Uber is charging users more if they have low phone battery, investigation claims

Uber has come under fire over allegations that users will be charged higher fees if their phone’s battery is low.

Taxi drivers were offered different charges for driving Uber, despite identical trips across Brussels, a damning investigation has found.

Belgian newspaper, Derniere Heurereported that the two passengers had 12 percent and 84 percent battery levels during the small study.

The phone with a lower battery would be offered a fare of €17.56 (£15.55) to travel from a secret office to the more central Tour & Taxis, while the other would charge €16.60 (£14.70) was charged.

While Uber’s rates are influenced by numerous factors such as time of day and distance, these taxis were ordered at the same time.

Both would also be UberX options, but Uber Comfort, Van and Black options also saw different fees.

The phone with a higher battery would be offered €20.19 (£17.88) for Uber Comfort, while the other was offered a trip that cost more than five percent more for €21.32 (£18.88).

Meanwhile, the lower battery phone was offered €25.38 (£22.47) for a luxury Uber Black, while the other was offered €24.50 for a van (£21.69).

By approximation, Uber denied that ride costs were calculated based on a phone’s battery level.

Instead, they told the publication that fees are influenced by demand and “occupancy in an area.”

“During busy periods, when there are many requests for rides and few drivers are available in a certain geographic area, this can have an impact on the price of the ride. In all cases, the user will be informed of the price of the race before confirming his request,” Uber told Dernière Heure.

The taxi giant’s tactics are often based on a process known as “surge pricing,” which is catalyzed by special events, inclement weather and rush hour traffic.

During a period of unusually high demand, Uber is informing affected users of these price increases.

Those with an urgent trip can still order a taxi, while others choose to wait until the price drops again.

This peak charge not only varies between cities and countries, but can also change quickly in real time.

A taxi driver with a low battery was reportedly offered a fare 5 percent higher than the user who had an 84 percent battery charge when Dernière Heure conducted its research

Tolls, airport parking fees, and other charges can also pile up.

“Surge pricing is also specific to different areas in a city, so some neighborhoods may have high prices at the same time and others may not,” Uber’s website reads.

“If prices are high in your city when demand increases in a certain area, that neighborhood will change color in the app. The colored areas of the map range from light orange to dark red.

“Light orange areas represent smaller upside earning opportunities, while dark red areas indicate larger ones.”

MailOnline has also reached out to Uber for comment.

The Dernière Heure allegations come just months after the taxi giant was forced to raise its prices in the US over the Christmas period.

This was fueled by the crippling effects of inflation, alongside a massive driver shortage in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi previously told the Chicago grandstand: ‘Inflation drives up prices, but a bigger factor is a shortage of Uber drivers.’

“The number of drivers has grown, which improves estimated arrival times and reduces rising prices and inflation encourages more people to drive for Uber as they look for ways to earn extra money for things like groceries,” explained he out.