All cabs to accept payment by card

Drivers have until Oct. 15 to comply

By mid-October, Montreal’s taxi users will never have to feel awkward about asking to pay their fare with debit or credit cards after the city passed a policy Wednesday making it mandatory to accept electronic payments.

“Before there was no obligation to accept credit (and debit) cards,” said Aref Salem, who is responsible for transportation at the city’s highest policy-making body. “Now there is.”

Drivers have until Oct. 15 to acquire machines for debit and credit transactions. Fines for failing to accept cards will range from $125 to $375. Salem says the new policy makes it safer for drivers, who won’t be carrying as much cash around in their cab.

Max-Louis Rosalbert, president of the Regroupement des propriétaires de taxi de Montréal, a taxi driver association, agrees with the policy and believes the announcement should have

Before there was no obligation to accept credit (and debit) cards. Now there is. AREF SALEM

been made in January. Even so, he’s skeptical about the benefits for drivers.

“It costs too much to have a taxi in Montreal,” said Rosalbert.

On top of gas price increases, taxi drivers pay hundred of dollars to work with a company like Taxi Diamond or Taxi Co-op and call-centre services, another $60 monthly to rent GPS and electronic payment equipment and at least six per cent for credit and debit transaction fees, he said.

“(Fees) should go down with the new law,” said CEO of Taxi Diamond Dominique Roy. “If there are more transactions with credit cards, the rates will be better for companies.”

Taxi Diamond has accepted payment by debit and credit for six years, he continued, but credit card transactions aren’t free. Banks, processors and equipment manufacturers all get a cut of rides paid with a card.

Salem from the city says taxi fares take these costs, as well as taxes, into account.

Rosalbert hopes the government will invest more into the industry, adding that he’s optimistic good news from Quebec’s Minister of Transport is on its way.

“Our clientele is so fragile. We can’t afford to lose one of them,” Rosalbert said, alluding to the impact on the industry of independent apps like Uber. “So we’re prepared to suffer to keep our clients.”