Just Trying to Get Home
After a day of photo gallery hopping and an early-ish dinner at Locanda Verde and then The Dove with Clay, I decide to call it a night and skip the I Love Vinyl party. I kissed Clay goodbye and hailed a cab. Before I even get into the cab, the driver, Jatinder Singh, License #5252980, Medallion #3B55, is asking where I'm going. This always pisses me off, but instead of making a smart-ass comment, I decide to just get in and then tell him I'm going to Brooklyn. It's rainy. I'm tired. I want to go home. I don't want any drama. I just want to get home.
I tell the driver I'm going to Brooklyn and instead of just driving he says, "No! Why didn't you say you were going to Brooklyn before you got in my cab?" I say, "Because I don't have to." He drives for a few blocks, quite erratically, tailgating, etc. I just sit there and roll my eyes and think he's an ass. I put my seatbelt on -- a first for me in a cab. Then he says, "Well I have to go to the bathroom." I tell him I don't care, as long as he doesn't drive me out of my way to get to a bathroom and he turns the meter off when he stops. Somehow, he sees this as me "giving him a hard time" and snaps at me. He asks, "What am I supposed to do? Use the bathroom here." Again, I tell him I don't have a problem with him going to the bathroom, as long as I am not taken out of my way and the meter is stopped while he's away. Not unreasonable requests in my opinion. Along the way, we pass several restaurants, including a diner and I say to him, "You can stop here to use the bathroom if you want." He ignores me and continues to drive erratically. Then he asks if I'm paying with cash and I say maybe. Really, I'm not sure if I have any cash, I rarely do, but I know I have my debit card. Besides, I don't know how much it's going to cost yet. He tells me the credit card machine isn't working, which is almost always bullshit. Finally, we get to a Mobil gas station somewhere near the Williamsburg bridge. He stops and gets up to get out and doesn't make a move to turn the meter off until I yell, "Turn the meter off!" just before he gets out of the car. He turns it off and gets out, slams the door and locks me in the cab. The computer screen comes up and says I owe over $9. Notice, the computer screen came on to show me what I owe and I was presented with the option to pay with cash or a credit card. Hmm... thought the machine didn't work.
At this point, I'm angry. When he gets back in, I tell him that he's driven me out of the way and that's against the taxi laws. I tell him I'm filing a complaint. I take a picture of his license and medallion number and go onto the NYC TLC website from my iPhone. I was hellbent on filing a complaint from the cab.
I thought this was the end of it but it wasn't even close. We get to Brooklyn, and we're 2 doors down from my house. I tell him this is my destination. He says, "Give me $25 in cash." I tell him no and that I'd like to use my debit card. He then yells at me and tells me the machine doesn't work. I tell him he didn't even press the button to show me what I owe yet. The meter is still on!! Press the button and let me pay. He doesn't. I tell him I can go to the ATM to get cash he says fine, but he's calling the police. The meter is still running!! I tell him to go right ahead and that I'm calling the police too and I do call them. They come right away and I tell them what happened. How he won't let me use my debit card. How he drove like a maniac and took me out of the way and how I know the machine is working because it worked when we stopped so he could use the bathroom.
They ask if I'd be willing to get cash from the ATM. I say yes and in fact, I offered that but he threatened to call the police. So I ask one of the cops to walk me to the ATM. The first store we go to doesn't have a working ATM so I have to walk another block to the ATM. I'm complaining about this to the cop and he says, "You know how they are. They never want to come out here. He's just mad because he had to come out here. You should give him $20 and that's it." Before the cops were called, the meter said $25, I think. By the time I came back to the car, the meter said $29. So I get back and I say, "Here's $20. That's all I have for you." The cabbie refuses to take it. I offer $22 even though I really shouldn't have. The cops now don't know what to do. One of the cops is looking at me like I'm in the wrong and I say, "what are you looking at me like that for, he's the one who's wrong here." This cop then says, "One of you is going to have to compromise. He either has to take the money or would you be willing to get get more money." I say, "You know, I would but not for him". I wanted to add "because FUCK HIM" but I didn't. Another cop suggests they call their lieutenant. The lieutenant says that cabbie has to take what I give him since his credit card machine doesn't work. I hand over the $22 and say goodnight and take my ass in the house. He stayed out there arguing with them for a few more minutes after I went in. He wanted me to show him my ID. The cops told him I don't have to and he needs to calm down.
So there you have it. Jatinder Singh is an asshole. I usually sympathize with cabbies. They have a hard and dangerous job. I always feel inclined to give a big tip when they take me from the city to Brooklyn because I know they can't always get a fare back. But this guy has soured me on all of them. Will I stop taking yellow cabs to Brooklyn? No, but I'll only take them when I'm dead tired or it's really late. Will I always feel inclined to give a big tip. Not a chance. Will I file a complaint about this guy with the TLC? Yes, as soon as the website is working (it told me to try filing my complaint later). I never wish anyone fired, but this guy should not be driving a taxi ANYWHERE.