Comments for South Boston Independent Taxi Cab , Southie , 617-269-4444,02127 http://southbostontaxi.com Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:56:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Meet John Moore the “enviromental activist” who meddled in the Boston Taxi cab business and cost poor people millions !! by charley http://southbostontaxi.com/meet-john-moore-the-enviromental-activist-who-meddled-in-the-boston-taxi-cab-business-and-cost-poor-people-millions-of-hard-earned-dollars/98/comment-page-1/#comment-48 charley Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:56:07 +0000 http://southbostontaxi.com/?p=98#comment-48 suppose there was a hybrid retrofit option that could be added to the crown vic that would save you 25% of your gas bill, and it cost $10k installed. Would that be interesting to boston cabbies and owners? suppose further that the savings per shift amounted to $6.50 (25% of the 10 gal gas bill of $26). suppose still further that to help defray the cost of this, a $5/shift premium was added to the shift lease rate. do you think the cabbie/owner could live with this? if gas went to $3 the savings would increase, if it dropped to $2 the driver might be a bit out of pocket. in any case, the vehicle would produce fewer emissions and use less gas, most of which now comes from offshore regimes hostile to us. suppose there was a hybrid retrofit option that could be added to the crown vic that would save you 25% of your gas bill, and it cost $10k installed. Would that be interesting to boston cabbies and owners? suppose further that the savings per shift amounted to $6.50 (25% of the 10 gal gas bill of $26). suppose still further that to help defray the cost of this, a $5/shift premium was added to the shift lease rate. do you think the cabbie/owner could live with this? if gas went to $3 the savings would increase, if it dropped to $2 the driver might be a bit out of pocket. in any case, the vehicle would produce fewer emissions and use less gas, most of which now comes from offshore regimes hostile to us.

]]> Comment on Meet John Moore the “enviromental activist” who meddled in the Boston Taxi cab business and cost poor people millions !! by Alexandra http://southbostontaxi.com/meet-john-moore-the-enviromental-activist-who-meddled-in-the-boston-taxi-cab-business-and-cost-poor-people-millions-of-hard-earned-dollars/98/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Alexandra Sat, 27 Mar 2010 05:10:17 +0000 http://southbostontaxi.com/?p=98#comment-24 From a passenger's point of view, Boston cabs are disgustingly dirty, dark, uncomfortable, and cost much more than for comparable distances in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. I prefer the hybrids (they aren't exotics -- they're Toyotas and made in the good ol' USA) because they are far more comfortable. The Ford Crown Victoria's have the most cramped room of any cab I've ever been (thanks to the divider and really cheap upholstered seats, yet are huge monster boats on the road. Also, Boston cab drivers float across lanes, block pedestrian crosswalks (they don't understand the dimension of their car and that they stop line is behind their front axle??), don't use turning signals, are on their cell phones (even texting) while driving, and generally have bad manners. Disgusting place to take a cab. I do feel for the cab drivers, though: they should not bear the costs. The city should incentivize the hybrids with tax breaks as it benefits the city as a whole. Or better yet: make it competitive and invite new entrants into the market to benefit the consumers. You cab drivers and companies have an unfair lock on the passenger. Oh yeah, I'm also tired of the "honking" by cab drivers in Boston -- get a clue and use the roof light like the rest of the world to signal availability!! Unbelievable. From a passenger’s point of view, Boston cabs are disgustingly dirty, dark, uncomfortable, and cost much more than for comparable distances in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. I prefer the hybrids (they aren’t exotics — they’re Toyotas and made in the good ol’ USA) because they are far more comfortable. The Ford Crown Victoria’s have the most cramped room of any cab I’ve ever been (thanks to the divider and really cheap upholstered seats, yet are huge monster boats on the road. Also, Boston cab drivers float across lanes, block pedestrian crosswalks (they don’t understand the dimension of their car and that they stop line is behind their front axle??), don’t use turning signals, are on their cell phones (even texting) while driving, and generally have bad manners. Disgusting place to take a cab.

I do feel for the cab drivers, though: they should not bear the costs. The city should incentivize the hybrids with tax breaks as it benefits the city as a whole. Or better yet: make it competitive and invite new entrants into the market to benefit the consumers. You cab drivers and companies have an unfair lock on the passenger. Oh yeah, I’m also tired of the “honking” by cab drivers in Boston — get a clue and use the roof light like the rest of the world to signal availability!! Unbelievable.

