What is going on Arecibo? why cant we get through anymore? constantly ringing out or engaged tone. I used to use Arecibo at least 4 times a week until December when I started having trouble getting through, the last straw was when I got through to them thought I would take the opportunity to pre book a day in advance to save calling again, cut to a 45 mins wait in the cold and late for work the next day. Arecibo, I am deleting your number. I am now using 222 Taxi and Car Service who I can rely on. read more

So, long story short, I no longer use Arecibo. Now for the "why." Arecibo used to be reliable. I'd say 'round about two years ago. However, after a few incidents when they simply didn't show up, the most recent being when they didn't show to take me to the airport, even after I'd confirmed with a dispatcher, I'm done. What's the use of a car service that doesn't do the ONE thing it's supposed to do? There are plenty of other car services. So use one of them. read more

My car service of choice, Arecibo is awesome. They come fast (within 5 minutes of calling), they come on time (when you have made prior arrangements for a car). They have VERY friendly drivers, and the prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend them! I live in Crown Heights, and have used them to get to JFK airport, going to and from Park Slope, and all around, really. Love the Arecibo! EDIT: I love Arecibo even more since they did not ask questions when I traveled with two fish and a (covered-up) pet rat in a tank. I had to evacuate my/my roommate's small animals while I did an insect-fogging in my apartment. I spilled fish-water all over the back seat and the friendly Arecibo peeps didn't bat an eye -- they just wanted to make sure that the fish was okay! :-) read more

I called a few different places last week at 12:30 AM trying to find a last minute taxi to LaGuardia and of the 4-5 places I called, these guys were the only ones answering their phone. The driver showed up promptly at 6:20 AM in a new car with plenty of space inside. He was a great driver and got us to the airport in record time (I want to say about 15 minutes from Boerum Hill). Price was fair - $33 one way. I would definitely use them again. read more

Arecibo has been kind of lame. Sometimes they're lightning fast and cheap. Sometimes they have me waiting ten minutes before ever even answering the phone to get my address. One time I called, waited the ten minutes, called back, they said the guy was 'almost there' so I didn't flag a cab I saw and then their car didn't show for another 30 minutes. I would DEFINITELY not recommend this place if you need to be somewhere at a specific time. I think they'd be OK if you were somewhere where your departure time was flexible, and, say, you wouldn't be pissed if you had to call three times before the guy showed up. OK, end rant. But, seriously. These guys could use some help. read more

Arecibo is our go-to for airport service. We hired Arecibo to have cars with driver on our wedding day to take us (the bride and groom) to a spot for taking pictures before the wedding (and to wait for us and bring us back), and then we had two cars bring guests from the hotels to the venue on a loop. Coordinating with Arecibo was very easy. They were professional and on time. We highly recommend! read more

Forget Arecibo, once again they kept someone I work with waiting for 45 minutes at Staples on 4th Avenue and 3rd Street, mere blocks from their dispatch center. If they were honest about not having cars that would be fine. But they lied about 5 times, "just 2 more minutes!" And they hung up on me when I called and asked for a car number. The passenger is now walking home carrying a large poster board in the wind. Not the first time they've #failed, but last time I'll call them. (gotta post this to Twitter, FB and Linkedin too!) read more

I requested a car for 1:50 around 45 minutes in advance thru their app.   I wasn't sure if it went thru because their app is a bit odd, so I called and was told it did go thru and I was all set.    Went to wait for the car at 1:45... 1:50... 1:55... 2:00.  No car.  I called, was put on hold and then cut off from their system.   Called a second time and was told they were "looking for a car" and had no idea how long it would be.   At this point, I'm late for an appointment and beyond furious.   Was told by dispatch that it's "first come first serve" and they wouldn't commit to a time.    I asked why I wasn't told that when I booked or called to follow up - dispatcher says "you didn't ask". So crazy unprofessional and un-customer focused read more

It just keeps going from bad to worse. I really want to support local livery cabs and that's why I keep using them but at this stage I've started using lyft and uber more frequently and I would suggest the same. They have "partnerships" now with other car service companies and most of the taxis that collect people from the airport don't speak English and their cars smell terrible. I've come back from 3 business trips and called them and they send their "partners" and theirs cars are dirty, smelly and speak an English I don't understand. At one stage Arecibo was doing better but now they are definitely on the decline. It's sad because I will have to give up using them. read more

