Complaint Review: Universal Taxi - Addison Illinois

Like many others, I viewed an ad on craigslist for a company hiring taxi drivers. The exact wording of this ad is:

APPLY TODAY FULL TIME SUBURBAN TAXI DRIVERS

Full Time Positions Available Immediately Earn Cash $600-$700 Weekly Take Home Pay Net

Well Established Suburban Taxi Company Servicing Dupage, Kane and Cook County Suburbs Serviceable Territory Map Above . Now Hiring Immediate Full Time Taxi Drivers to Provide Transportation To our Large Client Base.

Including Service to all Major Hotels, Restaurants, Corporations, Residences, Business Accounts , Airport Transportation and Packages - business 24 Hours a Day. Our Company provides Drivers with Newer Vehicles, Drivers take Taxi's Home and Work their own Schedule. Great Opportunity ..No Experience Required But must be Customer Service Oriented. Gps Units are Available. All Business Provided to Drivers by Computer Dispatch from our Company 24 Hours a Day.

Applicants Must Be at Least 23 Years Old

Must Have A Valid Drivers Licensce Required and Good Driving Record

No Criminal Felony Convictions on Background;

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED DAILY ON WALKIN BASIS

Monday - Friday , 9am- 6pm

For More Info, Please Call 630-261-0621

I went In and filled out an application, and I was given an interview on the spot. In the interview, this guy named Gordon sits me down and pulls out his calculator and tells me that most drivers earn 250$ a day minus expenses such as, gas and lease fee's. He told me that 250$ could be achieved by just working twelve hours a day six days a week. He even went as far as saying that if I worked more hours like some of these Arabs and Europeans I could make more. After a couple of other brief questions about my background, He tells me that someone would contact me. So when I left, I was very relieved and excited because I found a new job so I can pay my bills and stop going further into debt.

I received a call the next week asking to me to come in for training. The training was just to show you how to use the meter and credit card system. After sitting 8 hours in a tiny room, we were pulled out of the room one by one to sign paperwork and receive our taxi. When it was my turn, I went into Gordon's office, and he puts a paper in my face asking me to initial in certain spots. I'll admit I didn't read it as careful as I should have because when I tried he quickly just summarized what the contract was. He explained that I had to work for 7 days before I can sign to terminate my lease, and I would have to work for an additional 7 days after signing a termination agreement. I figured these terms would be okay since I wasn't looking to quit Immediately because of the money that he said I would make. After the paperwork, I then received my taxi with no gas and had to come immediately out of my pocket with money before I even started.

I began driving the taxi the next morning. I worked for a total of 10 hours the first day and only made only 78 dollars, which was not even close to that 250$. I know some out there will say well say"you didn't work for a full 12 hours." Let me just tell you that it would have been impossible to make 172 in just two hours to reach that goal of 250$. So after the first day I was already going further into debt. The second day I worked for 11 Hours and received only 62 dollars and thus sinking into debt even more. After a few days of not making money, the weekend rolls around and I did a little better, but not because of universal taxi. I was only dispatched a few calls across town for a lousy couple of dollars for each fare. I got lucky that night and just happened to find people stranded on the street that needed a ride, and I made more than what dispatch was giving me.

So after going negative the first week and barely making money the second week I decided to quit. I was so disgusted with this company I didn't continue to work to pay off the lease. I could not even look at this ugly car sitting in my driveway any longer. My first thought was to just drive this car to their shop and toss them the keys. I changed my mind after reading other people's reviews and how universal taxi tries to sue you and ruin your credit. I figure it's easier to pay them 532$ to get the hell out of my life. In the end, I'm further into debt, and I just got robbed by universal taxi. I will continue to make others aware of this company and try to save them from these predatory tactics and slave labor conditions. If you desperately need a job I would urge you to save your time and not apply here this is not going to solve your financial problems, it will make them worse.

We all have to answer to a higher power someday, and Gordon Simic will get whats coming to him.