Arro - Taxi App 4+

I learned today to just not get in a NYC cab that doesn’t use Curb. This morning, I ended up with a cab that only uses ARRO. I tried to “pair and pay”, and in that process, I tried two current credit cards. Yet, each time I clicked “I’m currently in a taxi”, it said that my payment method wasn’t valid. In the end, I just paid the driver directly by one of those two credit cards (which worked fine). I emailed customer service for ARRO, and they did reply same day. However, all they said was that the credit card on file expired in 2019. The respondent apparently didn’t even see the new cards on file. I think it’s just a very clunky app with back end systems that can’t immediately verify a new payment method. So, you probably have to wait for a day or two for someone to physically run verification. Nevertheless, I’m now gonna watch both cards to make sure I also don’t get scammed. Recommend that you pass on this app.

In NYC I have three issues: first very few drivers are on the app, so while I wait for a cab from the app I have to say no to yellow cabs driving by, which is just silly. Second, the app absolutely lies about waiting times: even when a ride is assigned, it will estimate a 2 min wait even though the driver assigned is 9 min away, according to their own calculations of drop off once engaged. Last, the app is unrelated to 311, so if you report any issue with your ride they won’t pass it on to the city administration of the drivers.

I honestly don’t think I’ve used more useless app in my life. I can never log-in and whenever I try to register with my other phone number or reset the password for my original account the app says “try again later.” When you have to try again later indefinitely, that means the app literally adds zero value. It’s a disaster as compared to its competitors and makes me hate whenever I get into a non-NBC cab knowing I can’t pay through any other system in advance. The company mind as well not even pretend to offer it as a service given how completely frustrating it is to use. I work in tech building apps and my advice to you is to scrap the entire thing and restart. Take a hint from other apps that actually do what you’re trying to do and rebuild this.