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.

 

[JFS]

I'll be there on Wednesday to Monday to see for myself. I hope it's not that bad.

Playa Del Carmen taxi drivers just issued statement on this thread about Cozumel taxis....hold my beer! Taxistas golpean a pareja de turistas en Playa del Carmen

they gave a beatdown to some customers who didnt pay...

 

[ReefHound]

Playa Del Carmen taxi drivers just issued statement on this thread about Cozumel taxis....hold my beer! Taxistas golpean a pareja de turistas en Playa del Carmen

they gave a beatdown to some customers who didnt pay...

I didn't see anything in that article about Cozumel taxis.

 

[Snoweman]

I didn't see anything in that article about Cozumel taxis.

It was a "hold my beer" thing...

 

[JFS]

I didn't see anything in that article about Cozumel taxis.

Thats how the taxis are in Playa. Very aggressive, make Cozumel taxis look like boy scouts. Cancun is sketchy too.....

 

[judydivescoz]

Thats how the taxis are in Playa. Very aggressive, make Cozumel taxis look like boy scouts. Cancun is sketchy too.....

We use Playa taxis when we go to CUN or on a big shopping trip to Costco, Home Depot etc when we hire one for the day. Not sure what you mean about aggressive but on some rides on the highway to Cancun, I just close my eyes. It’s crazy driviers. It’s not just the taxi drivers it’s everyone. We would rather hire a taxi than taking our chances driving our car (the car ferry is completely ridiculous by the way) with traffic in Playa for a one day trip. We have found taxi drivers in Playa very willing to negotiate a day rate that works for us. With those experiences on the mainland, it makes me appreciate the island and the taxi drivers here more.

 

[mediumone]

We use Playa taxis when we go to CUN or on a big shopping trip to Costco, Home Depot etc when we hire one for the day. Not sure what you mean about aggressive but on some rides on the highway to Cancun, I just close my eyes. It’s crazy driviers. It’s not just the taxi drivers it’s everyone. We would rather hire a taxi than taking our chances driving our car (the car ferry is completely ridiculous by the way) with traffic in Playa for a one day trip. We have found taxi drivers in Playa very willing to negotiate a day rate that works for us. With those experiences on the mainland, it makes me appreciate the island and the taxi drivers here more.

In our experience, the absolute craziest are the colectivo drivers. A few trips south on 307......

 

[ggunn]

...on some rides on the highway to Cancun, I just close my eyes. It’s crazy driviers. It’s not just the taxi drivers it’s everyone...

FWIW, the rules of the road (legal or informal) can be very different in another country. Many years ago I lived in Lima, Peru for a while, and at first the taxi rides terrified me, but then I came to realize that I never saw a wreck or evidence of one. Of course, I had no desire whatsoever to get out there in it myself.

 

[judydivescoz]

FWIW, the rules of the road (legal or informal) can be very different in another country. Many years ago I lived in Lima, Peru for a while, and at first the taxi rides terrified me, but then I came to realize that I never saw a wreck or evidence of one. Of course, I had no desire whatsoever to get out there in it myself.

That’s so true. Every country seems to have its own set of rules. We have lived in Capetown South Africa for a bit, it was craziness compounded by driving on the opposite side of the road, a whole new learning experience. Locally, we read about car wrecks on that highway far too often. My guess would be they were caused by aggressive driving. It can shut the highway down for hours.

 

[Dan G]

That’s so true. Every country seems to have its own set of rules. We have lived in Capetown South Africa for a bit, it was craziness compounded by driving on the opposite side of the road, a whole new learning experience. Locally, we read about car wrecks on that highway far too often. My guess would be they were caused by aggressive driving. It can shut the highway down for hours.

Traveled to Vietnam in the mid-90s where I bought a motorcycle and rode from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Took some time to get used to their rules, which basically amount to "the bigger vehicle gets right of way regardless of which side of the road they are on."

I've been over charged to get to the airport in Cozumel, but that's about it. Don't use taxis a lot, but it hasn't been a bad experience for us in about 20 years of going there almost annually.

 

[living4experiences]

I know I am in the minority but I personally find it really weird when people from rich countries go to poor countries and really badger the locals on principal that they feel they're getting ripped off. Certainly it's likely cheaper than a cab ride at home and if you can't afford the 10% shakedown on holiday, just stay home. I get it if he's asking for 500p and the rate is 260p. That's greedy and unfair. But you're arguing (being stressed on your holiday) for 40p with a guy who probably has his kids selling coconuts on the beach rather than being in school. You're the visitor here, no need to get mad at the locals.

Lastly, you actually asked the cab for the ride. This isn't even like the airport people who follow and harass you to drive you to your resort who are much worse.

I'm sad for you that you think a shakedown is an acceptable practice while being a tourist.