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.

 

[Brodydog]

What should I expect to pay from Casa Mexicana to El Moro? The old rate card says 27 pesos. I’m hearing 100 from every driver I ask and they say the official rates are only for locals. When I try to negotiate down they laugh and are happy to let me walk away.

It is not 27 pesos for sure. 100 pesos sounds about right for what we pay from where we stay just around the corner. El Moro isn’t just down the street.

 

[judydivescoz]

$27 Mx is $1.62 USD at a bank rate exchange. I wouldn’t take you El Moro for that either!

 

[anchochile]

$27 Mx is $1.62 USD at a bank rate exchange. I wouldn’t take you El Moro for that either!

I agree and I’m happy to pay more than $27. I’m just wondering, for the locals/regulars, what would you expect to pay for this ride? Maybe it’s $100p, I really don’t know and that’s why I’m asking.

 

[judydivescoz]

I take a taxi from the square to my house near the Corpus Christi Church a few times a week. I pay $50mx. most rides, it can vary by $10. Very fair and at or close enough to the rate table. El Moro is over twice as far.
I honestly can’t believe the current rate is $27mx.

 

[loady]

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.

Let’s be frank. Cruise ships have destroyed the bargain that Coz used to be. I’ve taken cabs in many countries . Mostly they try to prey on tourists. Where they don’t like in UK aka Britannia they’re expensive. Also in Europa, To Barcelona Espana airport was at least $50. Probably same in coz. Either you get an honest easy pleasant uber Lyft , a $$$ meter or you haggle and or get reamed. The cab mafia set minimum posted fares are the FLOOR. What they can extort from Gringo Stupido is the max. In Thailand ten cabs set empty rather then haggle. The long tail boats charge based on number of passengers. Just one costs the price of five. In Indonesia I used a indo taxi app. Had to dodge the local taxi syndicate and meet the guy to get a cheap ride. In Ecuador I had to give the driver directions in broken Espanol. In Brazil I stupidly did not Uber Lyft from rio airport. Price magically changed in route. Considered pepper spray if driver got aggressive. In Belize when I was young and stupid the driver tried to gouge me for a one block ride. I gave him what I thought was fair for a fare and left. Given the age and physical condition of the average coz diver I’d advise against brawling over the fare. Driver might call his ten buddies to get the money. TAXIMETRO POR FAVOR! Mas barato, muy caro senor! Leave the coz airport, cross the street and pay half price. Uber Lyft were invented for very good reasons. Namely shady cab drivers.

 

[loady]

Let’s be frank. Cruise ships have destroyed the bargain that Coz used to be. I’ve taken cabs in many countries . Mostly they try to prey on tourists. Where they don’t like in UK aka Britannia they’re expensive. Also in Europa, To Barcelona Espana airport was at least $50. Probably same in coz. Either you get an honest easy pleasant uber Lyft , a $$$ meter or you haggle and or get reamed. The cab mafia set minimum posted fares are the FLOOR. What they can extort from Gringo Stupido is the max. In Thailand ten cabs set empty rather then haggle. The long tail boats charge based on number of passengers. Just one costs the price of five. In Indonesia I used a indo taxi app. Had to dodge the local taxi syndicate and meet the guy to get a cheap ride. In Ecuador I had to give the driver directions in broken Espanol. In Brazil I stupidly did not Uber Lyft from rio airport. Price magically changed in route. Considered pepper spray if driver got aggressive. In Belize when I was young and stupid the driver tried to gouge me for a one block ride. I gave him what I thought was fair for a fare and left. Given the age and physical condition of the average coz diver I’d advise against brawling over the fare. Driver might call his ten buddies to get the money. TAXIMETRO POR FAVOR! Mas barato, muy caro senor! Leave the coz airport, cross the street and pay half price. Uber Lyft were invented for very good reasons. Namely shady cab drivers.

Lastly, what’s the max to pay in coz for two people aerpuerto to Iberostar or Iberostar to Aeropuerto? Muy gracias mi Buceador amigo!!

 

[ggunn]

This is a tempest in a teapot, at least as far as Cozumel is concerned. Cabs on Cozumel are cheap compared to those in most US cities. I use taxis for all my getting around on the island, but when I am coming up with a budget for a Cozumel trip, cab fares are down in the noise.

I'll add this: I recently returned from two weeks on the island with family and friends, one of whom was my mom who is 96 years old and needs help getting around. We traveled in cabs the whole time and every single taxista we encountered, without exception, went above and beyond what was required to help us get my mom in and out of the cab as well as between the cab and the hotel, restaurant, store, or whatever.

 

[loady]

This is a tempest in a teapot, at least as far as Cozumel is concerned. Cabs on Cozumel are cheap compared to those in most US cities. I use taxis for all my getting around on the island, but when I am coming up with a budget for a Cozumel trip, cab fares are down in the noise.

I'll add this: I recently returned from two weeks on the island with family and friends, one of whom was my mom who is 96 years old and needs help getting around. We traveled in cabs the whole time and every single taxista we encountered, without exception, went above and beyond what was required to help us get my mom in and out of the cab as well as between the cab and the hotel, restaurant, store, or whatever.

Ggun, what about non union /syndicate vehicles being forbidden to drop off or pick up people at the Coz airport? Not in USA. In American cities we have Uber Lyft . And we own cars and don’t need cabs as much. We live in American cities, we don’t pay to fly there. Apples to oranges. We don’t spend thousands to travel to then be extorted. That applies to everyone traveling everywhere. And why should the locals be financially discriminated against?

 

[ggunn]

Ggun, what about non union /syndicate vehicles being forbidden to drop off or pick up people at the Coz airport?

Cabs and private vehicles drop off people at the airport all the time. True, they don't want private vehicles hauling tourists to the airport, but so what? As for getting from the airport to my hotel, their policy doesn't bother me at all; the shuttle suits me fine.

Not in USA. In American cities we have Uber Lyft . And we own cars and don’t need cabs as much. We live in American cities, we don’t pay to fly there.

You never fly from one city in the US to another? I do not miss Uber and Lyft on Cozumel at all; YMMV.

We don’t spend thousands to travel to then be extorted.

Being "extorted" for a buck or two on a cab ride bothers you? Not me; I don't sweat the small stuff. It's their country, their rules.

 

[BRT]

Ggun, what about non union /syndicate vehicles being forbidden to drop off or pick up people at the Coz airport? Not in USA. In American cities we have Uber Lyft . And we own cars and don’t need cabs as much. We live in American cities, we don’t pay to fly there. Apples to oranges. We don’t spend thousands to travel to then be extorted. That applies to everyone traveling everywhere. And why should the locals be financially discriminated against?

You think the taxis discriminate financially against the locals? Or do you think the tourists financially discriminate against the taxistas?