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

[Sunshineandoranges]

I have a friend in her eighties who was coming to my house this afternoon. She had booked an Uber cab. It was the first time she had used uber and I don't know whether she booked it or her daughter did. She arrived late and very upset. Apparently the driver collected her, took her to the end of her street, then turned round and drove her back. He said he had another fare and couldn't drive her to my house. He then said she had to pay him the fare of eight pounds. She refused but he said he wouldn't unlock the cab till she paid, so she gave him the cash. He drove off and she walked around to a mini cab firm nearby who brought her to my house.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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