Uber Drivers Quit After Being Charged for Rides
Jane Lu
· 4 min read
Getting anywhere without a car can be difficult, especially if you live in a rural area. In some states, it’s harder to get a taxi or find public transportation options. Fortunately, ridesharing apps like
Uber
allow passengers to be picked up from almost anywhere.It's also easy for anyone in need of supplementary income to sign up with Uber and become a driver. However,
Business Insider
reported that some drivers are getting charged instead of being paid by the company. This issue has also exacerbated some long-standing frustrations that drivers have experienced in the past year.
Why are Uber drivers getting charged to work?
Several Uber drivers shared stories on Business Insider about trips that resulted in a negative balance on the app. The problem seems to be most prevalent during "surges" when there's a greater need for drivers in certain areas. One driver accepted a job and the app displayed an anticipated fare of $36.67 for the passenger.
Once the job was completed, the app removed the surge multiplier and only charged the customer the regular rate of $9.06. To make matters worse, Uber deducted an additional service charge of $11.26 and the driver lost $2.20 from the trip. Another driver reported losing over $50 on one trip.
Some drivers weren't charged but didn't receive any money for completing the ride, and others said they only received their tips and not the full fare. Most of the drivers interviewed by Business Insider reported that the glitch had occurred while driving around Chicago. The glitch was also reported by drivers in Georgia, and the issue has reportedly been going on for months.
According to an Uber spokesperson, the issue was caused by a bug on Uber Reserve. However, many drivers said their riders had used UberX. The spokesperson said that the issue was fixed and that affected drivers would be compensated.
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How were Uber drivers impacted by the pandemic?
MORE: Rideshare Prices From Uber and Lyft on the Rise After the Pandemic
The pandemic hit the auto industry hard last year and had a big impact on Uber drivers. Fewer people were buying or driving their own cars, leading to increased business for ridesharing. Unfortunately, this also meant that more drivers were stretched thin trying to pick up as much work as possible.
This may have been a good way for people to earn money among job losses. But, since Uber drivers are considered independent contractors, they don't receive any kind of benefits from the company. This is incredibly frustrating to many drivers, and the inadequate pay has reduced the number of drivers willing to work.
Has Uber solved the app glitches?
While Uber said that the glitch has been remedied, some drivers have yet to be paid for their trips. Many drivers called the customer support hotline, only to be met with limited customer service representatives and short hotline hours. 24/7 live driver support is only available for drivers with a certain number of successful transactions.
Drivers also have the option to contact online support, but sometimes the representative stops replying to messages. Some drivers were so frustrated with the situation that they stopped working for Uber entirely.
Even with the news of this glitch, many drivers continue to use the app and get paid. If you plan to work for Uber, the company might require you to have
rideshare insurance
. You can use the free Jerry
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