Private cab services will accept payments through debit and credit cards by next month; some taxis will also have refrigerators
Private cab services will accept payments throughu00a0 debit and credit cards by next month; some taxis will also have refrigerators
If you're in a private taxi and find yourself short of cash to pay the fare next month onwards, relax. You don't have to hunt for the nearest ATM to withdraw cash because cab companies are coming out with alternate payment options.
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Worth the RIDE: Since most passengers hunt for the nearest ATM when they fall short of cash, Meru Cabs has decided to provide credit and debit card facilities to passengers in the taxi itself. FILE PIC |
By next month, you will be able to swipe your credit or debit cards or make the payment online through your mobile phone. The facilities were decided upon after the taxi owners observed that their passengers are either tourists or business travellers, who usually prefer to pay by card.
"Often, our passengers fall short of cash to pay for the ride and end up hunting for the nearest ATM. Keeping this in mind, we thought we should provide credit/debit card facilities to our passengers in the taxi itself,"
said Gavin Dabreo, vice president (sales and marketing), Meru Cabs. The company is in talks with banks and software companies to make this idea possible.
Meanwhile, Gold Cab has already started its alternate payment option service. Passengers can pay their taxi bills online through their mobile phones. The company has tied up with PayMate, a first-of-its-kind mobile payment service in India.
"It is the easiest option for our customers as almost everyone has a mobile and can access Internet banking," said Arun Sabnis, CEO, Gold Cabs. Gold Cabs will begin the credit/debit card facilities in a month's time. "We are in talks with the State Bank Of India and may implement the service in a month," said Sabnis.
Cool cabs
Sabnis also revealed that within a week's time, the company will have cabs with refrigerators. "We have already done a test drive. Now, our passengers need not need to alight from the cab to buy soft drinks," he said.
However, Rajesh Gandhi, manager-fleet operations, Mega Cab said, "As of now, we have no plans of starting any such services."
Credit-able move
>>All New York City public taxis have credit card machines installed in them, made mandatory by a city regulation.
>>The City of Boston, US, brought about a mandate, which makes it compulsory for all taxis to have a rear-seat credit card acceptance capability.
>>Taxis in Tokyo accept almost any credit card.
