Anyone in Scranton, PA?

[katfco]

I'm trying to find some kind of transportation for my father, who lives in a rural area outside Scranton. Does anyone who lives near there know of a reputable taxi service? I need to find someplace I can pay for it and am leery of cold calling a random taxi place and giving them my credit card number. 

I'm trying Uber, but I'm not sure how well that's going to work, due to where he lives and his lack of cell phone. 

[Deleted]

Über won't work if he doesn't have a smart phone

I'm sorry I don't have any other suggestions, but I didn't want you to waste your time trying to figure out Uber.

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 16:32:43 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Über won't work if he doesn't have a smart phone

I'm sorry I don't have any other suggestions, but I didn't want you to waste your time trying to figure out Uber.

I know. Right now, our only hope is for me to request a ride, borrowing DH's ipad, and then call them and tell them who it's for (that's allowed), and then when he's done with his appointment, we find some way for him to let me know and I call them. 

It's so tough because this is an appointment to get social security disability and maybe get some kind of financial help. I tried renting a car for him, but they won't rent a car unless the person with the credit card is there in person. 

[EmilieMadison]

I wish I had some better advice, but is there a reason he can't just call a cab himself and pay for it at the time of service?

[EmilieMadison]

Are there any ride services for people with disabilities, or the elderly (if he is, in fact, elderly)? I know many cities have these services, but I'm not sure of the driving radius they may cover.

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 16:36:30 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

I wish I had some better advice, but is there a reason he can't just call a cab himself and pay for it at the time of service?

He has almost no money--no credit card or debit card, so I'd be paying for it. This is also 50 miles away from where he lives, so it's not an insignificant amount. 

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 16:37:44 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Are there any ride services for people with disabilities, or the elderly (if he is, in fact, elderly)? I know many cities have these services, but I'm not sure of the driving radius they may cover.

The county he's in has a transportation system that disabled seniors can ride for a very low price, but because of how it's funded, they can only take disabled seniors around within the county. If he was paying the full rate, they'd take him the 2 counties away he needs to go. He says he's tried and because he's a disabled senior, they won't let him pay the full rate and take him. I'm going to call tomorrow and double check that, but he's been trying to get a ride for quite some time (he's had to reschedule this appointment 4 times already because he couldn't get a ride). 

[EmilieMadison]

Feb 22, 2015 16:43:24 GMT -5 katfco said:

Feb 22, 2015 16:36:30 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

I wish I had some better advice, but is there a reason he can't just call a cab himself and pay for it at the time of service?

He has almost no money--no credit card or debit card, so I'd be paying for it. This is also 50 miles away from where he lives, so it's not an insignificant amount. 

Does he live alone? Is there someone who can take him? How does he get groceries, go to dr appts, etc? I'm just trying to figure out logistically how he gets around otherwise.

[eav2c]

Does he have a neighbor or someone that he could ask and you pay them? A lot of my dad's neighbors were very helpful in helping him.

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 16:46:50 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Feb 22, 2015 16:43:24 GMT -5 katfco said:

He has almost no money--no credit card or debit card, so I'd be paying for it. This is also 50 miles away from where he lives, so it's not an insignificant amount. 

Does he live alone? Is there someone who can take him? How does he get groceries, go to dr appts, etc? I'm just trying to figure out logistically how he gets around otherwise.

He does now. His wife left him a few days ago. We've been estranged for a while and just started talking again when his wife left, which is when I found out just how bad things are for him. They just moved to this area a few months ago and then his car was repossessed. Since then, he's been getting rides to the store and get his mail from an elderly neighbor, but this is significantly farther than his neighbor is able to go. 

[katiescarlett]

Is he in Lackawanna County? I know there's a transportation service for the elderly. I believe it is McCarthy flowers that also offers a taxi service. I don't know of any other actual taxi services, sorry!
www.lackawannainfo.org/asp/displayAgency.asp?agencyID=90

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 16:48:51 GMT -5 eav2c said:

Does he have a neighbor or someone that he could ask and you pay them? A lot of my dad's neighbors were very helpful in helping him.

He's tried. His neighbors are very "live and let live, take care of yourself." 

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 16:51:49 GMT -5 katiescarlett said:

Is he in Lackawanna County? I know there's a transportation service for the elderly. I believe it is McCarthy flowers that also offers a taxi service. I don't know of any other actual taxi services, sorry!
www.lackawannainfo.org/asp/displayAgency.asp?agencyID=90

He's in Wayne County, and the appointment is in Luzerne. Do you know if McCarthy Flowers is reputable? I saw them online but with no reviews, I wasn't sure. 

[EmilieMadison]

Feb 22, 2015 16:43:24 GMT -5 katfco said:

Feb 22, 2015 16:36:30 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

I wish I had some better advice, but is there a reason he can't just call a cab himself and pay for it at the time of service?

He has almost no money--no credit card or debit card, so I'd be paying for it. This is also 50 miles away from where he lives, so it's not an insignificant amount. 

Can you pay for the cab over the phone with a CC or on an online payment system at the time of service? 

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 16:53:27 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Feb 22, 2015 16:43:24 GMT -5 katfco said:

He has almost no money--no credit card or debit card, so I'd be paying for it. This is also 50 miles away from where he lives, so it's not an insignificant amount. 

Can you pay for the cab over the phone with a CC or on an online payment system at the time of service? 

Right now that's what I'm going to try to do. I just wanted to see if anyone could corroborate any taxi services because they have almost no online presence, so I'd be kind of nervous to call up a random number and say, "Hey, can I give you my credit card number and you promise to get my dad? k, thanks." 

[EmilieMadison]

Feb 22, 2015 16:55:53 GMT -5 katfco said:

Feb 22, 2015 16:53:27 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Can you pay for the cab over the phone with a CC or on an online payment system at the time of service? 

