Flat Rate Cab

My wife had to go to the emergency room and called Flat Rate Cab from her office. The driver was unable to find the building (or perhaps went to north Finley instead of south.) They called her back and said, «Where are you?» She told the driver suite 270, so he went out looking for 270 S. Finley, which doesn’t exist. My wife, upset and in pain, had me call Flat Rate Cab. The dispatcher proceeded to tell me that my wife wasn’t where she undoubtedly was. I tried to explain several times where exactly she was and, because of concern for my wife, got loud about it. I apologized for getting loud, and again gave the dispatcher my wife’s exact location, to which she just said, «She’s not there.» Eventually, she said she’d call back my wife’s cell to get the location, and call me back to let me know what’s going on.
After fifteen minutes, I called my wife, who related that what the dispatcher actually said was, «You’re not where you said you were and your husband yelled at me. Don’t ever call us again.»
So incompetence is accompanied by belligerence.
We won’t call them again, as per request. You shouldn’t, either.

Ordered a ride from O’Hare back home to Roselle. Friendly driver, on-​time, and great overall service. Try to book with this service as much as possible. Keep up the great work!

First pick up and ride to airport went smooth, aside from the driver not being able to provide a receipt. Tried to setup a return flat rate ride from the airport home, but they wanted a credit card over the phone to reserve so the driver wouldn’t get «screwed» if I didn’t show even with flight info. I expressed my concerns and I asked to speak with the owner. I was told I’d hear back within 15 min. No call hours later as time grew closer to leaving. Apparently, customer service, concerns, and securing business is not important to these guys. I sent a follow up email and just got excuses in the response. Long story short, not a fan of this company and won’t use them again. I used a competitor who was much more accomodating.

If I could give no stars I would. Looked on their website and used the estimate a quote. It said it would be $ 10. I needed a ride to Midway. Our house is 4 miles away. When I put in to get a reservation Toni responded via email and said they have no cabs in Chicago. They clearly list Midway on their website. So I responded to the email and said that, I am 1 block from Burbank. And if they go to Midway they can’t pick us up 4 miles away to take us there? Again she responded I have no cabs for Chicago. I kindly suggested they may not want to mislead and not have Midway listed as that is in Chicago.
Beware. I should have just read the reviews before I wasted my time.

Clearly customer service is a low priority and safe driving is an even lower one. Earlier this evening one of the cabs nearly caused an accident due to an illegal and dangerous merge. The driver was on her cell phone without a hands free device at the time of the incident, which is also illegal. I called the dispatch phone number listed and the dispatch operator refused to take the information to file a complaint, claiming that it would take too much of her time. When I voiced concerns about her flippant disregard for public safety, she immediately raised her voice and began berating me for having nothing better to do. Maybe that’s true, but it takes a lot less time to report a cabbie for unsafe driving than it does to deal with a crappy cab company after one of their drivers causes an accident!

This company has the worst customer service I’ve ever known. My daughter called the night before to schedule a pick up the next morning. When they didn’t show up at the scheduled time, she called to find out why. She was told, by the owner, that someone called in to change the time. In reality, no one made that call but he continued to argue with my daughter that she was wrong. He was extremely rude and said he never makes mistakes. We will never use this service again.

I called them today to pick me up at Enterprise Car Rental to take me home — the cab got to me in less than five minutes, and I was home in ten minutes in a clean car with a polite drive for $ 10.

They helped me when I was in a pinch and needed a quick ride to work. They were able to get a car for me in less than 30mins. The driver was cool and friendly. Only issue I had was the dispatcher said that I’d receive a call when the driver arrived at my place which never happened. I’d use them again.

