Taxi Driver Online

Uber driver demands extra payment on 33C day if passengers want AC

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-w ... t-10990725

A woman says an Uber driver demanded she pay extra to turn on the air conditioning despite it being a sweltering 33 degrees. Paige Skye was setting off to a one-day festival in Brixton, London, and got an Uber X with three others on Bank Holiday Monday.

The 26-year-old said the windows were lowered when she got in at 6.35pm and she asked the driver if he could turn on the air conditioning. But the driver reportedly said the group would have to pay or that they should have booked an Uber Comfort instead. After going back and forth, Paige said the Uber worker pretended to turn on the AC and shut all the windows in the car.

The beautician said the vehicle felt like a sauna and was 'scorching' hot, making her realise the AC was not really on, so she put her window down for the rest of the £10 ride. Paige claims the driver then dropped them off at the wrong location.

Uber replied to her video on social media apologising for the uncomfortable trip and said 'you should not be asked to pay extra for AC during trips'. Paige, from Stratford, East London, said: "I was going to City Splash and before I even got into the car, I saw my cousin was having an argument. We got into the car and all the windows were down.

"It was 33 degrees so it was really hot, he was hot, everybody was hot. I was sitting in the middle. It was only going up the road so there was no reason for us to order an Uber Comfort. We asked if he can turn the AC on, he said 'no you have to pay'.

"We said 'we've never heard of having to pay to turn on the AC. Especially in the UK because we wouldn't be asking for the AC normally'. He said 'this is a business and you have to book Comfort. I don't want to turn on the AC.'

"My cousin tried to turn on the AC and he said to stop touching the car. We said 'we'll stop touching it but turn on the AC'. He ran up the windows acting like he was going to press the AC but didn't press the AC. I thought 'there's no way he's pressed the AC, it's getting hotter and hotter in here.

"I pushed down all the windows. He told us to stop touching the car and if we want more comfortability, we need to book Comfort and not X. Him and my cousin were going back and forth. The windows were only down because we pushed them down."

Paige posted a video online, captioned: "Since when do we pay for AC in 33-degree heat? You need to figure it out." Paige's video has racked up more than 200,000 views, with Uber commenting to clarify she should not have to pay extra for air conditioning.

Paige said: "He was supposed to drop us right at the gate and he dropped us somewhere else because he said 'you didn't pay for this, didn't pay for that.' It was just a bit too much. He said we had to book AC through the Uber app, he was just being horrible.

"It was like a sauna, it was scorching hot. It felt like you couldn't breathe, that type of heat. I can't believe he wanted to charge people for AC. He looked hot, he was just being spiteful. I was in disbelief."

Paige argued that drivers don't ask for payment to turn the heating on in cold temperatures so it shouldn't be the case for air conditioning, and that this could pose a health hazard. Paige said: "It was irritating because it was already hot. It was unfair because as far as I know, when you order Comfort or XL you just get a better-looking car.

"It's normally cold in the UK, you barely get hot days. It will cost you a little more to run the AC, it's not an everyday thing. When it's freezing, they put the heating on without even asking, what's the difference?

"There's no reason, he was just being difficult. He was difficult to the wrong person, my cousin is making a formal complaint. I don't think anybody could believe it. If somebody had asthma or claustrophobia it could have caused a lot of panic. It felt like the air was too hot."

Uber commented: "Hi Paige, so sorry for the uncomfortable trip. You should not be asked to pay extra for AC during trips. Please DM us your Uber account and trip details so we can look into this for you." While some commenters agree that the AC should have been turned on, others are defending the driver.

One wrote: "That's an Uber policy violation. Put in a complaint and get a refund." Another commented: "As an Uber driver myself, I drive with AC on and have my window open in case the passenger smells."

One wrote: "He's punishing himself too." Another commented: "I'd report that."

But one wrote: "If you want AC, you should have gone for Uber Comfort or Uber Executive, then you will have the choice to select the temperature." Another wrote: "Get an Uber Comfort. Don't pay for the cheapest one and want to get comfort."

An Uber spokesperson said they'd responded to Paige directly.

_________________
IDFIMH

The above indicates to me they were nightmare punters.

The driver should have put the air conditioning on, but the punters could have got out of the car at any time and canceled the job.

_________________
IDFIMH

I'd guess there's a bit of, er, curmudgeonliness on both sides here, and just one of those things that gets out of hand

I certainly wouldn't use the aircon much if it was up to me, because:

- although it pulls down the fuel consumption on any car, on my wee Skoda engine it seems to be worse than on previous cars

- I have quite a high tolerance of heat, and barely feel what would have made my feel uncomfortably hot a few years ago

- up here in Fife we just don't get temperatures like in London and much of England.

That said, I always use it if I think it will benefit the passengers, and sometimes ask them if they want it on, particularly on longer trips and when it's not particularly warm and my default would be to have it off.

However, where I have had the odd disagreement is where I've got the aircon on, and they insist on opening the windows as well. I mean, that means the aircon is ineffective, so you're wasting fuel twice over - the aircon itself, plus the increased fuel consumption with the windows open. And you know the wind racket modern cars make when the rear windows are open...

Apart from that, it doesn't bother me at all

When it's hot, my aircon is always on, as I don't like getting toasted.

And when it's cold, the heater is red hot.

_________________
IDFIMH

On my private car; air con is permanently on irrespective of weather because it needs to run regularly to keep the seals intact and I hate getting the drivers seat soaked with sweat.

Over the years i have known many drivers who refuse to use aircon because of the extra fuel consumed and occasionally incidents like the above ensued

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector