Black and Yellow Cab

Horrible, predatory company. Last night my bf and I took a taxi from Soaring Eagle to Oak St. in Mt. Pleasant (between 4.3 and 4.8 mi depending on which route you take). Our driver nearly wrecked w/ another taxi when we got downtown, and afterward informed us that he'd been "driving for 48 hours straight." Lovely.

We get to my house and the driver surprises us yet again when he asks for $30... he said that's what his boss, Matt, told him to charge. Previously, the most expensive Co. I've taken this trip with is Chippewa Cab, at $3/mile. We would be charged $12 or $13 for the same ride, depending on who was driving. So I have a problem with $30, and asked the driver if Matt had a number because I'd like to speak to him. He gives it to me and I call (after paying the driver and getting into my house), and sure enough Matt answers and tells me that yes, he's the owner, I have the right guy. I said, "Hi Matt, my name is Taylor and I was just in one of your taxis. What do you guys charge per mile?" This is a question where one would expect a simple, straightforward answer. I still don't know what they (in theory) charge per mile, because THE OWNER'S response was a full 10 seconds of silence, and then, "Why...what were you charged?" I said, "That's why I'm calling; I just paid $30 for a less than 5 mile run." The owner then tells me that yep, that's right, it was a $30 fare because it's Homecoming night at CMU and they're very busy. But I didn't call this company, we just jumped in the taxi because it was already sitting at the casino. The driver wasn't picking anyone up (or had a no show), so it seems we were doing them a favor by saving them a wasted trip.

I told Matt that he's not Uber, and his arbitrary, unposted surge pricing is likely criminal. And if it's not criminal, it's still completely outrageous. They took advantage of who they assumed were just a couple of drunk students, and I want everyone to know it. Thank you for reading!