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.
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.
How were Uber drivers impacted by the pandemic?
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.