5 ms·

Is this the first domino? Will France (and other European countries) then turn around and say, ah oui we too don't think Uber is fit to operate. Uber is pretty

Is this the first domino? Will France (and other European countries) then turn around and say, ah oui we too don't think Uber is fit to operate. Uber is pretty crappy in London, I had one the other night and the guy wasn't even the guy who's picture was on the app (yes the driver did not match the registered uber driver). This is before we even get onto the fact that he didn't know where he was going.

KozmoNau7 9y ago
Uber is already 100% banned in Denmark, for refusing to adhere to hire car regulations.
w4tson 9y ago
This happens all the time in black cabs. My wife and I rely on uber all the time. It feels right for a city like London. This is a step backwards in my opinion I’d like to add that most black cab drivers make out like their card machine doesn’t work. It’s a total cash scam to avoid VAT. I’ve had a black cab deny picking me up before because I didn’t want taking very far (I had a twisted ankle and just wanted to shorten my walk home)
- Nursie 9y ago
  If the meter is on, it's reported and recorded income, is it not?
  - denzil_correa 9y ago
    Is the meter connected to a server? If not, i don’t see how that would even count as accounted income.
    - Nursie 9y ago
      It doesn't need to be connected to a server if the meter is periodically attached to a computer that downloads the data. That said I have no idea if that's something they do. I am now going to try to find out. --edit-- it's not easy to find data on this. So far I have found out that most taxi meters have to be taken in to an office or depot to get the fare-structures updated...
      - alexfoo 9y ago
        Here's the spec requirements for a taximeter: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/taximeter-specification-1.pdf http://content.tfl.gov.uk/taximeter-specification-1.pdf There's no requirement to log information (let alone store it for future upload), only that the taximeter is audited (for distance accuracy) every 12 months or so, and that it has updated fare structures (which modern ones do over GSM/GPRS).
        Nursie 9y ago
        Interesting, that would appear to be something of an oversight.
        Nursie 9y ago
        Even more interesting - https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/accepting-card-payments https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/accepting... "Every driver must accept card and contactless payments and provide receipts for those payments upon request. All taxis must have a fully working TfL-approved fixed card payment device fitted within the passenger compartment - a handheld-only device will not be sufficient to meet the licensing requirements. Any taxi found not to meet the requirement will be issued with an unfit notice, which will remain in place until the requirement is fulfilled and the vehicle is presented for inspection." So it looks like either the story was a little old, or the cab was in violation of the rules.
        Sephiroth87 9y ago
        I guess that would be the first time someone violated rules...
- tallanvor 9y ago
  They're required to accept cards and can't make you pay with cash. Just tell them you don't have cash, and they'll make sure their card reader starts working.
  - Herald_MJ 9y ago
    > Just tell them you don't have cash, and they'll make sure their card reader starts working. They will actually usually just suggest driving past an ATM so you can get them cash. A good alternative that usually works is if you suggest paying them with a cheque. Usually then their card reader will magically start working.
  - SamColes 9y ago
    Try that at 3am and see if the cab driver cares.
    - Nursie 9y ago
      If they want any paying at all, presumably they will. They are required by TFL to have a working contactless and Chip'n'Pin device mounted in the customer compartment. I have a feeling we're talking about things that happened in the past.
      - poooogles 9y ago
        What's required and reality are sometimes very different. I know I've been told the card machine doesn't work, then magically after saying I have no cash it'll start working a minute later...
    - pbhjpbhj 9y ago
      Do TfL "mystery shop", they should and with confiscation of license and vehicle for malfeasants.
      - gsnedders 9y ago
        Yes, but their enforcement team is way too small for the number of taxis and private hires on the road for it to have much effect.
- urbanj 9y ago
  > I’d like to add that most black cab drivers make out like their card machine doesn’t work. Weird - every black cab I've taken in the last 3 months (something like 30 of them) has had a working card machine.
denzil_correa 9y ago
Germany has practically banned Uber for sometime now.
- romanovcode 9y ago
  It was never even allowed in the first place. Uber is just regular cabs in Germany. That being said I've never heard anyone had any problems with German cabs e.g. scams, misleading etc..
- kuschku 9y ago
  It’s not exactly banned – Uber could return at any time when they ensure that their drivers have insurance that is valid, and a driving license that allows for driving passengers around. In fact, the driving license part was even considered something where the officials would ignore the regulations, if Uber would just comply with the insurance part. But Uber didn’t want that.
biztos 9y ago
Uber was kicked out of Hungary, I'm not sure on what pretext exactly but the gist was that the taxi drivers revolted. (But to be fair, I think at least Budapest has excellent taxi service and didn't need an Uber. It's probably different outside the capital.)
Tharkun 9y ago
Uber is already banned in Belgium. With the exception of some variations, like Uber VIP or something.

