In message
, at
03:24:19 on Wed, 14 Sep 2011, Neil Williams
remarked:
I think part of the problem is that it's not an "industry" but an
amalgam of self-employed drivers working though a brand-name booking
agency. The individual drivers not having either the status nor
inclination to become credit card merchants in their own right.

I'm sure the taxi companies could make it easy for the drivers (at a
suitable fee, no doubt, which could if necessary be passed onto the
passenger paying by card) if they could be bothered.

The only method available would be a CNP transaction with the agency.
I've had some requiring pre-payment when booking a pickup at an airport.
Not sure it's strictly within the CNP rules which probably mean the
driver should verify your card (but he has no equipment) when he picks
you up. It's not practical to issue provincial drivers with
GSM-connected card terminals, even if some black cabs may have access to
such things (and are charging about three times the price anyway).
--
Roland Perry