Question Are You Tired of the Taxi Ripoff?

[living4experiences]

I've just arrived in Cozumel and have been ripped off four times by taxi drivers! I thought I did enough due diligence to be informed about what I should be paying from point A to point B, but the taxi Mafia has little care about adhering to their rules. The first three drivers refused to provide me the rate card. The fare should have been 260 pesos from Casa Mexicana to Iberostar. The first two drivers quoted 350 pesos to which I countered with the correct fare. The price was lowered to 300 pesos. Once I mentioned I wanted to see the rate card, they all of a sudden didn't understand what I was talking about. I walked away and headed down the road on foot to catch another taxi. Driver number three said 300 pesos and also refused to provide the rate card. Now I was running out of time to get to my destination, so I paid the $300 pesos.

Coming back from iberostar, with no option, I was forced to pay the $300 pesos from Iberostar to Casa Mexicana. Once we arrived, I waited till my stuff was out of the van and then I asked the driver for his rate card, to which he did not know what I was talking about. I then typed the question into Google Translate and showed it to him. He looked dumbfounded and wouldn't answer, even seeing the question in his own language. I then went to the front of the van and took a picture of his license plate. He conveniently found a rate card. This rate card was in USD for cruise ship passengers only, for transportation from the International and Punta Langosta Piers. It occurred to me now that the drivers are charging regular tourists the cruise ship passenger rates all the time. This was not a zone rate card and it was not in Spanish or Pesos. When I asked to take a photo of the rate card, he refused. Now I'm angry and telling him that by law he needs to show it to me. He finally let me get a photo, but he didn't make it easy and wouldn't let me touch it. He says that Casa Mexicana is at Punta Langosta Pier. So somehow that means I'm a cruise ship passenger?

I would be interested to know what the community here does in these situations in Cozumel. Besides taking a picture of the license plate, what other photos should one gather in the event of filing a formal complaint? I'm not saying I would take time from my vacation to do so, but this might be enough of an intimidation to the driver that I'm not a customer that will be taken advantage of.

I'm thinking that Maybe I should just get in the cab, knowing the price, and pay it at the destination. If he has a problem with it, then that would be another issue.

 

[mediumone]

If you're a tourist, you're a target.

Baloney

 

[Zman96]

One of the benefits of AI is not having to be on guard constantly. No need to worry - or even wonder - every time you have a meal if you're being given the dollar menu or the peso menu, to carefully check the bill that you were charged the price on the menu and only for the items you ordered and to see if tip was included.

I know that would be a big convenience, but I love the food in town and walking around the down town area after dinner to have a drink and listen to music. We have found that at most restaurants in town are pretty up and up, especially the taquerias and the long time restaurants. It seems the bigger issues tend to happen on the east side, especially on cruise ship heavy days.

 

[DivingLane]

If you're a tourist, you're a target.

I've never been a target in years of going to Tijuana and other parts of Mexico, but then, I never get drunk and stupid, and stay vigilant. (I have been drunk there, not going to lie, I'm just a quiet drunk)

 

[ggunn]

I've never been a target in years of going to Tijuana and other parts of Mexico, but then, I never get drunk and stupid, and stay vigilant. (I have been drunk there, not going to lie, I'm just a quiet drunk)

I agree, and I do not get drunk on vacation. I used to, but after losing some entire vacation days to crippling hangovers, I finally learned my lesson.

 

[Lorenzoid]

If I understood correctly, the reference to being a "target" referred to attempts to over-charge or scam you. I don't think being drunk contributes as much to being a target of over-charging or scam attempts as looking like you have the money and like you have never walked the streets of a town like Cozumel before. Someone fresh off a cruise ship may have that look. A guy wearing a dive-themed t-shirt and dive watch may look like a possible target, too. As a scruffy backpacker in Mexico, including my first time in Cozumel, I don't ever recall being targeted.

Do those of you who live full-time or part-time in Coz ever feel targeted? Probably not often.

 

[ggunn]

If I understood correctly, the reference to being a "target" referred to attempts to over-charge or scam you. I don't think being drunk contributes as much to being a target of over-charging or scam attempts as looking like you have the money and like you have never walked the streets of a town like Cozumel before. Someone fresh off a cruise ship may have that look. A guy wearing a dive-themed t-shirt and dive watch may look like a possible target, too. As a scruffy backpacker in Mexico, including my first time in Cozumel, I don't ever recall being targeted.

Do those of you who live full-time or part-time in Coz ever feel targeted? Probably not often.

I usually wear a loud Hawaiian shirt or a Grateful Dead tie die Tshirt, white shorts, and sunglasses around Cozumel. Once I was walking around town, and every time I passed this one shop, the hawker at the door came out and tried to sell me cigars or something. After this had happened a couple of times I stopped and asked him, "Señor, do I look like a tourist to you??" Beat, and then we both started laughing. He let me alone after that.

 

[DivingLane]

I usually wear a loud Hawaiian shirt or a Grateful Dead tie die Tshirt, white shorts, and sunglasses around Cozumel. Once I was walking around town, and every time I passed this one shop, the hawker at the door came out and tried to sell me cigars or something. After this had happened a couple of times I stopped and asked him, "Señor, do I look like a tourist to you??" Beat, and then we both started laughing. He let me alone after that.

If you have socks under those hippie sandals, then I'm not sure what you look like.

 

[ggunn]

If you have socks under those hippie sandals, then I'm not sure what you look like.

Socks with sandals? Never!

 

[bhalah]

Socks with sandals? Never!

I remember reading somewhere that socks with sandals will most likely result in toenail fungus.

 

[DandyDon]

I remember reading somewhere that socks with sandals will most likely result in toenail fungus.

Excerpted from: Toenail Fungus and Clean Socks

Sandals or open toed shoes – Wearing these will allow air movement and help keep feet dry. They also expose your feet to light, which fungus cannot tolerate. Socks with moisture wicking material also help as well.