I've used Arecibo not only for the requisite airport and "I'm drunk in Park Slope" trips--but also, actually, to move! Now, you'd think most car services would get pissed at you if you started loading up boxes in their trunks. (We did, of course, tip generously.) Not Arecibo! One one of our trips, we saw a big SUV pull up. Worried that it was someone who would kill us (since most of their cars are sedans) I called Arecibo and asked. "You'e moving, yes?" the man asked. DUDE. Awesome. The prices do vary a little, yes. Just always confirm the price when you order the car. read more

This is my first Yelp review. I felt compelled to write this review because I was so impressed and happy with this car service. It was 6am this morning and my reservation for a car to LGA from Cobble Hill Brooklyn had not shown up after 15 min of waiting. When you have a early flight, it always seems something goes wrong and today, I absolutely *cannot* miss this flight!!! I was a little concerned and Googling "Brooklyn taxi" from my phone. "Oh no, this can't end well," I thought. After reaching someone who said "We'd love to help, but no one will be there for at least 40 min," my concern amplified, but I searched again with "Cobble Hill" added to my search. Arecibo was first on the list. I called and someone said a car would be there in 5 minutes. "Yeah, right," I thought. Sure enough, 5 min later, a car pulled up. Off we went. I was at LGA about 20 min later and then realized since we hadn't booked in advance, I'd need to pay cash. I was about $5 short to pay him properly, but the driver said "Don't worry, you can just call the company." They took my card over the phone and I tipped the driver in cash. I'm now sitting at the airport bar with over an hour until my flight boarding time. It's all good...but it could have ended much worse. As a frequent traveler who doesn't visit NYC that often...I was both satisfied and surprised with how efficient, reliable, and fairly priced this service was in a pinch. (by the way, I paid about $35 for this car service, about the same as a taxi, with no 'haha, you're SOL without us!' extra fee added on, which I was more than willing to pay given the circumstances) Thanks y'all from a grateful Georgia girl :-) read more

There are about 7 different car service companies between my apartment and Arecibo, yet it's the only one I'd turn to for a friendly and reliable trip to-and-from Park Slope. I love these guys! Other car services seem to have drivers who try to swindle you, but Arecibo will never try to "take you for a ride"; they're super reliable, always on time, and have some of the friendliest drivers I've met so far. read more

Really fast and cheap trip to JFK. I love this car service! Always 5 minutes away. read more

I'd say 9 out of 10 times they are on time. The prices are fair but make sure to get a quote over the phone first, some drivers like to add a dollar or two on top to pull a fast one over you. The last two times I had called for a car, the drivers both took over double the given wait time. I ended up calling them again to ask about the car, and they would send a different car out. 5-10 mins out, the original driver who was mia would be calling my phone nonstop. This is VERY annoying! Get it together! other things to note: limited cars on holidays, there is a fee for credit cards, most cars are clean but a few reek of cigarettes so it's based on your luck. Drivers are mostly friendly, I had one who was cursing and banging on his steering wheel every time a street was blocked off. (Also very annoying to watch), if you have road rage, DON'T drive!! A few unpleasant incidences, otherwise 3.5 stars would have been the perfect rating. read more

Please Beware. My credit card and my friend's credit card both were charged twice each. Arecibo car service charged my credit card twice with a difference of 2 cents. I used their car service to go from west side of Brooklyn to Woodbridge, NJ. They charged me $122.12 including tolls. But, when I got the credit card statement, I saw two charges, one for $122.12 and another for $122.14. I assumed that it was an honest mistake. I later found out that if the same amount is put through twice one after another, the credit card company will decline it. Hence the 2 cent difference. I am wondering now whether Arecibo or at least some of its employees are resorting to fraudulent behavior. I checked in with my friend who lives on W. 103rd street in Manhattan and he had used their service about a week prior to my using the service. I asked him to check his credit card statement. He had also been charged twice with the 2nd charge being 2 cents higher. Unbelievable. When I called in with my request to put the money back into my credit card, initially there was a question as to why I did not call back earlier? Of course my credit card statement came in only after a month. Then after that, she did not ask for my identity or any other confirmation question. She refunded the amount to my credit card. So, are they hoping that some people will not call back or will never check their credit card statements. I will avoid their service at all costs in future. Paddy read more

