On this page (7)
In short: pick the kind of problem you have and this tool tells you which office handles it, how to reach them, and which page on this site explains the next steps. If anyone is hurt or in danger, stop here and call 911. Everything else can wait a few minutes.
Calling the wrong office first costs you time. TLC licensing staff cannot fix an unpaid Uber trip, the Black Car Fund does not handle summonses, and 311 does not give legal advice. The contacts below come from each office's own website, checked on October 12, 2026.
Emergency first
Find the right office
How to use it
- Answer the first question honestly. If anyone is in danger, the tool stops and tells you to call 911.
- Pick the category that is closest to your problem. If two fit, start with the one where money or your license is at risk.
- Read the answer. It gives you the office, the phone or email that office publishes, and a page on this site with the full steps.
- Use Back to try a different path, or Show all answers to see every result at once.
Before you contact anyone, collect your papers: your TLC license number, your DMV license number, the date and time of the problem, trip IDs or receipts, and any messages from the base, app or owner. Almost every office on this list will ask for them.
What each answer means
Driver Protection Unit (DPU). A TLC unit for money disputes between licensees: unpaid trips, deposits, missing leases or receipts, lease overcharges, identity theft and retaliation. It is the right place when your base, fleet or app owes you money. It is not the place for a summons.
Owner/Driver Resource Center (O/DRC). TLC's free help desk for legal help (for small medallion owners), financial counseling referrals, benefits applications and wellness services. You book appointments online.
OATH and the TLC Prosecution Unit. TLC writes the summons; OATH, the city's hearing office, decides it. Questions about the case itself go to TLC prosecution emails; questions about how hearings work go to the OATH Help Center.
Black Car Fund (BCF). The workers' compensation insurer for drivers dispatched by member bases, which include Uber and Lyft. For workers' comp, the BCF says it is "your employer."
NYC Commission on Human Rights. The city agency that enforces the NYC Human Rights Law. It is separate from TLC.
Toll Payer Advocates. Offices at the MTA and the Port Authority that step in when the E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail service center could not fix your problem.
Where to go next
If your problem is a summons, the summons decoder and other free tools will help you read it. If you were deactivated, the deactivation path finder goes deeper than this tool. For all TLC phone numbers and emails in one place, use the TLC contact directory. For an overview of the rights behind these offices, start with know your rights, or browse the driver rights topic.
This tool gives general information, not legal advice. Offices change phone numbers and hours, so check the office's own website if a number does not work.
Frequently asked questions
Is this tool connected to TLC or any agency?
No. It is a guide built from the contact details that TLC, the Black Car Fund, the NYC Commission on Human Rights and other offices publish on their own websites. It does not send anything to them. You still have to contact the office yourself.
What if my problem fits more than one answer?
That is common. An unpaid lease refund can be a Driver Protection Unit case and also a reason to see a lawyer. Start with the office the tool gives you first, and keep copies of everything so you can use the same papers with the next office.
Who do I call if I was attacked by a passenger?
Call 911 first if you are in danger. TLC's driver resources page says drivers who are victims of verbal or physical attack can report it to inclusion@tlc.nyc.gov, and TLC staff can connect you to the NYS Office of Victim Services and help with police or hate-crime reports.
Which office handles a TLC summons?
TLC summonses are heard at OATH. For questions about hearing dates or penalties, TLC's contact page lists Prosecutioninquiries@tlc.nyc.gov. To plead guilty before the hearing, it lists Settlements@tlc.nyc.gov. The OATH Help Center at (212) 436-0845 gives free legal information if you don't have a lawyer.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC: Contact TLC (emails, offices, 2026 closings) nyc.gov
- TLC: Driver Resources nyc.gov
- TLC Owner/Driver Resource Center FAQ (PDF) nyc.gov
- NYC Commission on Human Rights: Report Discrimination nyc.gov
- Black Car Fund: Reporting an Accident nybcf.org
- TLC Industry Notice 26-03 (driver pay questions go to the Driver Protection Unit) nyc.gov
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.
TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.