.

Most companies do care about image and service, so do at least try to file complaints. Tell them about excellent service as well.