I moved recently and basically used Arecibo as a cheap, immediate-delivery service for large, heavy furniture and appliance purchases, and in that respect, they were extremely beneficial. A half-dozen times in the span of a week, I'd be on the curb next to newly acquired furniture, call up Arecibo and specifically request an SUV or van, and 5-10 minutes they'd arrive and help me load it up. The drivers were all pretty friendly, but after giving them directions we happily ignored each other. Fare within Fort Greene or from Park Slope/Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens usually came out to $12 before tip, and some drivers even offered to help bring the furniture to my door. All things considered, using Arecibo in this way beats the hell out of paying twice as much and waiting infinitely longer for store delivery, and was really the only way to go for craigslist transactions. Of course, it is a little annoying how they ask your specific destination when you first call them up, but then when the driver gets there they have no clue and you need to tell them, too. Uh, why do they ask the exact address of my destination when I call if they don't then inform the driver, who they seem to be in constant contact with? And once when having them come to Greenpoint, they had no idea what Greenpoint was or where it is, and it took about five minutes of shouting things like "No, not GREAT Point..." into the phone. I can't really comment on their service for trips where I'm not toting large pieces of furniture, because otherwise I just take the subway. I'm not made of money, motherfucker. read more

"Okay, five minutes." And then you look outside and there's a car there. There's a reason why Arecibo's on my speed dial; if I ever find myself in Brooklyn needing to get from one place to another fast, they're usually reliable. They're my ride to and from the airports, and the rates are reasonable compared to a cab's. From neighborhood to neighborhood in Brooklyn's not any more than $10 (say, from Park Slope to Court); the airport's no more than $35, and to the city for under $30? Deal. You might have a problem getting through when it's the weekend, late-night, or if there's inclement weather (rain clogs up the Arecibo lines like no other), so plan accordingly. Their fleet of cars manages to overcome the wait. read more

Reliable and clean Arecibo comes to the rescue in Brooklyn and (almost) makes up for the lack of yellow cabs in this borough. The drivers (usually) know their way around BKYN, but have on a few occasions been confused by anything outside the standard hipster stomping grounds.. This is until the night falls...if you call Aracibo after 4am you get the pimp posse with spinner-equipped suvs and chill service...funky and the freaks DO come out at night... read more

The REASON I got a yelp account. Getting out of the car the last time I used Arecibo all I could think was "This makes me want to register for yelp just to give this place a bad rating." I initially FOUND the number on yelp, being in Park Slope on a Saturday night when the F train wasn't doing weekend service, and wanting to get to SoHo. After reading generally good reviews, I called, and they showed up in five minutes as promised and got us where we were going fast and affordably. I think I used them one or two more times without incident, until a fateful Saturday afternoon where I was running late. My boyfriend and I were going from his Park Slope apartment to a Williamsburg realtor's office to put down a deposit and start an application on an apartment. We were running late to the appointment, and the broker had another appointment after us, so we opted to call a car. As it turned out, taking the train would have probably been quicker. We waited on the corner in the cold for about 15 minutes until I decided to call again to find out where our car was. The woman put me on hold, and after five minutes I just hung up and called back, but they didn't pick up. I tried again in another few minutes, and someone told me they would send another car, it would be there in 5 minutes. 15 minutes later, no car, I called back. They told me the car should be just arriving there now. In fact, at this point, 40 minutes late, we had two Arecibo cars arriving. The ordeal was incredibly stressful, and they were of no help and in fact, rude, during my calls. The post-Arecibo rage pretty much ruined my Saturday. I would NOT use Arecibo if you need to get somewhere important at a specific time. read more

Prices are more expensive than Uber. When I tried to make a reservation over the phone, the guy hung up on me when I wanted to discuss pricing. read more

Well I'm glad that this place has been good for others, not so much for me. Needed an early morning pick up and made the reservation in person. Sure enough, they are ten minutes late. Then twenty. I call and they say they are five minute away. Ten minutes passes. I call again and I can barely understand the guy and he tells me the car is close. Ten minutes later. Eventually a red mini-van comes, the driver is apparently from a different car service (I would assume Arecibo used them) and he makes no apologies for being 30+ minutes late. Too many options to use this place. read more

Oh, how you are bitter sweet, Arecibo. Why must you be so infuriating one moment and so damn reliable the next? I have a large dog who I take into the City occasionally. He loves car rides and sits like a person staring out the window so calmly and quietly. And in my experience, all the drivers love him or don't mind at all. So, Arecibo has been my life saver. However, there have been numerous occasions where I'll call for a pick-up and as always, say I have a dog and the car shows up and they'll turn us away. It happened this morning in fact. I ended up getting into 3 different cars before I actually got to where i needed to go. So what should be "five minutes" invariably becomes twenty or thirty. Because I take this trip quite often, I don't ask how much the fare is anymore and I'd advise that you do the same. When I did, it was anywhere from $14-$19. And the exact same return trip is always cheaper by at least $3. I can't figure that one out. Hmm. But for the most part, when i can get the dog in the car or I'm calling late night from a friend's house, they are spot on reliable, safe and reasonably priced. They're quick to your destination to boot. I had to get to Flushing Meadows in Queens from Park Slope in a jiffy and didn't know the address, just the landmark. The driver didn't get discouraged. He called the dispatcher and got me to my destination even early. I won't stop using them though. Maybe it's one of those NY scenarios where you just have to suck it up and appreciate what you have despite the pitfalls sometimes....kinda like the MTA. read more

