With as much money as Uber loses you’d think they couldn’t afford to lose even one rider. However on Thursday Uber published guidelines for what will get you banned as a customer.
It’s easy to find out how Uber drivers rate you after each trip. But now matter how good your Uber rating is, some behaviors will get you kicked off the platform.
Most riders show drivers the respect they deserve. But some don’t—whether it’s leaving trash in the car, throwing up in the back seat after too much alcohol or asking a driver to break the speed limit so they can get to their appointment on time. This kind of poor behavior is not OK, which is why we will take action against passengers who are rude, abusive or violent.
If you’re accused of breaking one of Uber’s commandments — for instance “Uber has a no sex rule” (no sexual conduct between drivers and riders, having sex with another passenger during your ride is apparently merely frowned upon as long as it’s not UberPOOL), and “leave your guns at home” — they’ll open an investigation. Like an American Express Financial Review, you may not be able to use Uber while the investigation proceeds.
- “If the issues raised are serious or a repeat offense, or you refuse to cooperate, you may lose access to Uber.”
- “Any behavior involving violence, sexual misconduct, harassment, discrimination, or illegal activity while using Uber can result in the immediate loss of your account.”
Here’s the list of what can get you banned from Uber, quoting from the new policy:
- Damaging drivers’ or other passengers’ property. For example, damaging the car, breaking or vandalizing a phone, intentionally spilling food or drink, smoking, or vomiting due to excessive alcohol consumption.
- Physical contact with the driver or fellow riders. As our community guidelines make clear, you shouldn’t touch or flirt with other people in the car. As a reminder, Uber has a no sex rule. That’s no sexual conduct with drivers or fellow riders, no matter what. And you should never hit or otherwise hurt a driver or fellow passenger.
- Use of inappropriate and abusive language or gestures. For example, asking overly personal questions, using verbal threats, and making comments or gestures that are aggressive, sexual, discriminatory, or disrespectful.
- Unwanted contact with the driver or fellow passenger after the trip is over. For example, texting, calling, or visiting someone in person after a ride has been completed. Remember, in most countries you can call and text your driver directly from the Uber app without ever having to share your personal phone number. This means that your phone number stays anonymous and is never given to the driver.
- Breaking the local law while using Uber. For example, bringing open containers of alcohol or drugs into the car; traveling in large groups that exceed the number of seat belts in the car; asking drivers to break local traffic laws such as speed limits; or using Uber to commit a crime, including drug and human trafficking or the sexual exploitation of children.
That’s all in addition to the firearms bad, and if they catch you “abusing promotions” or you ‘collude’ with a driver, “disput[e] fares for fraudulent or illegitimate reasons” or have “duplicate accounts” they may shut you down.
There’s the list of what will get you kicked off of Uber. Of course I live in Austin, where Uber will get kicked off of you.
Throwing up in the backseat incurs a cleaning fee. Don’t see why it merits the ban hammer. Uber touts that it has reduced drunk driving, but would that hold if they banned drunks?
Flirting is not allowed? Good luck proving that one.
Yeah I will be curious how they police this – “my passenger said I had nice eyes – they were obviously flirting – ban them!”
Seems silly
Sam, have you seen any college campuses, or spoken with any undergrads, recently?
I hope they provide a bible in every back seat of the car.
Passengers should be allowed to Pay with sex if they don’t have a major credit card
Sometimes a photo is worth more than a credit card.
as an ex uber driver, its all PR. none of that will get you kicked out of uber, usually, if the driver complains, HE/SHE is that one that gets kicked out of uber pretty quick. The customer is ALWAYS right, according to uber. Only exception is if the incident generates negative publicity for uber (usually when the driver seeks a social media conflagration), otherwise, the driver is told to “stop lying” or “deal with it”…
I was kicked off of Lyft when a driver lied and said I threatened her (she got completely lost, I missed a doctor’s appointment and I owed $50 for the missed appointment — which I got the call about in the car with her — and I told the driver I’d contact Lyft about arranging payment). Lyft said they did an “investigation,” but never asked me what happened, and that their finding was that I had physically threatened her. This was absurd, and I was going to fight it; but then I realized that I’m not going to give my money to a company that doesn’t want it.
And if you get kicked off, all you really need is to change our phone number to sign up again. They don’t do any checks when you sign up for uber, just that the credit card is valid.