]]> Comment on Meet John Moore the “enviromental activist” who meddled in the Boston Taxi cab business and cost poor people millions !! by Shane Fitzpatrick http://southbostontaxi.com/meet-john-moore-the-enviromental-activist-who-meddled-in-the-boston-taxi-cab-business-and-cost-poor-people-millions-of-hard-earned-dollars/98/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Shane Fitzpatrick Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:59:44 +0000 http://southbostontaxi.com/?p=98#comment-8 he should stick with his day job cause he don't know shit about the Boston taxi industry he should stick with his day job cause he don’t know shit about the Boston taxi industry

]]> Comment on Verifone transportion systems responds to my article in the carriage news stating they will consult their legal team. by Shane Fitzpatrick http://southbostontaxi.com/verifone-transportion-systems-responds-to-my-article-in-the-carriage-news-stating-they-will-consult-their-legal-team/127/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Shane Fitzpatrick Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:29:14 +0000 http://southbostontaxi.com/?p=127#comment-7 from Shane Fitzpatrick to "Ciccolo, Robert" date Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 3:39 PM subject flaws in verifone system due to outdated software mailed-by gmail.com hello capt., flaws in the verifone system due to outdated software...i attached a copy of a credit card slip and notice at the top where hack# is supposed to be and it is all zeros as opposed to being 78 which would be my #....so i called up to find out what happened and was told that i have outdated software that will book you off the system while the meter is on and your in the middle of a job.... also i probably shouldn't tell you the other flaw that i have found because this one is in my favor!!... but i can log into verifone swipe using my atm card as opposed to using the verifone card i wouldn't do a credit job this way because where is the $ sent?... but can do cash jobs cause it tricks the system into thinking its a legitimate logon # the meter will work and those jobs do not show up on my records...im sure any type of swipe card(atm,credit card,hotel room swipe card,ect would also work)... so i just ask customer up front if they will be paying cash or credit and if credit i login properly using the verifone card.... so i'm really starting to wonder how secure this system is on the driver end?...all our information can easily be stolen with basic knowledge of a person/driver.... its great that the customers are secure from fraud with this system but what about the drivers?... it really don't seem our info is too secure from fraud....i'm losing faith and patience with this and am at the point where i may just get my own hand held wireless machine to run credit cards and no longer use verifone until they get their shit together... so my questions to you would be where does hackney stand on me getting my own hand held machine and merchant # to do credit under rule 403?...does it require all credit cards to be run only on machines installed in taxi or does it only require me to have it installed in taxi but not require me to use it? would like to know before i spend 400$ and not be able to use it.... S.Fitzpatrick From: Duane Deane To: Ciccolo, Robert Cc: 'amos tamam' Sent: Fri Sep 04 16:19:17 2009 Subject: RE: flaws in verifone system due to outdated software Captain Ciccolo, Based on Mr. Fitzpatrick’s email, his issues have been investigated by our programmers, in which they have been found to be valid. Our programmers have identified the root cause of the issue and are working on preventing the drivers of having the capability of logging into our system with any other card (e.g. atm card, etc) on single screen units only (dual screen units are not affected). This fix will be completed today and will be released to all cabs by end of business today to allow drivers to have the capability of logging into our system with our VTS issued swipe card only. In regards to his concerns addressing how secure are system is for drivers, it is very secure and we don’t see a risk for driver information falling into the wrong hands. No one other than VTS employees can gain or have access to driver banking information and social security numbers, etc. As a takeaway from Tuesday’s meeting, we will be implementing a feature on our VTS website, providing the drivers with the ability to change their passwords for additional added security. In addition, we have begun the process of issuing driver log in cards to all VTS clients and will disable the keypad login currently available on dual screen units only by next month. We appreciate Mr. Fitzpatrick advising us of these issues and welcome him and encourage any other client with our system to come forward with issues they have found. This will only help and assist with the driver/vendor relations. For advising us of this issue, Amos, would like to extend an offer to Mr. Fitzpatrick of $200.00 for bringing this valuable information to our attention. Please have him reach out to me if he is interested in accepting Amos’ offer. Sincerely, Duane M. Deane Director of Strategic Planning VeriFone Transportation Systems from Shane Fitzpatrick
to “Ciccolo, Robert”
date Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 3:39 PM
subject flaws in verifone system due to outdated software
mailed-by gmail.com

hello capt.,

flaws in the verifone system due to outdated software…i attached a copy of a credit card slip and notice at the top where hack# is supposed to be and it is all zeros as opposed to being 78 which would be my #….so i called up to find out what happened and was told that i have outdated software that will book you off the system while the meter is on and your in the middle of a job….

