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.

 

[Marcellus Ocean Farer]

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.

Let's open a thread about cabs in NY ha ha ha....

 

[ReefHound]

I know reading is a struggle. The only way you got those prices is when 100 other people are also leaving the mini aeropuerto. I was not leaving with 100 people. I dropped off someone for a flight and then left. So I was quoted the outrageous ripoff don’t want to work rate which I didn’t pay by walking five minutes out of the tiny little mini airport across the street. That exercise also burned calories and made me healthier. My legs did not fall off from the marathon. And I am not young. What more can I share to clear it up?

Life must be a struggle for you. The van shuttle prices from the airport are literally printed on the wall of the booths. There is no "quoting" fares at all. If you were negotiating with someone outside and not buying your tickets from the inside booth, that's your own stupidity.

 

[ggunn]

Life must be a struggle for you. The van shuttle prices from the airport are literally printed on the wall of the booths. There is no "quoting" fares at all. If you were negotiating with someone outside and not buying your tickets from the inside booth, that's your own stupidity.

I am starting to get a whiff of Eau de Troll in these threads.

 

[loady]

Life must be a struggle for you. The van shuttle prices from the airport are literally printed on the wall of the booths. There is no "quoting" fares at all. If you were negotiating with someone outside and not buying your tickets from the inside booth, that's your own stupidity.

Only for arriving flights . You’re wrong again

 

[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.

You stopped traveling to coz. That’s the solution

 

[loady]

The prices posted at the shuttle windows have nothing to do with how many people are leaving the airport at a given time.

Wrong . Less then full can you pay for 4 people

 

[DandyDon]

The van shuttle prices from the airport are literally printed on the wall of the booths.

Correct. I have an old photo if you'd be interested.

Only for arriving flights . You’re wrong again

Flights are irrelevant. If you're inside the terminal shopping for a ride, then shared van prices are on the wall.

Wrong . Less then full can you pay for 4 people

Only if you want a private van, which I don't think you ever mentioned here. But since you were quoted $80 USD, that would fit 1285 MXN I guess with changing exchange rates.

 

[ggunn]

Wrong . Less then full can you pay for 4 people

Wrong, The charge for the shuttle van is a set amount per person per hotel. The private service is designed to cater to people who are willing to spend whatever it takes not to be mixed with the hoi polloi, so yes, it's expensive.

Have you maybe only been to Cozumel just the once when you you did not understand how their system works? Did you even look at how much the shuttle van would have cost to get you to the resort?

No matter where you go as a neophyte, what you do not know will cost you.

 

[ReefHound]

Only for arriving flights . You’re wrong again

Not sure why you would be at the airport looking for a shuttle unless you arrived on a flight but anyone can walk in the sliding doors next to the shuttle ticket booths. People do it all the time to use the restrooms.

 

[NDL_Diver]

Here is more recent shuttle price (Dec 23)