Unethical Experience with TownCar Service

[rayelias]

I wanted to share a slimy experience I recently had with Tiffany Towncar. (MODS - If I'm not permitted to use their name here, please *** out their name and accept my apologies)

This was the 2nd time we used them. The first was by recommendation of a friend. That experience was fine. This most recent one, however, was not.

We booked TownCar service through them. When we arrived at our resort, we asked to put the charge on our credit card. There was a spot for the tip, so we asked if it was for just his tip, or for both ways (since we were being charged for both ways). He told me that they just divide the tip by 2 and split it between the 2 drivers. Sounds fair, so I give a hefty tip, in excess of the "suggested" 20%.

When we arrived at the airport for our return trip, the town car driver tells me that the tip I put on the credit card was just for the first driver. I didn't know which one lied to me, so I tipped this guy, as well!

Frankly, I don't know which one lied to me (I have my suspicions). I don't even care which one. I think this practice is very slimy, sneaky, and unprofessional. One, or both, of these drivers is unethical, and I truly feel insulted and robbed. I have e-mailed the company and asked for an explanation and their side of the story. I will reply here with their response.

In the meantime, I would be very weary of this company. If you do use them, make sure you get everything in writing, and clear up any questions you may have up front.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

That's not good at all.

Personally, I would have reservations about pre-tipping for the return trip, when I haven't experienced that service. Gratuity is something that I believe is earned, not expected.

 

[momof2OH]

We have also used them twice. First time was great. The second time was great on the trip from the airport to resort, but the return trip back to the airport was horrible. The driver complained about the luggage we had and just threw it into the trunk. He also never spoke one word to us the entire trip to the airport. I e-mailed the company three times and have gotten no response back from them (this horrible trip was in Oct 04).

 

[rayelias]

That's not good at all.

Personally, I would have reservations about pre-tipping for the return trip, when I haven't experienced that service. Gratuity is something that I believe is earned, not expected.

I totally agree about the gratuity, however, Tiffany (as well as many other's I've looked in to) "mandate" that you pay a 20% driver gratuity. I do believe this is borderline legal, if not totally illegal. I can't imagine being FORCED into paying a gratuity. However, it happens all the time. Ever notice at most restaurants, parties of 8 or more, there is a minimum, mandatory tip of 18%? I think this is sleazy, myself. I mean, you can't tell me what to tip! A tip is for exceptional service!

 

[helenk]

I am sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience.
I've use Tiffany and they do not mandate that you tip 20%, it is the suggested amount, this is from their website

"Our rates does not include driver’s gratuity (Min. 20%). Please take care of the gratuity each way because you might have a different driver on your return."

 

[AccidentalRepublican]

In this sense of the word, I'm pretty sure only professions (doctors, etc.) have ethical codes of conduct. To expect towncar drivers to conduct themselves in accordance with a code of ethics seems akin to expecting carnies or migrant workers to "behave ethically."

 

[Lewisc]

You said the driver stated:

He told me that they just divide the tip by 2 and split it between the 2 drivers.

You're suppose to divide the tip by 2 and give half to each driver. It's certainly possible the first driver wanted to inflate his tip BUT if English isn't his primary language could it just be miscommunication? Bad accent?

If I gave the first driver more than 20% of the total R/T fare, based on being told the tip was split, I'd have been tempted to just tell him to collect from the first driver and followed it up with a letter to Tiffany.

 

[CarolA]

I am sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience.
I've use Tiffany and they do not mandate that you tip 20%, it is the suggested amount, this is from their website

"Our rates does not include driver’s gratuity (Min. 20%). Please take care of the gratuity each way because you might have a different driver on your return."

Good grief Minimum 20% Why don't they just raise the rates and pay those folks!

 

[DebbieB]

The towncar service I used from home to the Pittsburgh airport 2 weeks ago automatically added a 20% tip and charged it to my credit card in advance. Another town car service I used here also did the same. I used Tiffany a week ago for the return to MCO and I was surprised that they did not want my credit card # when I called for the reservation the day before. It was $55 one way, we gave her an $11 tip (20% and because $66 split evenly between the 3 of us).

 

[pugdog]

no place of business can "demand you pay a tip" it is illegal. all you have to do is ask them to take it off. I'm sure your going to hear about how they can't and blah, blah, blah but just stick up for the removeal and it will happen.

 

[Lewisc]

no place of business can "demand you pay a tip" it is illegal. all you have to do is ask them to take it off. I'm sure your going to hear about how they can't and blah, blah, blah but just stick up for the removeal and it will happen.

If its labeled a mandatory service charge and disclosed in advance they don't have to take it off.

 

[WillCAD]

All of this is why I rent cars when I go to WDW instead of using a towncar, taxi, or Mears.

