Uber to lose licence to operate in London

I dislike the notion of "efficient drivers" because I don't see how that translates into anything but "dangerous, speeding, corner cutting drivers".

I was about to reply that I thought that I was an “efficient driver”, having driven a Black Cab for 29 years, and only ever got involved in one accident, when I was waiting to turn right from Cadogan Place, SW1 into Sloane St. SW1, and a police car stopped and ‘flashed’ me out, only to be overtaken by a Lotus Elan, which T-Boned me, necessitating that I had to give my details to the cop driving the car, who nicked the Lotus driver, but I realised that you’re discussing Uber drivers, so carry on without me.
 
I was about to reply that I thought that I was an “efficient driver”, having driven a Black Cab for 29 years, and only ever got involved in one accident, when I was waiting to turn right from Cadogan Place, SW1 into Sloane St. SW1, and a police car stopped and ‘flashed’ me out, only to be overtaken by a Lotus Elan, which T-Boned me, necessitating that I had to give my details to the cop driving the car, who nicked the Lotus driver, but I realised that you’re discussing Uber drivers, so carry on without me.
That you’ve otherwise avoided accidents says very little about your “efficiency” or observation of traffic laws, but I’m not trying to accuse you of anything here, so don’t take offence.
 
The thing is, getting more money as an uber driver does not depend on efficiency so much as far as driving goes but rather luck. Same as a normal taxi really, except that the driver has less control over prices/surcharges and doesn't know where the passenger is going until they have accepted it. They may end up with a crap destination, with few customers around and a poor price.

Uber takes a lot of the decisions that matter to the driver out of their hands and really it is down to luck in the end.
 
That you’ve otherwise avoided accidents says very little about your “efficiency” or observation of traffic laws, but I’m not trying to accuse you of anything here, so don’t take offence.


None taken Von, none taken, my “efficiency” amounted to being hailed in Mile End Road, Stepney, East London, for example, getting asked for Olympia or Earls Court, in West London, nodding my head, and hearing the faint click of computer cogs in my brain as I just went into automatic pilot mode, and took the fare straight there.
I wasn’t a model observer of traffic laws either, faced with a no right turn at a T junction, I’d go left, then execute a swift U turn, and the only time I obeyed the wacky 20 mph restrictions in Islington, was if I came to a speed bump.
 
It's bad because York council has not vetted the drivers or vehicles.
Just like Southend and Brighton amongst others, have TFL registered uber drivers working in their jurisdictions.
 
The reasons given are pretty rubbish though. People coming from out of the city to work in it is somehow bad suddenly?

It is hilarious when we start basing decisions on what the competition are saying rather than actual consumers.
If as majestyk says the drivers haven't been vetted locally then the chances are the local council have no idea who is actually working as drivers in their area, which makes tracing problematic drivers down a lot more difficult especially given Uber's history of (lack of) co-operation with any law enforcement or licencing agency, and their attitude to dealing with reports of their drivers acting inappropriately when their customers complain.
 
This must be why professional drivers are renowned for never speeding or jumping lights.

Like I said before I've not once had an issue with an uber driver excessively speeding, if I had then I'd rate them appropriately. It would be rather hard for them to do so in most of central London anyway. Do you actually use the service as your latest post seem to rely only on some preconception about professional drivers in general being known to be bad.
 
The reasons given are pretty rubbish though. People coming from out of the city to work in it is somehow bad suddenly?

It is hilarious when we start basing decisions on what the competition are saying rather than actual consumers.
Agreed. You read the points raised and they're as flimsy as a flimsy thing.

Taxi drivers had complained of the city being "overwhelmed" with drivers using the ride-hailing app, which has already been banned in London and Sheffield.
And? If there's too many drivers for not enough riders, the drivers will soon disappear. Funny how that works.

He said some were coming from as far afield as London and Birmingham, and taking money out of the local economy. "We must also have every driver from Bradford here at the moment," he added.
I'd love to see how they can prove that. Pulling ideas like that out of thin air is hardly a compelling argument. Not to mention ferrying customers around your fair city is clearly adding to the local economy!

Wendy Loveday, chair of the York Private Hire Association, said there was also an issue with passenger safety.
Vague much?
 
