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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be furious they have banned Uber from London?

608 replies

Acidophilus · 22/09/2017 12:20

WTF?

Uber has itsbissues but this is ridiculous.

TFL have bowed to Black cab pressure and we will all pay massively for it. Or get mini cabs that are less safe and treat heir drivers worse.

OP posts:
5rivers7hills · 22/09/2017 16:24

How do you locate a legal minicab? Presumably you have to phone, which already makes it vastly less convenient, before you even get to the issue of how you locate each other..

Back in the day some big clubs would have a taxi Marshall who booked you into a legal mini cab (wrote it down on their clipboard) then put you in the cab.

Firesuit · 22/09/2017 16:25

I did once have an enterprising minicab driver try to sell me life insurance during the short ride home, after picking me up outside a club at 1am.

PigletJohn · 22/09/2017 16:26

"In March, it was revealed that the ride-hailing company was using a custom-built tool, known as ‘Greyball’ software, to deceive law enforcement.

When local regulators would try to track down drivers, Uber used Greyball to show them a fake version of the Uber app to try and protect themselves..."

"...Uber had used Greyball to evade local government authorities in the United States, Australia, South Korea, and China.

The software used several methods to identify and deny service to government officials who were investigating Uber."

metro.co.uk/2017/09/22/what-is-the-greyball-software-uber-used-to-avoid-the-law-6948057/

FlowerPot1234 · 22/09/2017 16:27

PhilODox
I am glad they're not having their licence renewed. The uber business model is completely exploitative of the drivers.

How so?

TheAntiBoop · 22/09/2017 16:29

This isn't about the black cabs - they've been ignored for years and were slapped down when the Cameron government and mayor Boris were keen to get uber onboard

It's the dodgy practices uber use. And all those promotions and low prices - it's the drivers subsidising that. And one day, when they've proved everyone out of the market - see what happens to the prices - and the drivers won't see any more of it either.

AhhhhThatsBass · 22/09/2017 16:29

Don't stress, OP. Uber have some of the toughest lobbyists in the world as well some of the best lawyers. If nothing else they will argue that TfL is trying to create an oligopolistic market to placate the black cab drivers who charge £30 for a journey that costs about £11 with Uber.
Since theoretically they are not losing the license until the appeal is over (assuming they lost), the ruling will be overturned and it will be business as usual.
I really wouldn't worry. I know someone very high up in Uber and people have no idea quite how powerful/influential a company it is.

butterfly56 · 22/09/2017 16:29

There was an eye opening documentary on BBCi player very recently "Secrets of Silicon valley" that looked into Uber and Airbnb

Thousands and thousands of people have actually been put out of work globally by these big companies selling the idea that they some sort of ethical enterprises!...far from it.Angry

AccrualIntentions · 22/09/2017 16:30

How do you locate a legal minicab? Presumably you have to phone, which already makes it vastly less convenient, before you even get to the issue of how you locate each other..

Well in cities which don't have Uber or where Uber is very new, those minicab firms have apps which allow you to book online, pay online, track where the cab is, tell you the name of your driver and details of their vehicle...sound familiar?

If no London minicab firms currently offer this (which I highly doubt) perhaps they'll see the gap in the market and bring in such revolutionary technology.

TheAntiBoop · 22/09/2017 16:34

I'm in London and two of my local minivan firms have an app. My parents use one that they book from zone 6. Just need to get out of the attitude of wanting everything now.

blackteasplease · 22/09/2017 16:36

If there's evidence it's not safe then I think it's a good ruling.

Also has incidental puts paid to people citing their uber rating as evidence of being a nice person!

MsMartini · 22/09/2017 16:37

I am really pleased about this and don't like my dc using uber. I live in London zone 2 though, and have yet to find a reliable, convenient minicab company. And they all want cash.

ljny · 22/09/2017 16:41

Uber is a lifesaver when you're stuck away from home/work and need to get somewhere quickly. It's not always an attitude of 'wanting everything now'. Sometimes there's a emergency, I'm often in parts of London not frequented by black cabs. Don't know the local apps.

