We were in Houston, Tx. last weekend for a family wedding. As the clan was gathering, one family member arrived late at night and in the absence of the airport shuttle, opted to take a taxi to the hotel.
It was quite a distance and the fare was negotiated at $60. The cabbie said he preferred cash but would accept a recognized credit card and they were on their way. At destination an AMEX gold credit card was presented and the driver's receipt was one of those old tear out paper sets with the carbon paper insert. He ran it thru his "equipment" and it included name, credit card number and amount. But when he went to recover his money from AMEX his equipment jammed and he was out $60. After 36 hours had elapsed he returned to our hotel seeking his passenger for reimbursement but the "fare" was by then enmeshed in the wedding activities and the hotel consierge was enlisted in the search. Unsatisfied, the cab driver contacted the local police and two of Houston's finest appeared with weapons holstered seeking redress for the poor driver. In due course cash was produced, paper receipts voided. All's well that ends well and a perp walk in handcuffs thru the lobby was avoided.
tjs
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