Uber In the UK

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gnfb

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#201490 21-Aug-2016 10:54

Due to a visit to the UK next month I signed up for Uber there. I had already sent off for a EE sim card for my phone Usage is something stupid like Unlimited everything for 10 quid! Then they sent me a free 5 quid as I hadn't topped it up yet! Go figure!

Anyway I digress

Swapped out the sim and already downloaded the app (Apple App store free) . I then did a quick trawl of the net cam up with a prom code VCUK15 that worked gives you 15 quid off first ride. You can use paypal and I saw a voucher for same for 20 quid but I was already set. Dont know if it makes a difference but when entering the credit card details I used my UK Credit card. I assume it would take any card?

All Good! in all it took a few minutes.

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Kyanar

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#1615102 21-Aug-2016 14:07

I'm not sure they do just take any card, you're supposed to use an Uber account from the region you normally live. They're valid everywhere (I've used my Australian account in San Francisco).

Yabanize

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#1615108 21-Aug-2016 14:25

In london at least, there are many options

uberX (regular Uber)
uberXL (more seats)
uberEXEC (executive quality)
uberLUX (luxury)
uberTAXI (classic London taxi with the convenience of Uber)

I don't believe it matters what card you use, IE a NZ tourist could just use their NZ card

mattwnz

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#1615122 21-Aug-2016 15:25

Interesting to hear of people now not using this service due to the drivers being paid so little. Apparently it works out at less than the minimum wage after costs are deducted
The fact that they are moving to driverless cars in the future doesn't give drivers much moral support that they are being looked after.

sbiddle

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#1615137 21-Aug-2016 16:11

mattwnz: Interesting to hear of people now not using this service due to the drivers being paid so little. Apparently it works out at less than the minimum wage after costs are deducted

It really depends who's stats you want to believe. I know a few Uber drivers in Wellington doing very well. There are plenty of taxi drivers complaining they earn minimum wage as well.

As for the Uber account it makes no difference where you register your account or what credit card you use. Signing up with a UK card and account does seem like a rather unnecessary step since that offers no benefits, and the downside that your referral code will only work for other UK customers and can't be used in NZ.

richms

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#1615140 21-Aug-2016 16:15

If you use uber watch out when you swap sim cards. Friend had no end of problems in the US because they had their NZ number on the uber account but a US sim in the phone, and the calls were going to the inactive NZ sim so they didnt get picked up on a few occasions.

Richard rich.ms

Yabanize

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#1615145 21-Aug-2016 16:28

richms:

If you use uber watch out when you swap sim cards. Friend had no end of problems in the US because they had their NZ number on the uber account but a US sim in the phone, and the calls were going to the inactive NZ sim so they didnt get picked up on a few occasions.

I called a driver recently, before I called, it asked me if my number was correct, but yeah watch out I guess

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sbiddle

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#1615152 21-Aug-2016 16:53

Getting called by drivers in the US is incredibly common. I've used Uber probably a dozen times over there, and have had calls probably 50% of the time.

gnfb

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#1615288 21-Aug-2016 20:47

I find it quite interesting the level of public interest there is in Uber. I suppose it is what happens when a whole industry gets a overhaul. In New Zealand I would have no use for Uber so the sim card issue wouldn't be a problem for me.

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1eStar

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#1615384 21-Aug-2016 22:38

I like the concept of what Ubër is as a transportation facility, what I dislike intensely about the company is they are inciting illegal activities for cheap advertising/publicity.

NZ govt has bent over backwards to allow forward thinking alternative transportation methodology like Ubër, but they actively encourage new unlicenced drivers to flout the law. Dislike.

lxsw20

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#1615394 21-Aug-2016 23:26

The firm I work for have gone to Gett in the UK. You get a proper taxi who can use the bus lanes, so usually works out a quicker ride even if it is more expensive. I don't think I've ever seen an uberTaxi show up as avaliable and I'm only in Tower Hamlets (very close to the City).

allstarnz

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#1616078 22-Aug-2016 22:21

Yabanize:

In london at least, there are many options

uberX (regular Uber)
uberXL (more seats)
uberEXEC (executive quality)
uberLUX (luxury)
uberTAXI (classic London taxi with the convenience of Uber)
I don't believe it matters what card you use, IE a NZ tourist could just use their NZ card

there is also Uber Pool in London too. Carpooling basically. My housemate has got it before, and he said that he's often the only person in the cab. Good if you're not in a hurry I guess.

I'm not sure UberTaxi actually work in London, I also see no cars no matter where i move the pickup point too.

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gnfb

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#1616755 24-Aug-2016 12:09

As I will be spending mot of my time in the Sheffield area I also downloaded a taxi app that is really cool. Little images of taxis running around Sheffield. The local taxi company could do with something similar here. They wouldn't be big enough to warrant there own app but someone could develop a generic app that local cab companies could buy and use.

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trig42

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#1616816 24-Aug-2016 13:06

gnfb:

As I will be spending mot of my time in the Sheffield area I also downloaded a taxi app that is really cool. Little images of taxis running around Sheffield. The local taxi company could do with something similar here. They wouldn't be big enough to warrant there own app but someone could develop a generic app that local cab companies could buy and use.

They have got that here - Blue Bubble Taxis have an app where you can see where the taxis are. Have had it over a year now (I used it about a year ago in Parnell).

EDIT: not blue bubble - Coop Taxis - and I just tried to log in to the App and was told it could not contact server...