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.

 

[rmssetc]

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.

Principal: the guy who had a serious conversation with your parents when you did something really bad in high school
Principle: a moral rule or belief

In this example, the principle being violated is that the passenger is actually getting ripped off, not just that they feel like it. This isn't a case of two sets of rules, like the taxi rates for foreigners being legally higher than those for locals showing a residence card. This is a case of the driver violating the rules (rate card).

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.

Um, so if I go someplace that's more prosperous, where the cost of a taxi ride, or dinner, or a pair of pants, is higher than at my home, it would be "OK" for me to underpay a small amount (10%) because I'm the one with fewer resources and the vendor shouldn't get stressed?

I do agree with you that the stress may be more valuable than the dollar (peso) amount, but that is completely distinct from the principle that the driver should charge according to the rate card (or meter, or pre-negotiated price).

 

[macado]

What's it like driving your vehicle back and forth through Mexico to get to/from Cozumel/Home?

It is actually a beautiful drive. Total of 8-9 days of driving from Massachusetts. MA to Eagle Pass, Texas usually takes us 3 days. Eagle Pass, TX to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico is 4-5 days of driving in Mexico. We typically try to limit ourselves to no more than 8-10 hours of driving each day and get on the road at 630-7am each day to avoid driving at night.

This year I kept track of fuel costs and tolls in Mexico.
Total cumulative miles from US to Mexico: 4030 miles
Miles in Mexico: 1800 miles (~2890 km)
Days on road in Mexico: 5 days
Number of fuel stops in Mexico: 7
Total fuel cost in Mexico: 6614.96 pesos (392usd)
Total fuel in Mexico: 292.37 litres (77 gallons)
Total toll costs in Mexico: 2,823 pesos (167usd)

The main reason we did this was so we could have tanks on the island. Also, trying to hail a taxi with 8-10 tanks and wet dive gear can be difficult. I've tried before Otherwise I would look at long term vehicle rentals on the island but I wanted something reliable with 4x4 drive.

 

[Snoweman]

It is actually a beautiful drive. Total of 8-9 days of driving from Massachusetts. MA to Eagle Pass, Texas usually takes us 3 days. Eagle Pass, TX to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico is 4-5 days of driving in Mexico. We typically try to limit ourselves to no more than 8-10 hours of driving each day and get on the road at 630-7am each day to avoid driving at night.

This year I kept track of fuel costs and tolls in Mexico.
Total cumulative miles from US to Mexico: 4030 miles
Miles in Mexico: 1800 miles (~2890 km)
Days on road in Mexico: 5 days
Number of fuel stops in Mexico: 7
Total fuel cost in Mexico: 6614.96 pesos (392usd)
Total fuel in Mexico: 292.37 litres (77 gallons)
Total toll costs in Mexico: 2,823 pesos (167usd)

The main reason we did this was so we could have tanks on the island. Also, trying to hail a taxi with 8-10 tanks and wet dive gear can be difficult. I've tried before Otherwise I would look at long term vehicle rentals on the island but I wanted something reliable with 4x4 drive.

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There's another SB member that does the drive from Louisiana (I think). I believe she(?) has posted about getting shaken down by the vigilantes along the way. Any problem in that area?

Thank you for the response BTW.

 

[macado]

There's another SB member that does the drive from Louisiana (I think). I believe she(?) has posted about getting shaken down by the vigilantes along the way. Any problem in that area?

Thank you for the response BTW.

We were incredibly lucky and did not get stopped or shaken down at all on our drive this year. Unfortunately it's not uncommon when driving through heavy tourist areas like Tulum, Playa and Cancun. A lot of the police will try to extort money. Do not pay the mordida.

If they ask for a bribe, tell them you will only pay the ticket at the police station. They are counting on you being nervous or in a hurry. Play their game. Tell them you are happy to pay the fine but you need to pay it at the police station and get a receipt. Smile, but but be firm and direct or pretend not to understand. They will quickly get bored or frustrated and look for an easier target.

We got stopped a few times last year at security checkpoints. They quickly searched our car, asked a few questions about where we were going and let us on our way. I realize there are other people who are not so lucky. We have a dash camera, always try to go the speed limit.

 

[Snoweman]

We were incredibly lucky and did not get stopped or shaken down at all on our drive this year. Unfortunately it's not uncommon when driving through heavy tourist areas like Tulum, Playa and Cancun. A lot of the police will try to extort money. Do not pay the mordida.

If they ask for a bribe, tell them you will only pay the ticket at the police station. They are counting on you being nervous or in a hurry. Play their game. Tell them you are happy to pay the fine but you need to pay it at the police station and get a receipt. Smile, but but be firm and direct or pretend not to understand. They will quickly get bored or frustrated and look for an easier target.

We got stopped a few times last year at security checkpoints. They quickly searched our car, asked a few questions about where we were going and let us on our way. I realize there are other people who are not so lucky. We have a dash camera, always try to go the speed limit.

I was shaken down in Playa by a police officer at 3:00 AM to get to my flight. My wife called me a sh!tty negotiator. Next time, I will let them cart her off to jail while I get to my flight. He took me for $150.00.

The next year, I was in Coz with two of my buddies when he was pulled over south of town. That cop wanted $25. I almost took out another $25 and wanted to tell him we were going to the airport in the morning and wanted an escort.

IIRC, the poster said it wasn't police, but vigilante gangs that would create road blocks for a "toll". I think she also said they look in the car to see any obvious valuables. She said her husband is charming and speak enough to get through unscathed (IIRC).

 

[springsboy]

How about ignoring the rate card and paying the best price you can or care to negotiate? That would be a truly free market approach.

 

[mcohen1021]

Cab ripoff in Cozumel seems laughable after traveling to St Thomas and BVI 2 weeks ago

Holy crap, I felt like filing rape charges lol

 

[DivingLane]

Those rate cards are 8 years old aren't they? Don't you think the drivers deserve more than a fare from 8 years ago? Does anyone have a card picture that isn't blurry?

Really glad we get rental cars and aren't afraid to drive in Mexico. Is this a good post to start a debate on whether or not I should get additional insurance from the company, or is my credit card coverage enough? I kid, i kid

 

[Lorenzoid]

How about ignoring the rate card and paying the best price you can or care to negotiate? That would be a truly free market approach.

Haggling would be a fine system, except that's not the system they chose.

 

[ReefHound]

This year the taxis in the state of quintana roo are all supposed to go on metres so that should do away with the taxis scamming so much now. Ill bet the cozumel taxi union will try to be exempt from it.....

In other 3rd World countries where they have meters, they somehow are always "broken".