Asking for your thoughts on what this older woman should do after this terrible Uber experience

I’d be calling the police. That’s false imprisonment. It’s a criminal offence.

The person who booked needs to report them and give them bad stars.
I think they can get terminated for demanding double payment? They shouldn't have ditched her for another fare but the payment thing is worse. Unless the booker somehow did a cash booking without telling friend?

Anyway I hope it gets reported. That's not on at all. I've luckily never had a dodgy Uber driver but did have one speed off and cancel on me as soon as he saw my elderly disabled mum with rollator.

Moral of the story: never use Uber cabs. Never.

My 18 year old son had a similar issue. Uber driver demanded the cash and was very aggressive when refused. He reported him and reviewed accordingly. It happens

She also needs to contact her local council’s licensing authority and report to them. Uber are supposed to do it, but likelihood is they won’t.

I’ve unfortunately had far too many experiences with uber. Some of which have ended up in court.

She needs to contact 101 and report it. Can you help her report it to Uber too. Not allowing her to leave is very serious.

Most likely they target elderly people who are either afraid to report as they know that the driver knows where they live or do not know how to report and do not want to bother the person who booked it.

The driver can always claim that the person requested to return home etc.

A relative of mine had a similar experience with a different driving app.

A word of caution. When booking an uber always take a screenshot of the booking once it’s confirmed, because if the driver cancels then the details disappear from the app and you can no longer report it.

Does your mum have a ring doorbell?

I suspect the driver never confirmed that he’d done the pickup, drove down the street, cancelled the job and then demanded the cash. The details likely aren’t in the app any more and if the DD didn’t screenshot them she may be powerless.

Uber are a horrendous company on every conceivable level, and IMO their now allowing people to pay in cash is only going to make things worse.

An unscrupulous and nasty driver who thought he could take advantage of an older woman who was m not familiar with how Uber works. Dread to think what he would have done if she did not have cash on her. I use Uber and they only send a car when I have paid with my bank card on the app. So far have not had any dodgy experiences, a couple of rude unhelpful drivers but thankfully nothing like this

My parents are in their 80s and no longer drive. They use a local taxi company and it's a bit more expensive but worth it for a more "personal" service than uber. They wouldn't do this as they want to keep my parents as customers. I would suggest this to your friend.

I would report to the police as well as Uber. Refusing to let an elderly, vulnerable person out of the car until they paid is awful and very scary for her.

Whoever booked it should report to uber AND she should also report to police as refusing to let her out of the car is a criminal offence.

I had a similar experience some years ago with an ordinary taxi driver. After visiting my brother at Christmas shortly after the death of my husband, a cab was booked to get me home, back across town, which I expected to be arduous because of recent flooding. However the taxi office assured us that the flooding wasn't "too deep" and the journey was doable. So, after collecting me, the driver drove for about four miles, with repeated reassurances that he could get across town.... before deciding that in fact he couldn't (wouldn't) make the journey.

He drove 2 miles back, then stopped. He locked the doors and refused to open them until I paid his fare, £23.... Luckily I had opened the rear window a little and was able to shout out that I was being held and he soon opened the door when three men walked towards the car asking after my safety... He soon let me out. Got a lovely lift home from one of them in their car, no problem or charge. (Thanks James👍🏼) No hesitation in phoning the taxi office to complain about the driver, and threatened to report to the police too.

That’s awful. I’d maybe even go as far as saying this should be reported to the police. That’s very threatening to an elderly lady to lock them in the car and refuse to let them out. And theft to demand the money (even if only £8) when he’s not done the job he was hired to do.
But at the very least, absolutely report to uber.

What this driver did was appalling and quite possibly illegal. I would do three things:

• Report to Uber via the app.
• Report to the local council licensing team.
• Report to the police on 101.

You will need the name and licence plate of the driver both of which will be available on the Uber app

That's shocking. They definitely do take cash because I reset my uber app payment type to "cash" when I was abroad and now I can't seem to change it back again which is a massive pain.

The 8.99(ish) is the cancellation fee if the driver has already set off but only when the passenger cancels, not when the driver cancels. Awful man.

Get whoever booked it to make a complaint to Uber and I would tell her to use the local mini cab company for all journeys from now on.

Has a crime report been made to the police and a complaint to Uber? This is serious.

That's needs reporting I wonder how many times he has done this ?
Well if u report hopefully b the last I would report to police as well because this is fraud and theft ! Taking money from someone when he hasn't done the job but I bet it looks like he has picked up passenger and theft because he took money off her and wouldn't let her out of the cab ! That is actually quiet scary someone would do this to an old lady bless her I hope she is ok 💐

And the driver assigned I believe?

You must report OP.

Yes absolutely report it.

whoever made the booking should have the journey details.

Just awful OP. The Uber driver should be reported to the police. They can’t lock people in a car and refuse to open the door unless they pay. Your poor friend!

Who are you to say ‘this didn’t happen’?
Have a word with yourself!