Photo: Adam Berry
When they are under the influence, people tend to do some crazy stuff, but probably few pay a thousand dollars for hitching a ride. A man from Edmonton, Canada, spent 1,114.71 CAD (800.28 USD) for a Uber ride after celebrating the New Year’s Eve.
Right after welcoming the New Year, Matt Lindsay called a Uber taxi to get him and his friends home, in north Edmonton. He is not a stranger to Uber and knew from his previous experiences that a trip like that usually costs somewhere around C$20 ($14.36) or nearly C$77 ($55) if the rates are increased.
Because in that period the rate had increased and was 8.9 times the regular fee, the driver warned the riders before hitting the gas, but Lindsay agreed to it considering the number of people in the vehicle. After the first stop, he didn’t calculate nor receive an estimate for the next leg of the trip from the Uber driver.
After being dropped off, Matt received an email from Uber confirming his final fare of 1,114.71 CAD (800.28 USD). According to CBC News, he acknowledges that if he had received a final estimate, he would have ended the trip earlier. Matt is now asking for Uber to limit its surge pricing, especially on long distance rides.
Jean-Christophe de la Rue, Uber’s spokesman, has declared that “When more people need rides than there are drivers on the road, surge pricing provides an incentive for drivers to offer rides where and when they are needed most.” He also says that riders are repeatedly notified about the pricing on the mobile app and even asked to confirm and accept increased fares.
More than that, because it is a well-known fact that during the New Year’s Eve period people tend to drink more than they can carry, Uber developed a ride guide and sent it out ten days earlier, for everyone to know about the pricing range.
To put an end to this misunderstanding, the company offered to cut Matt Lindsay’s fare in half.
Because in that period the rate had increased and was 8.9 times the regular fee, the driver warned the riders before hitting the gas, but Lindsay agreed to it considering the number of people in the vehicle. After the first stop, he didn’t calculate nor receive an estimate for the next leg of the trip from the Uber driver.
After being dropped off, Matt received an email from Uber confirming his final fare of 1,114.71 CAD (800.28 USD). According to CBC News, he acknowledges that if he had received a final estimate, he would have ended the trip earlier. Matt is now asking for Uber to limit its surge pricing, especially on long distance rides.
Jean-Christophe de la Rue, Uber’s spokesman, has declared that “When more people need rides than there are drivers on the road, surge pricing provides an incentive for drivers to offer rides where and when they are needed most.” He also says that riders are repeatedly notified about the pricing on the mobile app and even asked to confirm and accept increased fares.
More than that, because it is a well-known fact that during the New Year’s Eve period people tend to drink more than they can carry, Uber developed a ride guide and sent it out ten days earlier, for everyone to know about the pricing range.
To put an end to this misunderstanding, the company offered to cut Matt Lindsay’s fare in half.
Google News