Waited 45 minutes and the car never showed. I called repeatedly and the dispatcher lied to me about its location. Then he told me it was my fault. I've been reluctant to take them in the past because the drivers are creeps, and this is just another item on the list of why you should avoid Arecibo at all costs. read more

Little-known fact: the guy who started this car service is from Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Hence the name. Who knew? I had a great experience with this car service tonight. After the cab company I tried told me they don't do local stops in Brooklyn, I called Arecibo. The dispatcher said they'd be here in 5. I said I needed 10 minutes. 7 minutes later, I found a car patiently waiting outside my place. I had three 15lb boxes to take to FedEx. The driver helped me load them into the car and then not only helped me take them out, he insisted on bringing them inside. I've done this trick with taxis and boxes before, and I couldn't believe how nice he was. He was also pleasant and friendly on the ride over. I didn't get his name, but he said he was from Ecuador. I would ask for him again. Five stars for Arecibo. read more

This was my first time using a car service and it went well! Arecibo arrived a few minutes early to my residence in Brooklyn Heights, which was nice! I was so worried I was going to have a nightmare car service story inclusive of a no-show, someone yelling at me on the phone, and all the other things I've read on Yelp. Luckily, he was early and I got to the airport when I wanted to! In addition, the person on the telephone was very nice and reassuring. I asked.. what if he runs late or who should I call if he doesn't come... and he said, You can call this number but don't worry, he'll be there! Olé Arecibo! read more

Big disappointment. After reading about them on Yelp, I called them the nite before arriving at JFK, to try them out. They said, 'No problem, we ALWAYS have a car at JFK. It's never more than 5-10 minutes, so you don't need a Rez.' Of course, when I got to JFK, at midnight, they said, 'Oh, it was busy today. We have no cars there. It will be at least 45 min's.' Wrong answer. Grade= "F-" read more

I called to schedule a pick up for my mom this morning to take her to LGA from my apartment. The car scheduled for 10:30 did not show up until 11:00...and probably would not have showed up if she had not called to check. NOT recommended for reliability. Hopefully, she will make her flight. read more

I had a very good experience with this car service. The night night before my morning pick up, I called around and found that this has the best rate from Brooklyn to Jersey City and made the reservation. About ten minutes before the pick up time, I got a call from the service telling me that the car is on the way. The car got there on time. Well, three minutes early. The car was nice and clean. The driver was a great driver, too. read more

I made a reservation for my mother with Arecibo online without any issues. I called them later on to change my pick up time and they handled it immediately without a problem. The driver did as instructed calling when arriving to my area and even arrived early. Drove my mother safely to JFK. I will be using them everytime i have family coming into town . read more

My favorite car service. I've never had a driver not show up or be late. And pretty much no matter when I call or where I am, the dispatcher says "5 minutes," and somehow it's always true. The prices are very low, especially if you're traveling within Brooklyn. The drivers are courteous and safe (not as aggressive as yellow cabs), and the cars are clean and nice. The only problem I have with Arecibo is that they sometimes take a very long time to answer the phone when you call. This can be stressful when your trip is time-sensitive, but eventually (after up to 2 minutes of unanswered ringing), I always manage to get through. This inconvenience is worth it to me for the price and reliability of the drivers. read more

I would give a Gene Siskal "thumbs up" for these guys. They do not pre-book pickups from JFK to Brooklyn Heights, but was told to call when I got off the plane. I did just that & they showed up in 5 minutes. The driver was polite the car was clean and the fee was fair. The return to JFK was similar, although I pre-booked it the day before. Having used a shuttle van, a taxi and another car service before I would say that Arecibo for $38 is the best bargain around. There was a discrepancy between the fare of $40 and $38, so make sure you get a fare quote. This was the only minor annoyance. read more