also i probably shouldn’t tell you the other flaw that i have found because this one is in my favor!!… but i can log into verifone swipe using my atm card as opposed to using the verifone card i wouldn’t do a credit job this way because where is the $ sent?… but can do cash jobs cause it tricks the system into thinking its a legitimate logon # the meter will work and those jobs do not show up on my records…im sure any type of swipe card(atm,credit card,hotel room swipe card,ect would also work)… so i just ask customer up front if they will be paying cash or credit and if credit i login properly using the verifone card….

so i’m really starting to wonder how secure this system is on the driver end?…all our information can easily be stolen with basic knowledge of a person/driver…. its great that the customers are secure from fraud with this system but what about the drivers?… it really don’t seem our info is too secure from fraud….i’m losing faith and patience with this and am at the point where i may just get my own hand held wireless machine to run credit cards and no longer use verifone until they get their shit together…

so my questions to you would be where does hackney stand on me getting my own hand held machine and merchant # to do credit under rule 403?…does it require all credit cards to be run only on machines installed in taxi or does it only require me to have it installed in taxi but not require me to use it? would like to know before i spend 400$ and not be able to use it….

S.Fitzpatrick

From: Duane Deane
To: Ciccolo, Robert
Cc: ‘amos tamam’
Sent: Fri Sep 04 16:19:17 2009
Subject: RE: flaws in verifone system due to outdated software

Captain Ciccolo,

Based on Mr. Fitzpatrick’s email, his issues have been investigated by our programmers, in which they have been found to be valid. Our programmers have identified the root cause of the issue and are working on preventing the drivers of having the capability of logging into our system with any other card (e.g. atm card, etc) on single screen units only (dual screen units are not affected). This fix will be completed today and will be released to all cabs by end of business today to allow drivers to have the capability of logging into our system with our VTS issued swipe card only.

In regards to his concerns addressing how secure are system is for drivers, it is very secure and we don’t see a risk for driver information falling into the wrong hands. No one other than VTS employees can gain or have access to driver banking information and social security numbers, etc. As a takeaway from Tuesday’s meeting, we will be implementing a feature on our VTS website, providing the drivers with the ability to change their passwords for additional added security. In addition, we have begun the process of issuing driver log in cards to all VTS clients and will disable the keypad login currently available on dual screen units only by next month.

We appreciate Mr. Fitzpatrick advising us of these issues and welcome him and encourage any other client with our system to come forward with issues they have found. This will only help and assist with the driver/vendor relations. For advising us of this issue, Amos, would like to extend an offer to Mr. Fitzpatrick of $200.00 for bringing this valuable information to our attention.

Please have him reach out to me if he is interested in accepting Amos’ offer.

Sincerely,

Duane M. Deane

Director of Strategic Planning

VeriFone Transportation Systems

]]> Comment on Verifone transportion systems responds to my article in the carriage news stating they will consult their legal team. by Shane Fitzpatrick http://southbostontaxi.com/verifone-transportion-systems-responds-to-my-article-in-the-carriage-news-stating-they-will-consult-their-legal-team/127/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Shane Fitzpatrick Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:20:14 +0000 http://southbostontaxi.com/?p=127#comment-6 a message for Duane at verifone ts.... i was the guy who found the flaw in your system that would allow cabbies to log into your shitty system with any credit card or magnetic strip swipe card and you offered to pay me $200 for this information and trouble shooting....so i'd like to know where my $200 is and when you intend on sending me payment of this $200?...i will accept either a money order or cashiers check payable to me...and to let you know i have the emails between you and captain ciccolo the previous hackney unit captain that will clearly show there is some type of fraud that was perpetrated on the cabbies of boston under his administration and will confirm that you offered to pay this money....so if anybody needs to get sued it is you shitbag!... a message for Duane at verifone ts…. i was the guy who found the flaw in your system that would allow cabbies to log into your shitty system with any credit card or magnetic strip swipe card and you offered to pay me $200 for this information and trouble shooting….so i’d like to know where my $200 is and when you intend on sending me payment of this $200?…i will accept either a money order or cashiers check payable to me…and to let you know i have the emails between you and captain ciccolo the previous hackney unit captain that will clearly show there is some type of fraud that was perpetrated on the cabbies of boston under his administration and will confirm that you offered to pay this money….so if anybody needs to get sued it is you shitbag!…

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