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The comments point out a perfectly reasonable explanation for why this charge might exist: One reason that drivers can specify for a cancellation is that the r

The comments point out a perfectly reasonable explanation for why this charge might exist: One reason that drivers can specify for a cancellation is that the rider wasn't at the pickup location. Even though it's the driver cancelling in this case, it's reasonable for Uber to charge the rider in my opinion. If this is the case, the poster is still being improperly charged the fee, but it's more about the driver lying about a cancellation reason than some plot on Uber's part.

saalweachter 10y ago
Yeah, it sounds like Uber is basically favoring the driver by default in cancellation. Which is ironic when you consider that we are usually hearing stories about Uber screwing their drivers. I'm curious how often in these cases was it actually user error [standing in the wrong spot] vs system error [GPS reporting a wrong location] vs driver error [driver navigated to wrong location, assumed user had walked away] vs driver malice [intentionally cancelling with no intent of pickup]. Most of the users getting canceled on assume the last, but I'd hope that either this sort of driver malice is rare or Uber has some sort of "driver fraud detection" algorithm.
- gcr 10y ago
  How is this ironic? It's totally possible to repress and hurt drivers while still giving them the option of cancelling. I know you're not saying this, but it doesn't make sense to cite this as evidence that "Uber really is treating their drivers well! Look look, they get to push a button that cancels the trip! Wouldn't that make you feel empowered if you were a driver??"
parthdesai 10y ago
>One reason that drivers can specify for a cancellation is that the rider wasn't at the pickup location I mean it's not that hard to check the location of rider when driver cancels the trip. If he isn't at the specified pick-up location, charge the rider or else charge the driver.
- sulam 10y ago
  You have a really high belief in the ability of GPS to get things right. And probably of humans to work together when things aren't. If you ask to be picked up at MacArthur BART station in Oakland and you're not careful, your driver will get routed to pick you up in the middle of the freeway that happens to run overhead. Some locations are also GPS distorting due to tall buildings and you'll literally show up 1-2 blocks away from your location (long blocks in SF's case). GPS is great, but it's not perfect.
  - parthdesai 10y ago
    But doesn't uber want to track you more to make sure you are picked on the correct and dropped on the correct side of road. Look i'm not saying GPS is perfect, but having these checks might help prevent 10% of fraudulent cancellations.
friendzis 10y ago
Ride cancellation messages can easily have location attached and Uber can check if the cancellation location more or less matches requested arrival location. If they do not even send location - it's negligence. If they do send the location, but do not check it and still charge rider - it's malice. They have the tools. Conspiracy theory: maybe showing that they actually have the tools could be unfavourable to them when/if the regulations are placed?
scurvy 10y ago
Uber's GPS and navigation data is such trash that this is halfway believable excuse. As a destination, Uber thinks I live halfway down the block on another street. It's not a convenience thing either. It's down a hill. It's flat out wrong. Lyft doesn't have this problem. I have a friend who works at Uber on Second, and he says the same things happens to Uber at their own office. It sends the drivers to the wrong alley. Conclusion? Bad data and drivers who don't know where they are actually going equals a bad experience.
draw_down 10y ago
Makes sense, these apps are insanely bad at setting the pickup spot where you actually are. Free $10 for them, so why fix it. Whee.

saalweachter 10y ago

Yeah, it sounds like Uber is basically favoring the driver by default in cancellation. Which is ironic when you consider that we are usually hearing stories about Uber screwing their drivers. I'm curious how often in these cases was it actually user error [standing in the wrong spot] vs system error [GPS reporting a wrong location] vs driver error [driver navigated to wrong location, assumed user had walked away] vs driver malice [intentionally cancelling with no intent of pickup]. Most of the users getting canceled on assume the last, but I'd hope that either this sort of driver malice is rare or Uber has some sort of "driver fraud detection" algorithm.

gcr 10y ago
How is this ironic? It's totally possible to repress and hurt drivers while still giving them the option of cancelling. I know you're not saying this, but it doesn't make sense to cite this as evidence that "Uber really is treating their drivers well! Look look, they get to push a button that cancels the trip! Wouldn't that make you feel empowered if you were a driver??"

parthdesai 10y ago

>One reason that drivers can specify for a cancellation is that the rider wasn't at the pickup location I mean it's not that hard to check the location of rider when driver cancels the trip. If he isn't at the specified pick-up location, charge the rider or else charge the driver.

sulam 10y ago
You have a really high belief in the ability of GPS to get things right. And probably of humans to work together when things aren't. If you ask to be picked up at MacArthur BART station in Oakland and you're not careful, your driver will get routed to pick you up in the middle of the freeway that happens to run overhead. Some locations are also GPS distorting due to tall buildings and you'll literally show up 1-2 blocks away from your location (long blocks in SF's case). GPS is great, but it's not perfect.
- parthdesai 10y ago
  But doesn't uber want to track you more to make sure you are picked on the correct and dropped on the correct side of road. Look i'm not saying GPS is perfect, but having these checks might help prevent 10% of fraudulent cancellations.

friendzis 10y ago

Ride cancellation messages can easily have location attached and Uber can check if the cancellation location more or less matches requested arrival location. If they do not even send location - it's negligence. If they do send the location, but do not check it and still charge rider - it's malice. They have the tools. Conspiracy theory: maybe showing that they actually have the tools could be unfavourable to them when/if the regulations are placed?

scurvy 10y ago

Uber's GPS and navigation data is such trash that this is halfway believable excuse. As a destination, Uber thinks I live halfway down the block on another street. It's not a convenience thing either. It's down a hill. It's flat out wrong. Lyft doesn't have this problem. I have a friend who works at Uber on Second, and he says the same things happens to Uber at their own office. It sends the drivers to the wrong alley. Conclusion? Bad data and drivers who don't know where they are actually going equals a bad experience.

draw_down 10y ago

Makes sense, these apps are insanely bad at setting the pickup spot where you actually are. Free $10 for them, so why fix it. Whee.