TTC - $90
Tax - $5.85
20% tip - $18
----------------
Total - $113.85

I got a mid-size car in late May for 9 days for $130. For that extra $16 I get to have my car with me through my whole vacation, I don't have to deal with late cars, rude or dishonest drivers, shuttles that stop at 4 or 5 resorts and take 90 minutes to get me there, or inconsistant billing policies. I do get to go anywher I want, anytime I want, without being a slave to the Disney bus schedule or having to plan out a route that looks like spagetti because the busses don't run between resorts, and I don't have to leave for the airport 4 hours ahead of my flight.

 

[GrumpyC.Hook]

I am sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience.
I've use Tiffany and they do not mandate that you tip 20%, it is the suggested amount, this is from their website

"Our rates does not include driver’s gratuity (Min. 20%). Please take care of the gratuity each way because you might have a different driver on your return."

I was planning on using TTC in May but I got a rental car for 8 dollars more then what the towncar would have cost. But what I wanted to point out is ...


If Tiffany doesn't mandate that you tip 20% then how come it says "Min" 20% if it was just recommended they would have put "recommeded" 20%.

They do say on their website to pay each driver seperately as you may not have the same one each way but the point is that they make it seem like you are made to give a tip and that its minimum 20%.


Glad I chose the rental car.

Amy

 

[paulmc80]

I'm not sure if I tip too much, or what may seem to always be the case with me. But, I've used a towncar company's van service with three legs: MCO to Universal hotel, Universal hotel to Port, and Port to MCO. Had the same driver on all three legs. I tipped him, what I thought was half of 20% for the full roundtrip fare, after dropping us off on the first leg. On the other two legs he refused the tip outright. He was a really nice guy and took great care of us actually.

 

[CarolA]

If you do short trips the towncar actually costs mor! For a weekend I can get a car for about $50 to $75 depending on the time of year and deals.

 

[kirbsam]

As far as the OP goes, it is really unfortunate that the first driver gave you the wrong information. He was the obvious unethical one. Not only is the 20% tip on the website(which you obviously knew about), but the message to tip each driver separately is also in writing on the website. This does not excuse the unethicalness of the first driver and hopefully tiffany will take care of him, but I think the real message here is to actually read what is in writing.

 

[my3kids]

We were provided with a limo service for parts of a recent trip. I'm so used to renting cars that I had to ask the person who made the arrangements about gratuities. She said they were included so we didn't tip the driver anything additional. Hope we didn't mess up. My oldest said he was thinking the driver had probably done time at some point! Hope it wasn't for going after customers who didn't give an additional gratuity!

 

[Gary M]

If I'm not mistaken when we took a limo the tip was included in the fee and when we took a Towncar the tip was not included. This was with Tiffany and was told to us by them.

 

[drakethib]

I wanted to share a slimy experience I recently had with Tiffany Towncar. (MODS - If I'm not permitted to use their name here, please *** out their name and accept my apologies)

This was the 2nd time we used them. The first was by recommendation of a friend. That experience was fine. This most recent one, however, was not.

We booked TownCar service through them. When we arrived at our resort, we asked to put the charge on our credit card. There was a spot for the tip, so we asked if it was for just his tip, or for both ways (since we were being charged for both ways). He told me that they just divide the tip by 2 and split it between the 2 drivers. Sounds fair, so I give a hefty tip, in excess of the "suggested" 20%.

When we arrived at the airport for our return trip, the town car driver tells me that the tip I put on the credit card was just for the first driver. I didn't know which one lied to me, so I tipped this guy, as well!

Frankly, I don't know which one lied to me (I have my suspicions). I don't even care which one. I think this practice is very slimy, sneaky, and unprofessional. One, or both, of these drivers is unethical, and I truly feel insulted and robbed. I have e-mailed the company and asked for an explanation and their side of the story. I will reply here with their response.

In the meantime, I would be very weary of this company. If you do use them, make sure you get everything in writing, and clear up any questions you may have up front.

I always try to tip cash so I will give one driver his and the next will get his after the service.

If I may suggest Quicksilver, they are completely awesome. The cars are spotless, the drivers are friendly (our actually wnet out of the way for a request for a particluar store) and never asked for a tip (Of course we tpped him well for good service).

Tipping should never be mandated, it should be earned.

 

[DebbieB]

While I agree that their wording is bad (they should say recommended tip rather than minimum tip), it is there probably because many people traveling to WDW are not frequent travelers and do not know that they are supposed to tip or undertip.

I had an experience with a local town car company about a year ago (the same ones I mentioned earlier in this thread). They automatically add the 20% gratuity and charge it to your credit card in advance. When the driver dropped us off at home, he hung around a little like he expected an additional tip. He did a good job, but I thought 20% ($12) was enough for a 30 minute ride.