Their dispatch ladies are great, so sweet every time I’ve called. I used to use this cab service all the time, but their drivers have gotten really bad. My final straw was last Sunday. My friend and I got Esperanto cans after a wedding. I am white and my friend is black (this shouldn’t even need to be pointed out in 2014). The driver who picked up my friend yelled at him to show his money or he couldn’t get in, said it is policy. I told him that I’ve used their company over 50+ times and have never been asked to show my money. He said, and I quote «I have to stereotype, people run out on cabs and most of them are black.» I wanted to fall over, I couldn’t believe he had the gull to say something like that. Under no circumstances ever should race be an issue. My feelings were so hurt for my friend, and so embarrassing. I will never use them again, nor will I ever recommend them. I came pretty close to calling a local news paper about it, because it’s so sicken how much racism still exists and people need to know it’s not ok. The drivers name was Brian, I’m sure nothing was do when I called, and I’m sure he’s still driving people around making them uncomfortable daily. So, if you chose to still use this company just make sure your drivers name isn’t Brian.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! I have been using this company for over a year, twice a week. My driver asked me if I wanted him to call in an order for me for next week same time. I told him I would do it my self, but he insisted he do it. He had done this once previously for me. The day of the pick up the first time he called for me I called to verify I was scheduled and the owner Toni stated she had thrown the order out in error. No big deal I said and they arrived on time. Last week, after the driver insisted he call for me, I thought I better double check again. A very rude dispatcher answered and I explained why I was calling. Nothing on the board for me I was told. She set me up with a time and everything was fine… I thought. Thirty seconds later the owner Toni called yelling at me for having the driver call the order in. I explained he insisted, because he is a very nice guy by the way, but she just kept yelling at me. I asked her why she was yelling at me? Well that set her off, how dare I ask that, and she proceeded to tell me to find another company and hung up on me. Really!!! Great way to treat a long time customer. I called her back to try and resolve what ever the hell she was mad at me for and explain to her what happened. She wouldn’t even listen to me and hung up again. Who treats their customers like that!!! It’s a shame because the drivers are really nice. Spend your money with a company that will treat you with respect. Still in disbelief the way she treated me.

Wow — after using Flat Rate at least a dozen times a year since they first began, I just called to question whether the $ 39 I had been charged from O’Hare was correct, since I usually pay $ 32. I was told there was a $ 3 gas surcharge (wouldn’t one assume gas is included in a taxi rate?), and when I added that I called when I landed, and then had waited over 20 minutes after I called again and said I was at the door, the owner said, «Then use someone else» and HUNG UP ON ME! I was very polite with her, so now I will follow her advice and use someone else.

DO NOT USE FLAT RATE CAB!!!
I work at a physical therapy clinic and we have a patient that needed rides from Roselle to our office in Bartlett and back, twice a week. When I first called Flat Rate to let them know the deal, Toni called me back and said it was no problem. We settled on a rate and all was well.
Fast forward a few weeks, and our patient started missing appointments. He would call saying his cab never showed up, and he never received a call. When I would call them to see what the deal was, it was utter chaos on the line and I would get a short response like «My driver got is sick» or something like that, no apologies, no phone call before hand to say they were not going to be there.
This morning was the last straw. The patient had a doctor’s appointment (his 2^nd rescheduled appointment because they didn’t show up to pick him up for his first one last week), and surprise-​they were a no show. My coworker called and said she spoke with the owner (Toni) who was very rude to her, said something about her driver getting into an accident, and that they didn’t want to do business with us anymore and hung up on her. When I got in this morning, I gave her a call to see what was going on. She (Toni) answers the phone «Yeah?» and as I proceed to tell her my name and where I’m calling from, she cuts me off and tells me she’s in a bad mood right now and-​in fewer and more rude words-​that our business isn’t worth it to them because no one wants to make the drive from Lombard to Roselle to Bartlett and back for a measley $ 50 a ride. Why didn’t she tell me this from the beginning?
Not only was she extremely rude, but her poor business skills are affecting our patient. I will never use this service or recommend it to anyone again. It seems as though any slight inconvenience to the driver means they are not willing to do business with you.

Absolutely terrible!!! Do not EVER use this service! I asked what the fare was from Northlake to O’Hare and Toni (the owner) said very rudely and I quote «Listen, we do not go to Northlake, it’s just too far for us.» Wait… what? Flat Rate Cab business is based out of Lombard which is 9 miles from there and a measly 7.5 miles form O’Hare! I tried to explain that to her and didn’t even let me speak. She said «I know where Northlake is, if you don’t like my service, then don’t use it and hung up on me.
Toni, you need help. You should never, ever, EVER treat a customer that way. I didn’t even do anything except ask her for a rate to O’Hare and she came after me. VERY RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL!!! DO NOT CALL!!! Apparently she doesn’t need the business if she is turning customers away and hanging up on them!!!

Look elsewhere for a cab ride. I had an early morning pick-​up scheduled for a ride to the airport. I called to confirm the night before, and I was told they would be there on time, and they’d call me when the driver was outside. 10 minutes after the scheduled pickup time, I called the dispatch office. The lady apologized and said the cab was almost to my house and would be there within 5 minutes… So I waited another 20 minutes, called dispatch again and the phone just rings and rings. Awesome customer service. At this point I was out of time, so I had to drive to the airport and pay their insane $ 31/​day parking fees! Barely made my flight, but my bags didn’t because they were checked late. I wound up having to wait around at the airport for hours. So these Flat Rate Cab clowns wound up costing me over $ 150.00 in airport parking fees, and 3 hours waiting for my bags at my destination airport. Thanks guys!
P. S. — Beware of the fake 5-​star reviews left by the owners/​employees. Very classy…

