Kathleen Horan
Kathleen Horan has worked at WNYC Radio since 2001 and been a reporter in the newsroom since 2006.
Riders Scammed by Cabbies Could be Compensated
Monday, March 15, 2010
New York, NY –
Thousands of riders ensnared in a two-year $8 million scam by cabbies who illegally overcharged riders could get some of their money back. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says his administration is looking into ways to track down overcharged passengers who paid by credit card.
Last week, the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission announced it had discovered a widespread scam where at least 35,000 cabbies routinely charged city drivers a higher rate used for Nassau and Westchester counties. The average passenger was overcharged $4.45. The Mayor says the city has credit card records, but only keeps them for 30 days.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission says they discovered the scam through the use of the new GPS that are required in every cab. But Bhairavi Desai with the New York Taxi Workers Alliance says the GPS and the meters are the problem. She contends there's no way that nearly every licensed driver intentionally defrauded the public and there are no witnesses to the alleged crimes. The TLC says the city should conduct a more through investigation before casting judgment.
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