Proposals to require all London taxi cabs to accept debit and credit cards moved a step forward today with the launch of a public consultation.
Around half of taxi drivers currently accept payment by card but many opt not to because they’re reluctant to incur the costs of installing card terminals and bank processing fees.
However, polling by Transport for London suggests a majority (83%) of passengers back making payment by card a standard option, a move TfL says would make travelling by cab “even easier”.
Under TfL’s plans paying by cash would continue to be an option but all taxis would also accept payment by debit and credit card and via contactless, including services such as Apple Pay which TfL is adding support for across the transport network.
As MayorWatch first reported last summer, TfL are also considering axing the surcharge which is levied when paying by card, meaning passengers would pay the same amount regardless of their payment method.
Helen Chapman, TfL’s General Manager of Taxi and Private Hire, said: “Card payments have become a central part of the lives of Londoners over the past few years, something that has only increased since the introduction of contactless payment.
“We are always trying to find ways we can improve the services that we offer to our customers and, with only half of taxis currently accepting card, we are keen to hear whether passengers and drivers feel that this would be a worthwhile change.”
The consultation can be found at TfL.gov.uk
