Payment on cards?

Oyster-style cards for cabs
David Williams
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23504346-details/Oyster-style+cards+for+cabs/article.do
01.07.08

A new cashless payment system for black cabs is launched in London today.

Dubbed "tap and go" it works like the Oyster system, with passengers placing a card on an electronic "reader" in the taxi which debits their bank account for the fare.

Run by the Royal Bank of Scotland, it will work with any "contactless" bank card on fares of up to £10.

Only 25 cabs have been fitted with the readers so far. But if the scheme is a success it will be rolled out to a greater number later this year.

Ron Kalifa of the bank said: "Customers will appreciate the convenience and the freedom from worrying about whether they have enough for their taxi fare. Drivers will benefit too because payment is faster."

The Contactless system was introduced on many payment cards last autumn.

Makes it easier for the taxman to see how much your getting and nobles your tax free tips ??

I can't see that as a major problem unless of course you don't want to pay any tax on your earnings.
If a group of drivers could offer this extra then I can see potential for corporate clients actually making use of it and even if attracts extra fees, some passengers would still pay by card instead of diverting miles out of their way to find a cash point. If nothing else it has the gimmick value of providing extra service.

We should wait and see the results of the trial of these machines in London before jumping on the bandwagon.