Anyone here an Uber driver?

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Geektastic

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#1611545 14-Aug-2016 20:32

Yabanize:

Geektastic: I looked at P endorsement a while back.

Got into one of those crazy, head ache inducing bureaucratic feedback loops. Since I have lived in another country (the UK before emigrating) I have to produce a police certificate from there.

Fair enough. Except, I did that already when i emigrated.....

No. That doesn't count.

Well, I was granted Top Secret security clearance by the NZ security services. Far more in depth check than a simple print out from the police.

No. That doesn't count.

Why can't you look at those files?

Cannot. Privacy.

Well, it's my file and I am giving you consent.

Sorry. Privacy.

Well on that subject, the UK police won't send the information to anyone but me. Privacy, you know. However, you insist the information is sent direct to you....

I gave up. Just too hard.

Yeah, the effort and cost taken is why Uber are opposing it, To get fully compliant (P, PSL, COF) it costs around $1.5k and takes over a month.

Its alot to go through when some Uber drivers only want to drive for a few hours a week.

The point is that, if you want a driver with all that stuff, you can use a taxi. People have a choice.

I used an excellent limo service in the US in several cities. Their drivers use their own vehicles (it's really a sort of posh Uber in essence) and have none of the hassle required in NZ.

I can't see why this needs to be a problem - want to be a taxi service? Get the paperwork. Just want to be a ride share? Do not get the paperwork.

We'll soon see which option the customer prefers.

Yabanize

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#1611554 14-Aug-2016 20:48

Im a student in Christchurch and quite enjoy being able to call an Uber, have it arrive in less than 10 minutes, and get there on time for near $10 when i'm running late (usually public transport).

Uber's tech is quite good, knowing who the driver is before they arrive, if you're traveling alone you can send a GPS link to friend/family etc

gzt

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#1611614 14-Aug-2016 22:29

If you look at the small passenger review you can see some of this change is coming. It will eliminate some costs associated with dropped requirements.

The sticking point with the government seems to be the criminal check. In the herald article linked earlier the government is strongly implying they are taking some uber drivers off the road who would not pass the government mandated criminal check.

That's kind of serious. The herald article does not explain exactly what that gap is between the uber checks and the government checks. Reading between the lines it may be the overseas criminal checks.

Batman

Mad Scientist
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#1611618 14-Aug-2016 22:56

Geektastic: I looked at P endorsement a while back.

Got into one of those crazy, head ache inducing bureaucratic feedback loops. Since I have lived in another country (the UK before emigrating) I have to produce a police certificate from there.

Fair enough. Except, I did that already when i emigrated.....

No. That doesn't count.

Well, I was granted Top Secret security clearance by the NZ security services. Far more in depth check than a simple print out from the police.

No. That doesn't count.

Why can't you look at those files?

Cannot. Privacy.

Well, it's my file and I am giving you consent.

Sorry. Privacy.

Well on that subject, the UK police won't send the information to anyone but me. Privacy, you know. However, you insist the information is sent direct to you....

I gave up. Just too hard.

Well a relative needs ID for a police check. Fair enough ...

- Just expired passport - not ID

- Birth Certificate - too old

- Driver's Licence - not ID

- so either need a new passport or a shiny birth cert ... that's ID

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1611702 15-Aug-2016 09:23

For work travel (paid for by company) we have prohibited the use of Uber since they started disregarding the licensing requirements in NZ.

No real choice about that because the fail our purchase policies on two ground: -

1) Ignoring a legislated safety requirement. We can't meet our obligations under safety legislation if we accept that.

2) Publicly encouraging and paying drivers to break the law - can't participate in that.

Mike

trig42

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#1611753 15-Aug-2016 10:18

MikeAqua:

For work travel (paid for by company) we have prohibited the use of Uber since they started disregarding the licensing requirements in NZ.

No real choice about that because the fail our purchase policies on two ground: -

1) Ignoring a legislated safety requirement. We can't meet our obligations under safety legislation if we accept that.

2) Publicly encouraging and paying drivers to break the law - can't participate in that.

My work hasn't specifically stopped us from using Uber (my work CC is loaded into my Uber account, and I used it last week while in Christchurch), but the big issue is that they do not provide GST receipts (I tried to get one for my CHCH ride, and the website informed me there isn't one available for that service).