I do wish they'd treat their drivers better.

5rivers7hills · 22/09/2017 16:43

Just need to get out of the attitude of wanting everything now

Of course, how dare people decide they want to get home "now" the very cheek of it!

C8H10N4O2 · 22/09/2017 16:43

Back in the day some big clubs would have a taxi Marshall

Not just big clubs - pretty much any restaurant, many pubs and even cinemas would keep a list of local firms and sometimes call for you.

If no London minicab firms currently offer this[app]

Both the local minicab firms I use regularly have apps, have done for a very long time. I assume this happens in other parts of London as well. Minicab prices have matched Uber whenever I've done a comparison.

SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning · 22/09/2017 16:44

Another one who is Hmm at the black cab praisers. I've got a few recently and none of them bloody knew where we were going. Two of them were so fucking grumpy and rude.

PigletJohn · 22/09/2017 16:47

@AhhhhThatsBass Fri 22-Sep-17 16:29:39

" I know someone very high up in Uber and people have no idea quite how powerful/influential a company it is."

It may come as a surprise to you that not all citizens want to see Power and Influence overcome the upholding of decent standards.

Sprinklestar · 22/09/2017 16:47

Precisely Hadron. And if you look at the cities where Uber has flourished, it has been able to precisely because there was a gap in the market. If the black cabs had been as good as some of the posters upthread claim, they wouldn't have stood a chance... Oh yeah - but black cabs aren't that good, are they? Hence Uber came and claimed that part of the market. Simples!

safariboot · 22/09/2017 16:49

I know someone very high up in Uber and people have no idea quite how powerful/influential a company it is.

Which is exactly why I feel Uber deserve to get their ass handed to them. No private company should be above the law, but Uber is among the many that want to be and try to be.

karalime · 22/09/2017 16:57

I've recently being visiting my DM in a hospice. 7 uber drivers found the hospice no problem. Minicabs, fine. Dozens of visitors found it with no issue.

Could the 2 black cab drivers with their knowledge find it, with the full address and postcode? No they fucking couldn't.

To many times visiting family have got into a black cab, the driver has no clue where anything is past Kentish Town and they've paid £40 for the privilege.

This is why people use uber. If it goes I will just get the bus.

Bicyclethief · 22/09/2017 16:57

Treat their drivers bad(they pay 20% to uber) they don't check who the take on and pay little tax in this country. Who cares bout ethics or paying a living wage as long as I get cheap fares!

JacquesHammer · 22/09/2017 16:57

Just need to get out of the attitude of wanting everything now

Yes indeed. How dare people want to get somewhere when they need it.

RidingWindhorses · 22/09/2017 16:58

How so?

Let's start with the unintelligible contracts with a clause preventing drivers challenging their self-employed status, no living wage, sick pay or pension contributions.

A group of drivers took Uber to tribunal, which ruled that its drivers are workers with the right to minimum wage and holiday pay not self-employed contractors. Uber is appealing this.

RidingWindhorses · 22/09/2017 17:00

Sometimes there's a emergency, I'm often in parts of London not frequented by black cab

Me too. Put mini cab into your phone and up will come a list of all licensed mini cab companies in the area. I find they're generally faster than Uber.

bowtieandheels · 22/09/2017 17:03

I'm with you OP I'm actually so upset at the decision, for various health reasons Uber literally changed my life. I've always felt so safe and love the whole no cash system. The service uber offers doesn't even compare with Black Cabs or mini cabs, it is far superior in so many ways. Really hoping they'll sort out the issues and be able to carry on trading!

FlowerPot1234 · 22/09/2017 17:03

Bicyclethief
Treat their drivers bad(they pay 20% to uber)

Why is that bad? Uber does all the marketing and provides the drivers with their customers. All the drivers have to do is sit and wait for Uber to find them customers, then pick them up.

20% sounds like a pretty appropriate cut for anyone who finds another their customers in any walk of life, and servicing of all the overheads/the app that facilitates this.