KozmoNau7 9y ago

Uber is already 100% banned in Denmark, for refusing to adhere to hire car regulations.

w4tson 9y ago

This happens all the time in black cabs. My wife and I rely on uber all the time. It feels right for a city like London. This is a step backwards in my opinion I’d like to add that most black cab drivers make out like their card machine doesn’t work. It’s a total cash scam to avoid VAT. I’ve had a black cab deny picking me up before because I didn’t want taking very far (I had a twisted ankle and just wanted to shorten my walk home)

Nursie 9y ago
If the meter is on, it's reported and recorded income, is it not?
- denzil_correa 9y ago
  Is the meter connected to a server? If not, i don’t see how that would even count as accounted income.
  - Nursie 9y ago
    It doesn't need to be connected to a server if the meter is periodically attached to a computer that downloads the data. That said I have no idea if that's something they do. I am now going to try to find out. --edit-- it's not easy to find data on this. So far I have found out that most taxi meters have to be taken in to an office or depot to get the fare-structures updated...
    - alexfoo 9y ago
      Here's the spec requirements for a taximeter: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/taximeter-specification-1.pdf http://content.tfl.gov.uk/taximeter-specification-1.pdf There's no requirement to log information (let alone store it for future upload), only that the taximeter is audited (for distance accuracy) every 12 months or so, and that it has updated fare structures (which modern ones do over GSM/GPRS).
      - Nursie 9y ago
        Interesting, that would appear to be something of an oversight.
      - Nursie 9y ago
        Even more interesting - https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/accepting-card-payments https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/accepting... "Every driver must accept card and contactless payments and provide receipts for those payments upon request. All taxis must have a fully working TfL-approved fixed card payment device fitted within the passenger compartment - a handheld-only device will not be sufficient to meet the licensing requirements. Any taxi found not to meet the requirement will be issued with an unfit notice, which will remain in place until the requirement is fulfilled and the vehicle is presented for inspection." So it looks like either the story was a little old, or the cab was in violation of the rules.
        Sephiroth87 9y ago
        I guess that would be the first time someone violated rules...
tallanvor 9y ago
They're required to accept cards and can't make you pay with cash. Just tell them you don't have cash, and they'll make sure their card reader starts working.
- Herald_MJ 9y ago
  > Just tell them you don't have cash, and they'll make sure their card reader starts working. They will actually usually just suggest driving past an ATM so you can get them cash. A good alternative that usually works is if you suggest paying them with a cheque. Usually then their card reader will magically start working.
- SamColes 9y ago
  Try that at 3am and see if the cab driver cares.
  - Nursie 9y ago
    If they want any paying at all, presumably they will. They are required by TFL to have a working contactless and Chip'n'Pin device mounted in the customer compartment. I have a feeling we're talking about things that happened in the past.
    - poooogles 9y ago
      What's required and reality are sometimes very different. I know I've been told the card machine doesn't work, then magically after saying I have no cash it'll start working a minute later...
  - pbhjpbhj 9y ago
    Do TfL "mystery shop", they should and with confiscation of license and vehicle for malfeasants.
    - gsnedders 9y ago
      Yes, but their enforcement team is way too small for the number of taxis and private hires on the road for it to have much effect.
urbanj 9y ago
> I’d like to add that most black cab drivers make out like their card machine doesn’t work. Weird - every black cab I've taken in the last 3 months (something like 30 of them) has had a working card machine.

denzil_correa 9y ago

Germany has practically banned Uber for sometime now.

romanovcode 9y ago
It was never even allowed in the first place. Uber is just regular cabs in Germany. That being said I've never heard anyone had any problems with German cabs e.g. scams, misleading etc..
kuschku 9y ago
It’s not exactly banned – Uber could return at any time when they ensure that their drivers have insurance that is valid, and a driving license that allows for driving passengers around. In fact, the driving license part was even considered something where the officials would ignore the regulations, if Uber would just comply with the insurance part. But Uber didn’t want that.

biztos 9y ago

Uber was kicked out of Hungary, I'm not sure on what pretext exactly but the gist was that the taxi drivers revolted. (But to be fair, I think at least Budapest has excellent taxi service and didn't need an Uber. It's probably different outside the capital.)

Tharkun 9y ago

Uber is already banned in Belgium. With the exception of some variations, like Uber VIP or something.