Beware of OHare taxi cabs overcharging travellers

Question

For a 26 mile ride to the suburb, I was charged $392. I knew this was a very high price as Uber showed $60 for this distance. My card could not be linked in Uber or Lyft for some strange reasons and I was forced to use the taxi available after exiting from Door 5C of T5 (international arrivals). I am not new to Chicago and this is probably my 5th visit. I was heading to the taxi cab line while one of the drivers intercepted and asked if I needed a taxi. I asked about the charges and he said he will go by meter and whatever it shows he will charge me. I asked about the rate and he said USD 4.40 per mile and 0.6 per minute + surcharges, tip and tax. A quick calculation gave me a result of $130, and I didn't think much about surcharge and tax. There was no visible meter in the cab and I was suspicious. I asked if I will get a printed receipt but he said he can only give a handwritten one. On reaching the destination, he charged me $392 !!! I was shocked. My card was not working and I carried only $200 in cash. My co-traveller, a guest to our office, was carrying $200 in cash and I had to borrow from him to pay. He showed an app which gave a breakup for $319.12. For 25.9 miles, a charge of $115, for 39.51 minutes a charge of $25.5, base fare of $15, tip of $41.62, surge 1.55x of $85.62. He added a service charge of 20% over and above this total, and a toll charge of $9, all of which totalled to $392. He did not return the change of $8 as well. I was pretty sure he is robbing us but did not have anything to prove that. There was an 'email' option in the app and I entered my email for the receipt. But I did not receive any email. I did not want to pick up an argument as he was well-built, and we were new to the place, dropped at a hotel which was secluded. I asked for his mobile number and he did provide one. He appeared genuine and when I messaged, he was replying and assuring that I will get a printed receipt. I kept following up for a week but after a point, he stopped responding. I did research and found 311 to complain, but it can only take local US numbers and will not take any international numbers. On their website, the drop location has to be within Chicago and not the suburb!! 311 was of no use for me. I lost sleep for a couple of days being a victim of some taxi driver who charged us one-third of our flight ticket from Bengaluru to Chicago to take us to a destination 26 miles away. Please do not use any services offered by some random taxi cab guy at the airport. Use only Uber, Lyft, American Taxi or any authorized taxi cab operators and stay alert.

Edited: 1 year ago

Answer

It sounds like you had a frustrating experience, and unfortunately, this is not uncommon for travelers in some cities, including Chicago. Overcharging by taxi drivers, especially at airports, can happen, and it’s crucial to be cautious when using taxi services that are not from reputable or authorized companies. Here are some tips and suggestions for dealing with situations like this in the future:

1. Always Use Reputable and Authorized Taxi Services

It’s essential to use only official taxi services, like those that are licensed by the city of Chicago. Authorized taxis will have a visible meter and a printed receipt. Some good options at O'Hare Airport include:

American Taxi
Taxi services with the "Authorized Airport Taxi" logo
Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft (which also offer pricing transparency through their apps)

2. Avoid Random Taxi Drivers at the Airport

As you experienced, random taxi drivers who intercept passengers outside the designated taxi line can often charge inflated prices. These drivers may not be following proper protocols and may try to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers. Always use the official taxi queue at the airport or book through a trusted ride-sharing app like Uber or Lyft.

3. Check for a Meter and Get a Receipt

Make sure that the taxi you get into has a visible working meter, and always ask for a printed receipt before leaving the vehicle. If a driver refuses to provide one, that is a red flag. If the taxi company cannot provide a receipt, they are likely operating outside the regulations. A handwritten receipt, as you mentioned, is not standard practice for regulated services.

4. Report Any Overcharging or Unethical Behavior

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation again, report the incident to the appropriate authorities. For taxis, you can file a complaint with the City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). For issues related to Uber or Lyft, you can report directly within the app. If you are unable to reach the proper authority directly, here are some general steps:

Call the city’s official taxi complaint hotline or file a complaint online through the BACP website.
Report the incident to your credit card company if you paid by card, especially if you feel the charge was fraudulent.
If you can't get a response from the taxi company or app, escalate your complaint to a higher level (e.g., contacting consumer protection agencies or local tourism boards).

5. Be Cautious When Traveling to Secluded Locations

If you're traveling to less familiar or secluded areas, always ensure that you are dealing with a licensed and known provider. In your case, if the hotel was far from the main areas of Chicago, you might consider organizing transport through the hotel or using a service like Uber or Lyft for greater peace of mind.

6. How to Avoid Future Issues

In the future, consider the following steps to avoid overcharging:

Use ride-sharing apps (like Uber or Lyft) for transparent pricing and the ability to track the route.
Request a quote upfront, especially for long-distance trips, so you know what to expect.
Ask your hotel or the airport staff for recommendations for trusted taxi services.

Final Thoughts

I can understand how frustrating this situation was, especially after such a long trip. By being cautious and using official transportation services, you can avoid these types of incidents. Hopefully, your future trips to Chicago will be more enjoyable and stress-free.