We were informed about the matter by a Reader, a resident of Bolesławiec. It may be the 21st century, but in taxis in the City of Ceramics, people still mainly pay with cash. Some Bolesławiec taxi drivers support introducing payment terminals, but most are declared opponents of such a solution.
Czy w taksówkach powinna być możliwość płacenia kartą?
We managed to contact a taxi driver who has accepted card payments for about a month. Interest—in spite of appearances—is not high. So far, around a dozen customers (out of approximately half a thousand!) have used the new option and paid via the terminal.
And yet this is a huge convenience for customers! The business owner himself—in this case, the taxi driver—does not incur any costs, because under the “Polska Bezgotówkowa” Cashless Payments Support Programme, he can receive a terminal free of charge. (What is more, for one year the costs of processing payments will be covered by the Polska Bezgotówkowa Foundation. More on this subject on the forsal.pl website.)
The second taxi driver we managed to reach by phone also supports introducing terminals. “They are needed,” he argues. “These days, people do not carry cash with them.”
Those drivers who oppose terminals did not want to comment on the subject. Why do taxi drivers have a negative attitude towards payment cards? It is probably connected with tips, as well as with situations when a customer does not have the right amount of money and the taxi makes a special stop at an ATM. The result? A more expensive ride and more money in the driver’s pocket.
What do you think? We invite you to join the discussion and vote in our poll.