Can remember one case where I got a 5am ride to the airport. I suspect the guy was driving a friends cab, as his face did not match the registration. He blew through all stop signs we came across. There were no working seatbelts in the cab. I was literally afraid for my life.
Oh and of course his credit card machine was broke, and he had no change, so I have to pay with 20s and get no change back.
I don't know how long ago this was, but cabs in Chicago are required to accept cards, and if they can't, you're not required to pay. I've had cab drivers claim they can't accept cards (response: "ok bye"), but never had them claim not to be able to make change.
In both NYC and Chicago, you can call the cops over this, and they're very responsive (perhaps more so in NYC).
In that situation, shouldn't you underpay but leave your name and address, suggesting he take it up with the council/police? Do local/federal laws permit that?
I know what it's like though: I arrived late in to Spain once, I got ripped off as it should have been a fixed fare (I had lived in the city!), but it was late and night and was too tired to argue in Spanish.
Can remember one case where I got a 5am ride to the airport. I suspect the guy was driving a friends cab, as his face did not match the registration. He blew through all stop signs we came across. There were no working seatbelts in the cab. I was literally afraid for my life.
Oh and of course his credit card machine was broke, and he had no change, so I have to pay with 20s and get no change back.