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Speaker: Confessions of an Uber driver

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  • BenWilson, in reply to goforit,

    Had some fun stuff come in today. Since Uber no longer require you to have commercial vehicle insurance, drivers inquired as to whether the insurance companies would actually pay out, given that you'd be driving commercially. Uber's response was that they have their own insurance policy to cover any claims that are refused by the other insurance companies. When asked whether the drivers could see this policy, since they're basically claiming it covers those drivers, so it would be nice to get some of the detail, the answer was "No. No you can't". In writing, no less.

    Not entirely sure how the insurance companies would feel about Uber doing that for their customers. As far as I'm aware, you're meant to disclose any other policies you're covered by to your insurer.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • goforit,

    of course you beleive uncle Uber has this so called policy

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to goforit,

    Who knows? If you don't have a copy of a policy, you effectively don't have a policy. You have a gratuitous promise. Obviously the real reason you can't see the policy is because it would be an absolute disaster for Uber if anyone hostile got their hands on it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB, in reply to BenWilson,

    Uber’s response was that they have their own insurance policy to cover any claims that are refused by the other insurance companies

    Seeing as Uber will not supply any policy details on this, It means they are not supplying any reasons why it might not apply in any particular instance... I think you need to take them on their word, and then check on their ability or willingness to cover you when the reason you were refused by the other insurance company was a trivial matter like having never taken out a policy or paid any premiums at all... So, Uber would have to cover you because they'd told you they would, no?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to FletcherB,

    So, Uber would have to cover you because they’d told you they would, no?

    Who knows? Would you want to test that one in court?

    ETA: I'm not sure I'd want to be holding Uber to a policy they never gave me any copy of. What am I even holding them to? How could I know? How could I prove it?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Ben, don't you some kind of written agreement with Uber? Does it describe any indemnity, compensation, or similar language for loss, damage, and legal liability while driving? If not, there's your real problem.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    My own one puts all the liability on me, and I’m pretty sure it’s pro-forma what everyone gets, even the newbies who are being signed up at a massive rate every day for the last 3 weeks. So yeah, the letter of the agreement says Uber doesn’t have to pay anything. This is not, of course, how they represent it when they say verbally or in weasel words emails to “rest assured”, that they will cover your costs if your insurance company doesn’t.

    Personally, I’m not worried. I have actual commercial insurance, because I have an actual P endorsement and my vehicle has a COF. These were questions that the insurance company asked, of course. I would have had to lie to them to get anything other than commercial insurance. Which, I presume, is what most of the drivers are now doing.

    ETA: Lying, that is, rather than getting commercial insurance. Because Uber does not require commercial insurance now, nor any of the other compliance aspects of driving passengers for hire or reward. Not one of the laws is now being respected. Zero. Zilch. They're making their own laws for the entire service. They have literally invented a legal fiction called "Ridesharing", which has no formal recognition in law, and are using that to trick hundreds and hundreds of immigrants and students into breaking the law to make money for them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I know this because I'm getting a steady stream of confused young guys who come to the driver pages trying to get the truth. Being honest young fellows, some of them, they called the NZTA to find out what the law was and got the baffling answer that not one word Uber told them was true.

    This has been my work for the last 3 weeks. Sorry it's taking me time to get the next article out.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • goforit,

    Hi again, every thing has gone round in a big circle, the argument over insurance is very simple its the same argument over the provisions of the Transport Act. If you are for hire and reward there is laws covering this and insurance to cover this.Any driver who does not comply to the Transport act is in breech of that act.

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • goforit,

    Ben, what sort of minium age limit have they imposed on these new drivers ?

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to goforit,

    I'm not aware of one. It would presumably be dictated by how young one could get a full driver's license and hold it for 2 years. What's that? 18?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • goforit,

    thats what I thought, where with a P endorsment it is 20 years another breakdown of the regs

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • goforit,

    Good news for the underpaid Uber drives, if you have a P endorsement, A proper PSL, area knowledge cert', GST regrisation and COF the EZYGO app is up and running.
    Rates are $1.85 per km and commission to the app is only 10%. The best part is non app jobs the rate can be anywhere from $2.40 to $3.70 per km.

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen R,

    Wellington • Since Jul 2009 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • goforit, in reply to Stephen R,

    only taken them two years, let hope they carry through this time

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • goforit,

    I have just been given more information on the Ezygo app if anyone is interested.

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Brent Jackson, in reply to goforit,

    Their website is absolutely crap at giving any information, which actually makes me not that interested.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report Reply

  • goforit,

    I do agree over that one with you, just spoken to them and the web page was put on the back burner while the app itself was beinf developed. Apparently the web page will be completed over the weekend.

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • goforit,

    Update on the Ezygo app, Ezygo have contacted me to comfirm their web page is being rebuilt and the app itself is of course linked to this, they assure me the app will be back operating as soon as the web page is ready.
    When I hear more I let you know.
    Ben have not herad from you lately hope you are keeping up the fight with uncle Gubber(Uber)

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to goforit,

    hope you are keeping up the fight with uncle Gubber(Uber)

    Oh, yes. That I am.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • goforit,

    hi Ben, I just read an article about fare rates in LA, they are $0.90 per mile that is approx $0.55c per km. I thinks yours could even drop lower in the future.

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Looks like the model isn't going away. Apple has just invested $1 billion in the company behind China's top ride-hailing app:

    Investing in Didi Chuxing allows Apple to grab a foothold in the Chinese tech market that reaches beyond iPhones—and also gives it a new platform for its other technology. For example, if Didi Chuxing uses CarPlay, that gives Apple another outlet to sell software services in China beside the iPhone, as well as valuable data to tailor apps and maps for Chinese users. Didi Chuxing is also a major potential customer once Apple’s self-driving car comes to fruition.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • goforit, in reply to Russell Brown,

    the bottom line is and this includes Uber, when shareholders money is used to prop up any busness at some point the busness breaks down due to the fact those shareholders at some time in the future expect a return on their money invested. I Ubers case when they need more money they just increase the share holders base. Actually when you think about Uber it runs the worlds biggest pozi scheme.

    Auckland • Since May 2016 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to goforit,

    Actually when you think about Uber it runs the worlds biggest pozi scheme.

    It doesn't really need to be a Ponzi scheme. It just runs that way now while they're growing market share. But there is real work being done at the bottom, so it's not like a Ponzi scheme in that respect. Uber do provide a real service, Uber riders really do get something for their money, and Uber drivers really do get paid for the work, which is real work. It's also a shitload of money, so it's not so clear why they need such an aggressive policy. I think they literally just don't know any better.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to BenWilson,

    It's also a shitload of money, so it's not so clear why they need such an aggressive policy. I think they literally just don't know any better.

    The likes of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick are basically 21st century railroad barons.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

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