‘Uber drivers give me a low passenger rating because I’m gay’
Complaint: Svend Littauer accused Uber of discrimination because he's gay. The taxi firm said it did not tolerate homophobia
A London businessman has accused taxi firm Uber of discriminating against gay passengers.
Svend Littauer, chief operating officer for a services company, said he believed he was the victim of homophobia after getting inexplicably low passenger ratings from drivers.
Uber allows drivers to rate customers. to help colleagues decide who to pick up. Those ordering cabs can also rate their drivers to ensure a better service. The passenger rating by drivers is supposed to be kept secret.
Mr Littauer, 45, from Kennington, who often travels with his partner, said he had never been rude or behaved inappropriately in a cab. After discovering he had a rating of 3.4, he said the only plausible explanation was because he was gay.
He said: “A driver told me anything under a rating of four was a bit scary. I’ve not been abusive at all so the only thing I can put it down to is the fact that we are a gay couple. It is the only explanation.
“Uber is a service, it should not be discriminating, it is wrong, and sometimes it is important to stand up to this sort of thing.” The company, which connects cab drivers and customers via an app, has been the target of criticism over a number of issues since it launched in the US in 2009.
Another gay couple in London, Corey Watts and Jordan Sloan, have said they were kicked out of an Uber cab on New Year’s Day for kissing. The driver was suspended.
A spokeswoman for Uber said it took all allegations “extremely seriously” and “took pride” in the diversity of its drivers and passengers.
She added: “We do not tolerate discrimination in any shape or form and encourage anyone using our platform to directly report any inappropriate behaviour.
“As yet the rider has not brought any concerns to our attention, so we would implore him to get in touch with us so we can further investigate.”
source: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transpor ... 48062.html
It couldn't possibly be because the driver thought you was just an average punter and gave an average mark.
