Uber riders complain they were charged more for paying with Amex cards—one viral video shows a $13 difference |
Uber riders complain they were charged more for paying with Amex cards—one viral video shows a $13 difference
We’ve all been there: at an airport after landing from a long-haul flight; at a bar staying out late with friends; leaving from a packed concert or sporting event, and we swipe open the Uber app. Seeing an absurd number, you close the app, try again, and the number’s only getting higher. So you turn to the person you’re with, have them book the same trip home, and it’s significantly lower, sometimes a fraction of the price.
You may not be alone. Some Uber riders are accusing the company of charging higher fares when an American Express card is selected in the app, reviving long-running concerns about how opaque ride-hailing algorithms decide what each customer pays.
The latest wave of complaints appears to have been sparked by a viral video showing an UberX ride in Atlanta priced at $33.05 when the rider selected an Amex card, then dropping to $20.33 after the rider switched to a Visa card. Similar claims have since circulated across Reddit, Instagram, YouTube, FlyerTalk, and credit-card forums, where users say fares appear to rise when Amex cards, Uber Cash credits, Uber One memberships, gift-card balances, or business profiles are attached to their accounts.
American Express markets Uber credits as a premium cardholder........