www.CostaRicaTicas.com

So last night I'm wandering around the DR looking for a possible candidate, and eventually decide there is nothing to be had, so I ordered some food to go, got it, and started walking down towards Chubbs to hail a moving taxi. I obviously dont take the cabs in front of the DR, and I like to walk towards that area, cuz then the cab can just turn right by the INS building, make another right, go up the hill towards the Guardia Calderon Hospital, make a left, and bring me home towards Apartamentos Aranjuez.
So I flag one down, and instead of going right, he makes a left going towards the DR, and then down past Avenida Central, makes a left, and then comes back up. So, way out of the normal way. I even question him as to why he's going this way, and he seems surprised that I know my way around. He's using the meter, but it seems the meter is rigged to go a little faster, and by the time we wind up at my apartment, the fare reads 2100, for what is normally 800 tops.
So I tell him straight up that the fare is wrong, and he goes "no no, la maria" making it sound like its all the meters fault, never mind the fact that he went way out of the way in the first place and it seems rigged. So I tell him in spanish that I've been here for months, the meter is wrong, you took me the wrong way, and I'm not giving you more than a 1000.
He starts arguing with me, but I wouldnt back down and told him if he wanted he could call his supervisor and I'd wait and we'd sort it out. I know its only 1100 colones extra, but this crap happens all the time. If no one ever stands up to these peoples rip off tactics, they're gonna continually do it.
Eventually he just relented, said ok sir I dont want any problems, I gave him the 1000 note and that was it. I'm just so tired of constantly having to guard against these rip off artists.

Fast meter... I had that once or fifty times. What can we expect from a 3rd world country who has no taxi commission? I mean they do, but their own corrupt, inefficient, muy-Tico version.

Each time you take a taxi the exact same distance, the fare is different (and I don't mean by 5-10% to account for traffic). It can be off by 40-50%.

E. next time instead of walking up past Chubbs go down the other way one block from the DR to C 11 and A 1. Kind of in front of the Columbia bar. Catch a cab there going north. He'll go around Parque Espana, right on A 7 under the RR and left at the hospital and you're home. Not much way for him to scam you here and its probably better than the 800. This is what I always do at night going back to Guadalupe.

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Knowledge speaks...Wisdom listens

So, you did exactly the right thing! So, the only thing you could have done even better after you told him in spanish that you've been there for months, the meter was wrong, he took you the wrong way, and you weren't going to give him more than a 1000 and he did not immediately back down, would have been to spit on that 1K colone note (or at least pretend to), wad it up and throw it right in his face while saying "tu eres un mentiroso y un ladrone, pendejo" and then quickly turn around and simply stride off into your building without wasting any more time arguing with him about it or saying another word.

So, HE KNEW he was trying to rip you off and he knew YOU KNEW he was trying to rip you off. So what else would he have been able to do about it except to pick up the bill off the floor of the cab where it probably fell, uncurl it, wipe it off and meekly drive away? So, he may have called you a "phucking gringo" or a few other choice names in spanish as he drove off. But you BOTH would know who the one being the real asshole really was. So who really cares whatever else he had to say?

My taxi tale: A few trips ago I wanted to see what the price would be from the sportmens to the airport .....I had a few items to drop off to my wingman who lives across the street from HLH anyway I got into the taxi a block up from HLH and told the driver to go to the airport ...and use the meter ....this old guy in a shity taxi bitched all the way to the airport ,,,I wanted to see what the price would be , it ran a little under 8000 in the end I did give him 10,000 but I just wanted to see the real price.

I was lucky as my wingman gave me the do's and dont's about the third world taxi deal my second trip here ....cant tell how many taxi's I have jumped out of after 1 block....I know its a rough life but trying to rip off people just wont cut it....also I watch 3 guys beat down a fellow taxi driver due to him trying to steal a $2.00 fare (which was us leaving vips 2 )

Yeah....I've had so many bad experiences with taxis in San Jose, that I now walk just about everywhere. Even if I find a chica in the NYB or Del Rey, I'll try to get her to walk back to the Castillo with me; it's only about a 5 minute walk....down past the Colonial and then up through Parque Espana and past the INS building. Keep in mind, I'm never out past 10 pm.

If you do take the taxis....it's always best to have the right amount of money on you. All those coins are a pain in the ass, but they come in handy if you have a problem with a taxi driver.

A taxi tried to charge me 2k for trip from HDR to Sl and I gave him 1k. His reply "beso mi culo"

I never ask for the meter. I ask how much to where I want to go and if I`m happy with his price away we go. If he takes a longer way I don`t care because it`s his gas and same price for me.

If you want to know how to tell if the meter is tampered with, here it is. From a former Las Vegas cabbie. There is a trigger in the center of the meter. A dishonest cabbie will attempt to stick a thin piece of metal or a toothpick through it. It is called tweezing or jiggling the meter. Highly illegal in the US and automatic termination and permanent ban from cabbing in LV. Very common in other countries. If you can get a good look at the meter from all angles and try to see if anything is sticking out. At night I realize this is hard. So try and negotiate in advance.

Great advice. Also, when taking a cab to "anywhere" near the airport... Hooters, Outback Steakhouse, The Mall... ALWAYS get the meter (of course, a good meter... I've never experienced a bad one, but suspect they exist as the post indicates) OR agree on the flat rate.

I actually had a cabbie charge the "airport fee"... Think it was around 20ish at the time. Started to insist on the maria... turns out to be around a 7-8k colon trip...

Paco your advice is right on but your geography is a bit off. Hooters, Outback Steakhouse, The Mall... are on the Prospero Fernandez highway which goes to Escazu and Santa Ana. The road to the airport and Alajuela is the autopista General Canas.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

This can happen anywhere. Last week in Nashville I went to see George Jones at The Ryman. When we got to the airport the taxi driver asked where too my friend. I told him Motel 6 on Metroplex. He said do you come here often I said its been a while so he says I am taking you on the expressway. My bill was $ 24.00 sort of surprising because I had called the cab company the night before to find out the fare. The next morning I was picked up by a cab to go back to the airport and the driver turned left instead of right . I asked where are you going and he said to the airport its right down this road. In like 5 minutes we were at the airport and my fare was $ 14.00. I now know that when I told the first taxi No I do not come here often that was his que to take me the long way. I learned a lesson now no matter if I have never even been to that city I will say yes I come here all the time. When I was flying we always took the shuttle downtown to the Sheraton but due to floods the rate was very high . I am old but still learning. OK think I will take DL 415 to CR in the morning and when I get to the airport I am taking the bus. OK have a good day , Uncle H.

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Always nice to wake up and see what will happen today

Vegas, thanks for the info.

May I ask how does sticking a piece of metal makes the meter goes faster? What's the mechanics behind this?

I ran five chevy impalas, old police cars, trannies always going out, started changing them myself. Plastic gear on the case/cable, varied sizes, changed speedometer and meter. Could make a killing around town, but customers noticed on highway $$$$$

So here's a comparison of taxis. Last month I asked the driver to use the meter and it was 1200 colones from the Dunn Inn to the SL. There was light traffic with no waiting in traffic. Two days ago, I got a taxi at the Dunn Inn going to the SL. The guy turned on his meter, even though I didn't ask him to. There was heavy traffic with long waits getting across Avenue 9 and on to Avenue 7. When we got to the SL, the meter read 780. I gave him 1000 and was happy to get an honest driver.