I've used Arecibo at least 20 times in the last year and they have always shown up in 5 - 10 minutes from me calling. Usually I use them to get to the airport very early in the morning and get through immediately. Over the last week I've been using them to get to work at rush hour, and it can take longer to get through but they still turn up straightaway. The person that answers the phone isn't friendly and often can't really understand me so I have to repeat things, but they are clearly efficient and it has always worked out in the end. It would be great if they could be a bit nicer! You can pay by credit card, but I always ask when I call them as I'm not sure if all the drivers will do it or just some. The fixed fares to the airports are ok - similar to other car companies in the area. read more

I have repeatedly had a horrible experience with driver #5426852. major language barrier, horrible driver and oblivious. his driving is unsafe and erratic. I wish I had reported him earlier! he can't operate his own minivan and has started to drive with the doors open without even noticing. he doesn't know how to use his iPad/tablet, cant enter directions or take payment in a timely fashion. it's concerning that Aricebo would hire him- he is unfit to be responsible for other people's lives. I will definitely not be calling aricebo anymore. too many pointless phone calls, too much stress. please beware! read more

We were very happy with the pricing, promptness, and courtesy on the part of our driver. Thank you!

This car service is alright. But watch out for some of the drivers. They will run a scam on you do know how much you need to pay in advance. Ask the dispatcher the cost when calling for the car. Had a wedding this weekend and had one driver scam my wife's and my parent for $25 bucks to go 5 blocks. Then later in the night another driver tried to scam me for an extra $7 bucks by pulling the old "Do you have a 5, give me that and I'll give you this back and so forth" confusion scheme. I called him on it and he apologized and chalked it up to a "brainfart" on his part. read more

When I lived in Park Slope, Arecibo drove me crazy, with their promise of "five minutes" and their habit of showing up in 25. If I was lucky. Perhaps they've found their hidden talent, because they are aces -- ACES -- at showing up promptly to a bar round about midnight or beyond, to safely ferry home the intoxicated amongst us (okay, me). I've called them at every hour it's possible to call, and they always show up promptly (read: Before I Can Do Something Really Stupid). The cars have improved, the drivers seem more knowledgeable and on top of things, and the entire experience has gotten more pleasant in the past year. Their dispatchers can be kind of attitudinal and rude, and they're not so great if you're coming from the Flatbush/Kensington/Ditmas Park area, but no one's perfect. If you need a car in the Slope or Prospect Heights, especially in the wee small hours of the morning, I'd start with them. read more

It's true. Arecibo is almost always there in 5-10 minutes. On weekends, there's a bit of a delay at around midnite etc. But that's when all the car services are jammed with calls. It seems they got a car in every neighborhood. They're the first number I dial when I need to get somewhere in the Bk. I've never taken them into the city. Just around Brooklyn and to the airports and there has never been a problem. read more

From JFK Airport: 25 minute wait was slightly long at 11pm, but the driver was extremely friendly and conversation made the drive enjoyable. Price seemed fair at $50+$5 tolls compared to a taxi. From Midtown West: 36 minute wait outside (after telling me it will be downstairs in a minute, after my initial phone call of 20 minutes) was too long. If my flight wasn't delayed and if my flight were at a busy time, it could have been a catastrophe. Overall, the drivers seem like good people. Cars are definitely cleaner, quieter, nicer, and make you feel better riding in them than Yellow Cab regular taxis. Response times seem hit or miss (they have like 170 registered cars). The operators/dispatchers that you'll call have difficulty understanding regular English and speak with a heavy accent - expect to be yelling on your phone. But when they say "1 minute" and "2 more minutes" after that, and you end up waiting 25 minutes, it's kind of annoying. Call me biased, but I'd rather be lied to by someone who I can understand. read more

Clean cars, quick service, friendly but not toooooo friendly. My big complaint is that their prices, for the exact same trip, can very depending on your driver. I now confirm price on the phone and never ask drivers what the price is. (I've gone from $8-$12 for the exact same trip before) read more

This is my preliminary review, I'll update in a bit... First time calling them and I tell the guy I want to schedule a pickup for later. He asks me my address, cross streets and destination. So far everything is going great. Then I hear "Five minutes" and the fellow hangs up. Trouble is, I was about to tell him I wanted a pickup for two hours from now. So I call back and get a woman who asks me my address and the time I wanted the pickup. She then says, "Okay" and hangs up. So far, customer-service-wise, these guys rate barely above a can of rotting peaches. But if they pull through I'll be happy. I don't call a car service for shits and giggles, I call them to get me from A to B. Review pending in a few hours... read more