dodeer Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Does anyone drive for Uber cabs? Saw an advert today for drivers wanted and seemed very good deal for someone with a reasonably modern car, and time on their hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Does anyone drive for Uber cabs? Saw an advert today for drivers wanted and seemed very good deal for someone with a reasonably modern car, and time on their hands. Read some of the other reviews,they are treated just like courier drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wandringstar Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 I have always wondered how much your insurance goes up, as you are going into the 'hire and reward' category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Aren't they just private hire cars with an app??? All the ones round here are council liscenced cabs so its mini cab driving ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 I'm no longer in the business, but are you not just a self employed 'private hire' owner/driver and paying to be on their circuit ? You still got all the hassle of licensing and insuring your own car. I can remember there was a bit of furore because Ubers rates were so low that drivers questioned wether it was possible to turn a profit ? (Maybe it becomes much more dependant on volume of work ?) More recently I believe there was a legal challenge by some Uber driver as to wether they were in fact Uber employees and therefore entitled to paid holidays, sick pay, pensions etc. If it seems like it's a to good to be true deal, then it probably is. There's also been recent bad press where Uber have doubled or tripled fares in areas affected by Southern Rails strike action. I have always wondered how much your insurance goes up, as you are going into the 'hire and reward' category. Think 3x - 4x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 I'm no longer in the business, but are you not just a self employed 'private hire' owner/driver and paying to be on their circuit ? You still got all the hassle of licensing and insuring your own car. There's also been recent bad press where Uber have doubled or tripled fares in areas affected by Southern Rails strike action. That's sort of the point of the app higher he demand the higher the fare....so massive demand = massive fare! Same would be the case after a large event such as a concert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) Don't forget you would need to get your PCO licence, medical and get your car MOTd twice a year. Private hire insurance is about £50 a week (in greater London anyway.) Maybe that's just in London though. Edited January 11, 2017 by walshie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 They have just started up round my way, from what the drivers say it is great in the early days but when the area gets flooded with cabs it gets very competitive. Most of them have drifted out from the west of London to get more fare. Did you know they get 12 seconds to hit the button to accept a request then it goes to the next driver? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted January 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Sounds like it could be good for someone but also a lot of expense with licensing and insurance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) A lot of uber cabs in London don't have hire and reward insurance. They take it out for a week to get the licence and produce it, but then cancel it and just run on ordinary third party only insurance. The money they get is so low that its impossible to operate legitimately, pay the bills and maintain the car properly. The drivers and the cars are the pits but hey! Its cheap As for the driver, its only a phone based app that sends him work you cannot be sure that the driver and the car are the proper ones and its not just a friend or relative that's borrowed the phone for the night to go and earn a few quid in his own car Edited January 11, 2017 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Don't forget you would need to get your PCO licence, medical and get your car MOTd twice a year. Private hire insurance is about £50 a week (in greater London anyway.) Maybe that's just in London though. A lot of the Uber cabs working in London aren't licenced in London. They are often licenced in places like Slough and Luton, even Bedford but if they drive into London and switch the app on Uber will give them jobs to do. The app doesn't recognise licensing areas apparently so I am told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted January 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 When I used Uber it was all nice C and S class Mercs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Whatever else may be true, but I guarantee they will take over your local area as the leading cab service They have revolutionised the london taxi market Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraivi Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Definitely way cheaper and I found them spot on. Use them whenever I am down in London. I heard from a buddy in Hungary that the Hungarian authorities kicked Uber out of Hungary as they undercut the local cab companies too much. Story goes that most local cab businesses are owned by local government officials ....the coffers took a hit & subsequently Uber got ejected from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Whatever else may be true, but I guarantee they will take over your local area as the leading cab service They have revolutionised the london taxi market They will and that's what they intend to do. Uber is owned by Google (bankrolled by Goldman Sachs) and is being run at a massive loss at the moment to get the App up to world domination level by deliberately undercutting and killing off the opposition. Its got very little to do with taxis and everything to do with building the app. Its quite Orwellian really, once they 'take over the world' in terms of the taxi trade you can bet the cheap fares will go out of the window Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 They will and that's what they intend to do. Uber is owned by Google (bankrolled by Goldman Sachs) and is being run at a massive loss at the moment to get the App up to world domination level by deliberately undercutting and killing off the opposition. Its got very little to do with taxis and everything to do with building the app. Its quite Orwellian really, once they 'take over the world' in terms of the taxi trade you can bet the cheap fares will go out of the window I completely agree. As long as they can afford to hold out whilst the competition goes bust they can control the whole market Interesting to see what driverless cars do to the taxi market though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Interesting to see what driverless cars do to the taxi market though. Why do you think they are so lntent on becoming a taxi provider..... buy a driverless car pay google to make it a cab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Why do you think they are so lntent on becoming a taxi provider..... buy a driverless car pay google to make it a cab They would still need a driver behind the wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shredder1uk Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Used uber for the first time yesterday in Liverpool. Journey from the Train station to our hotel in a normal cab was 6.20. Uber on the way back was 3.09. Will be using again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 It's the downfall of the minicab market and I have heard a few horror stories about assaults and drivers dissapearing before people have managed to get their shopping or luggage out of the back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpringDon Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 I've heard on the radio that some drivers (who dip in and out) like the flexibility but others who do it more full time can't make enough money. I'd also be concerned about the issues raised above about insurance etc. I use a cab so infrequently that I wouldn't even consider an uber. It's grumpy racist mastermind winning taxi drivers for me every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Black Cab drivers hate them and are on a mission to stamp them out as they are all "rapists who work for ISIS" - Their words not mine. They don't so much undercut them - It's more like a slaughter with my journey home around £120 in a Black Cab and maybe £40 in an Uber - Give them the post code and fall asleep in the back. There is a massive downside to them over CRB/DBS checks, insurance, roadworthiness of vehicles etc but they are cheap, take a credit card, will go south of the river and are plentiful at beer o'clock when they're needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Black Cab drivers hate them and are on a mission to stamp them out as they are all "rapists who work for ISIS" - Their words not mine. there is some truth in that http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/uber-drivers-accused-of-32-rapes-and-sex-attacks-on-london-passengers-a7037926.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Whatever you choose to believe Uber is massive rocket up traditional cab companies. I have used the local ones 3 times, once at 30 minutes after midnight on New Years day, even then they arrived in 10 minutes and 'only' charged double the normal fare - which is less than I expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Whatever you choose to believe Uber is massive rocket up traditional cab companies. I have used the local ones 3 times, once at 30 minutes after midnight on New Years day, even then they arrived in 10 minutes and 'only' charged double the normal fare - which is less than I expected. The last five Xmas periods I cabbed we were restricted to 50% extra because so many asian firms were undercutting firms charging the orthodox double rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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