I tried to use Uber for the first time yesterday evening as I had some free credits on my account from when I got the App a while ago.

I'm not that impressed as the driver accepted my fare, then sent me a private message asking where I want to go (which I thought was weird) as I had already put my destination down on the fare. After I replied saying where I wanted to go he then cancelled my fare altogether. The fare was for less than £4 so by the looks of it some Uber drivers only want big fares. He was the only local Uber driver at the time so couldn't just wait for another driver to pick my fare up.

Ended up phoning a local taxi firm who sent a friendly driver almost instantly and it only cost me £3 which would have been less than Uber had I not been using free credit.

Uber can **** right off.
 
I tried to use Uber for the first time yesterday evening as I had some free credits on my account from when I got the App a while ago.

I'm not that impressed as the driver accepted my fare, then sent me a private message asking where I want to go (which I thought was weird) as I had already put my destination down on the fare. After I replied saying where I wanted to go he then cancelled my fare altogether. The fare was for less than £4 so by the looks of it some Uber drivers only want big fares. He was the only local Uber driver at the time so couldn't just wait for another driver to pick my fare up.

Which is against their terms and conditions, feel free to report the driver. The reason he messages you is because he cannot see the destination until he's accepted the fair. I had the same for one a while back, I reported the driver as he refused my fair because I wasn't going into town (the fare would have been £9 instead of £14...)
 
It is against their T&C but i can understand why they might want to do that. If it takes them away from business for very little money, some circumstances (especially when traffic is concerned) will make it not worth the ride when you include time spent coming back from the destination.

I've had cancellations rarely and never had a private message except to say that they are outside
 
The fare was for less than £4 so by the looks of it some Uber drivers only want big fares. He was the only local Uber driver at the time so couldn't just wait for another driver to pick my fare up.

Ended up phoning a local taxi firm who sent a friendly driver almost instantly and it only cost me £3 which would have been less than Uber had I not been using free credit.
Where do you live where you can get a £3 cab? 1987? :confused:
 
Which is against their terms and conditions, feel free to report the driver. The reason he messages you is because he cannot see the destination until he's accepted the fair. I had the same for one a while back, I reported the driver as he refused my fair because I wasn't going into town (the fare would have been £9 instead of £14...)

I think I will report him.

It is against their T&C but i can understand why they might want to do that. If it takes them away from business for very little money, some circumstances (especially when traffic is concerned) will make it not worth the ride when you include time spent coming back from the destination.

I've had cancellations rarely and never had a private message except to say that they are outside

This was 8pm in a normal bog standard town, no traffic to hold you up and not exactly busy at a weekend never mind a week night.

I presume the driver was at home as it remained there for some time and I've seen it at the same location on the App today stationary in a cul-de-sac, which is only a couple of minutes away from me. He could have done the fare and been back home in 15 minutes. So I assume he only comes out for big fares.

Where do you live where you can get a £3 cab? 1987? :confused:

When your journey is only 0.8mile according to Google Maps. :p
 
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I tried to use Uber for the first time yesterday evening as I had some free credits on my account from when I got the App a while ago.

I'm not that impressed as the driver accepted my fare, then sent me a private message asking where I want to go (which I thought was weird) as I had already put my destination down on the fare. After I replied saying where I wanted to go he then cancelled my fare altogether. The fare was for less than £4 so by the looks of it some Uber drivers only want big fares. He was the only local Uber driver at the time so couldn't just wait for another driver to pick my fare up.

Ended up phoning a local taxi firm who sent a friendly driver almost instantly and it only cost me £3 which would have been less than Uber had I not been using free credit.

Uber can **** right off.
That's indeed weird. How on earth did he send you a private message? I've never had that before, about 200 rides now in many countries.

Uber drivers don't accept fares either, they accept pick ups. They might get annoyed when they pick you up and then when you are on board see the destination but then they would probably just rate you low if you were taking the mick.
 
That's indeed weird. How on earth did he send you a private message? I've never had that before, about 200 rides now in many countries.

Through the Uber App. Wasn't aware they could do that or that a feature existed until a message popped up. It's obviously open to abuse for worser things than what happened with me.

Say some dodgy driver could organise a fare cash in hand without putting it through the App etc.
 
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