Flat rate cab is okay and im going to be nice and give 2 stars bc they have showed up (not always on time mind you, which is terrifying when ur trying to catch a train) but there are def some actions they need to take to improve the professionalism of their company. First off, make sure ur drivers take a bath and wash their clothing before sticking them in a not so ventilated van with ur customers. I thought i was going to pass out he smelled so bad sitting in his black cap and black coat. Wash ur hair. This is a business. Secondly, my next experience was with a driver that clearly had been smoking a pack of cigs and wanted to continue when i got in… um not happening. And he texted on his phone and played extremely loud annoying music all the way to the train. And now today i call to schedule a cab and im put on hold 3 times, then she comes back yelling in my ear and clearly something was wrong with her phone and she couldnt hear me so she hung up and when i called back she tells me that «there will prob be a cab there when i get off» um why not just say sorry you have no vabs available? Sheesh!

Excellent service. They were waiting at train station when we arrived! Quick, and good price!

yesterday, my husband and i agreed to a flat rate of 50. oo plus one dollar (with tony, the ‘owner’) for tolls, to take me from the ohare oasis to mokena, il. when i promptly arrived in mokena, the cab driver, dave, said my bill was 71.oo. i said, «no, tony, your owner, agreed with us that it was 50.00 +1.00.» he said i recommended taking i-​80w which added more miles. surprise to me! i paid him what i had, 65.00 plus loose change, and we both grumbled off.
first off, their business card says flat out, ‘no surprises”. the very concept of flat rate cab, means just that. that is not what i got.
i called to complain to the arrogant owner named tony. she smirked and said there is nothing at all she could do. she would stand behind her driver of 20 years,(dave), and that was that. i said, «if you are indeed the owner, i feel sorry for you’. she then said, ‘what are you gonna do, call the cops, write a review»
???
if you hire this company, i am afraid, all you’ll get is an empty wallet with a shakedown at the end. regretfully,
a long-​term weekly cab rider and former potential ‘regular’ client that they lost.

Last night, I scheduled for a taxi to pick my husband up at 7:45am to take him into Chicago for jury duty at 9:30am. The lady took down the info and quoted me a price of $ 63 plus toll. So, 7;45am rolls around and no cab. We thought we’d give them another 5 minutes. Still no cab. My husband calls to inquire where the cab was. Right away the lady, who happens to be the owner, assumes we called the wrong taxi service, insisting that they don’t provide service to drive into Chicago. I then got on the phone and told her I spoke with someone the night before to specifically arrange for a taxi to pick my husband early enough to make it on time to the Federal Court on Diversey in Chicago. So now the owner decides to look it up in their computer and sees that we were scheduled for pick up. But, the lady who scheduled us, put us down for 7:45pm vs am. BUT NO APOLOGY from the owner, instead she was telling me that at this point it’s going to take 30mins to get us, «what do you want me to do?»; she agreed that the whole thing was ridiculous and that she was going to talk to the employee, but just wasn’t apologetic at all. Not one time did she say she was sorry. She just told me to call another cab company. WOW awesome customer service! I should’ve realized the last time we used them how incompetent this service was when the taxi driver who drove us to the airport, lied to the service about telling us to just call when we needed to be picked up from the airport vs arranging it ahead of time. But, I thought I’d give them another chance because it could’ve been the driver. Nope! It’s the company! Never again!
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Choose another company.
Last night my friend and I grabbed this cab from Arlington Heights for a 10 minute ride. The driver started harassing my friend (female) and when I asked him to stop, he just pulled over and told us to get out. In the middle of nowhere. Honestly, i’ve taken hundreds of cabs and have never been treated like this. I would normally not write a bad review of a business, but this was just unsafe.
I’m sure this guy was just having a bad day, and possibly this does not reflect all the cab drivers in this company… but do you want to take the chance?

Excellent service. I have been traveling back and forth from Lombard to O’Hare and back to San Francisco weekly, and hope to do so for the next several months. I heartedly recommend Flat-​Rate-​Cab because they really do stick with their rates and they are generous. For instance, on my original trip it cost me $ 60 to get from O’Hare to Lombard; Flat-​Rate has consistently given me a $ 30 rate which is better than I can find anywhere. Toni on the phone is terrific and helps coordinate your travels several days in advance.
They do round trip fares for $ 15 – 20 if you are in town. For instance, I am usually stuck here without a car, so they will help me run errands to the grocers, cleaners, etc and have no problem with these smaller fares.
Highly recommended if you are out in the ‘burbs or commuting out of O’Hare. Always dependable, consistent and no funky rate bloat.