Epstein asks what recourse exists for overcharged pedicab passengers

So what do you say to a consumer who's, like, took a 20-minute cab ride, pedicab ride, and it cost them $1,000?

What recourse does DCWP have in place to help that consumer, whether a tourist or a New Yorker, out in that situation?

I think to a certain extent, in any situation when we're dealing with unlicensed actors, I think the message that we have to communicate to consumers is preventative.

Engaging with unlicensed actors, whether that's a home improvement contractor or a pedicab, it's particularly dangerous for a consumer because there is limited recourse because these actors can escape the ability for enforcement.

I would say that if a consumer is engaging with a pedicab to be sure that it's licensed, to ensure that they're capturing the license information, the rate signage, and that they provide that information to the agency so that we can mediate.

And if we see a pattern of complaints happening with a particular business or driver, then we can investigate.

So, you know, someone, let's say it's a tourist, comes to New York.

They go to Central Park and they are like, oh, I'm going to get on a paddy cab.

So they get on a pedicab.

They don't know what's legal or not because there's 40 pedicabs sitting right there, and they just choose one to get on.

And then at the end of the 20-minute ride, the guy or woman says, you know, $500.

You know, how is that person ever going to have the information you're suggesting to be able to make that good faith argument?

And what do they do after they've paid when they've figured out that they've been ripped off?

Like, what is DCWP doing to ensure that person who's been ripped off gets some kind of recourse?