Right now that's what I'm going to try to do. I just wanted to see if anyone could corroborate any taxi services because they have almost no online presence, so I'd be kind of nervous to call up a random number and say, "Hey, can I give you my credit card number and you promise to get my dad? k, thanks." 

I was suggesting that you find out if you can pay over the phone at the time of service, not ahead of time. And I'm no where near PA, but I know that several cab services in my area allow you to book service ahead of time, but not pay until services are rendered. 

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 16:57:52 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Feb 22, 2015 16:55:53 GMT -5 katfco said:

Right now that's what I'm going to try to do. I just wanted to see if anyone could corroborate any taxi services because they have almost no online presence, so I'd be kind of nervous to call up a random number and say, "Hey, can I give you my credit card number and you promise to get my dad? k, thanks." 

I was suggesting that you find out if you can pay over the phone at the time of service, not ahead of time. And I'm no where near PA, but I know that several cab services in my area allow you to book service ahead of time, but not pay until services are rendered. 

That might work. 

[liverandonions]

Not sure if this would help
wcts.waynecountypa.gov

[snipsnsnails]

When I google livery service for Scranton, PA, several results show up. Since it's a sizable distance, it might be worth it to set up a town car rather than the rolling fare on a taxi?

Good luck to!

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 18:34:05 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

Not sure if this would help
wcts.waynecountypa.gov

Thanks, but this is the one that won't take him outside the county because he's a disabled senior (because of how they're funded). 

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 18:39:12 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

When I google livery service for Scranton, PA, several results show up. Since it's a sizable distance, it might be worth it to set up a town car rather than the rolling fare on a taxi?

Good luck to!

Thanks for the suggestion, but when I looked into it, it looked like it was going to cost several hundred for a car service. Even Uber was giving an estimate of around $200. We just can't afford $400 to get my dad to a doctor's appointment. 

[snipsnsnails]

Feb 22, 2015 18:49:08 GMT -5 katfco said:

Feb 22, 2015 18:39:12 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

When I google livery service for Scranton, PA, several results show up. Since it's a sizable distance, it might be worth it to set up a town car rather than the rolling fare on a taxi?

Good luck to!

Thanks for the suggestion, but when I looked into it, it looked like it was going to cost several hundred for a car service. Even Uber was giving an estimate of around $200. We just can't afford $400 to get my dad to a doctor's appointment. 

Are you sure? Granted I'm in NYC metro, but I've been setting up car services for years within the Tri-state area for work and that's an extremely outrageous price for 50 miles!

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 18:51:32 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

Feb 22, 2015 18:49:08 GMT -5 katfco said:

Thanks for the suggestion, but when I looked into it, it looked like it was going to cost several hundred for a car service. Even Uber was giving an estimate of around $200. We just can't afford $400 to get my dad to a doctor's appointment. 

Are you sure? Granted I'm in NYC metro, but I've been setting up car services for years within the Tri-state area for work and that's an extremely outrageous price for 50 miles!

Well, that's the price that was quoted for the few places that had online estimates, but you're right. I just called one and they gave me a much more reasonable quote. It looks like I might be able to do it for around 200. 

[snipsnsnails]

Good luck! I hope you find something! You could also try reaching out to the social service agencies in his surrounding area-asking if they have any thoughts.

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 18:59:33 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

Good luck! I hope you find something! You could also try reaching out to the social service agencies in his surrounding area-asking if they have any thoughts.

Well, his social worker basically told him to ask a neighbor. This is the 4th time my dad has had to make this appointment, because he couldn't find a ride the first 3 times, so I think he's exhausted all non-expensive options. 

[snipsnsnails]

Feb 22, 2015 19:02:10 GMT -5 katfco said:

Feb 22, 2015 18:59:33 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

Good luck! I hope you find something! You could also try reaching out to the social service agencies in his surrounding area-asking if they have any thoughts.

Well, his social worker basically told him to ask a neighbor. This is the 4th time my dad has had to make this appointment, because he couldn't find a ride the first 3 times, so I think he's exhausted all non-expensive options. 

Any chance you can ask the social worker if she knows someone who might want the gig for cash?

[katfco]

Feb 22, 2015 19:03:25 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

Feb 22, 2015 19:02:10 GMT -5 katfco said:

Well, his social worker basically told him to ask a neighbor. This is the 4th time my dad has had to make this appointment, because he couldn't find a ride the first 3 times, so I think he's exhausted all non-expensive options. 

Any chance you can ask the social worker if she knows someone who might want the gig for cash?

I thought about contacting local churches or colleges, but there's not a ton of time. If for some reason this doesn't work out and he has to reapply (or maybe other appointments he has), I'll try to be more proactive. I can't afford to pay for every trip like this, but I'm hoping this will help him get aid so he can support himself a bit more. 

[snipsnsnails]

Feb 22, 2015 19:07:01 GMT -5 katfco said:

Feb 22, 2015 19:03:25 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

Any chance you can ask the social worker if she knows someone who might want the gig for cash?

I thought about contacting local churches or colleges, but there's not a ton of time. If for some reason this doesn't work out and he has to reapply (or maybe other appointments he has), I'll try to be more proactive. I can't afford to pay for every trip like this, but I'm hoping this will help him get aid so he can support himself a bit more. 

Contacting a church is a fantastic idea!

[TrickyBob]

www.slhda.org/


I would also contact them to find out if they know of any places that offer transportation.

Also try PA211. Pick up the phone and just dial 211, it is the human directory of PA. Any agency that has signed up with them will be given if they fit your need.

[auntie]

Google Wayne County Senior Transportation.

Their site is down right now, but they may be able to get your dad transportation.