Side note, heard of an exec in a related business (based in AU) who took an Uber from LA (or maybe SF) to Las Vegas last year because his flight was cancelled. About $500.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1611885 15-Aug-2016 12:39

From an admin/finance perspective Uber is bit of nightmare for company travel.

We have to have GST receipts for everything >$50, plus the hassle of dealing with dozens of transactions per month rather than one taxi-card bill.

Thrown in the safety issues and its no-brainer to exclude them.

Mike

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Geektastic

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#1611996 15-Aug-2016 15:09

I used it a couple of times when in the US. The rates were ridiculously low - the most we paid was circa $9.

I'm not sure whether the US authorities feel the need to nanny their citizens as much as the NZ ones do as far as P endorsements etc go - somehow I doubt it.

MikeAqua

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#1612032 15-Aug-2016 15:45

Geektastic:

I'm not sure whether the US authorities feel the need to nanny their citizens as much as the NZ ones do as far as P endorsements etc go - somehow I doubt it.

In the US the emphasis seems to be more on protecting the driver from the customer.

I'd be interested to know in NZ if more taxi drivers have been hurt by customers or vice versa?

I seem to recall the installation of cameras in taxis was prompted by violence against taxi drivers.

Mike

sbiddle

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#1612105 15-Aug-2016 18:15

trig42:

[

My work hasn't specifically stopped us from using Uber (my work CC is loaded into my Uber account, and I used it last week while in Christchurch), but the big issue is that they do not provide GST receipts (I tried to get one for my CHCH ride, and the website informed me there isn't one available for that service).

Side note, heard of an exec in a related business (based in AU) who took an Uber from LA (or maybe SF) to Las Vegas last year because his flight was cancelled. About $500.

Based on what I've heard it would seem some Uber drivers now aren't charging GST because they're not GST registered. If you're turning over under $60k there is no legal requirement to be GST registered.

I guess the problem now is most are, so you're paying 15% more to a driver who is vs one who isn't.

Yabanize

2350 posts

Uber Geek

#1612185 15-Aug-2016 20:24

MikeAqua:

From an admin/finance perspective Uber is bit of nightmare for company travel.

We have to have GST receipts for everything >$50, plus the hassle of dealing with dozens of transactions per month rather than one taxi-card bill.

Thrown in the safety issues and its no-brainer to exclude them.

Were you using Uber for Business?

https://www.uber.com/business (it looks like a really great service)

Also, here is Uber's statement about GST

scuwp

3885 posts

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#1612191 15-Aug-2016 20:50

MikeAqua:

Geektastic:

I'm not sure whether the US authorities feel the need to nanny their citizens as much as the NZ ones do as far as P endorsements etc go - somehow I doubt it.

In the US the emphasis seems to be more on protecting the driver from the customer.

I'd be interested to know in NZ if more taxi drivers have been hurt by customers or vice versa?

I seem to recall the installation of cameras in taxis was prompted by violence against taxi drivers.

It's not only the violence aspect in regards to safety, it's the sexual predators and other social deviants as well. On the other hand the camera's have exonerated many a driver from a drunken blurry recollection of improper behavior, so it cuts both ways.

My companies the same. No guarantee of compliance with the law equates to a safety risk. Under the new health and safety rules the company can be held liable for exposing workers to a risk that can be eliminated/mitigated, so it's a no for Uber. Uber were managing (mostly) to stay on the correct side of the ledger until this latest stunt with the P licences. I feel sorry for the Uber drivers who have actually got all their compliance stuff squared away, they are being put at risk by Uber.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Linuxluver

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#1612202 15-Aug-2016 21:07

khull: Slightly OT but people who have used Uber for Airport pickups - how do you organise the location with the driver? in AKL? WLG?

You can drop off in the public lane without too much attention being drawn........but picking up would be problematic. Yes, you could park your car in the covered parking....but how you identify yourself to someone without drawing attention would be problematic. "A white carnation in the left lapel"?

I would think anyone trying to avoid big trouble would not pick people up at the airport.....anywhere else would be fine.

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Linuxluver

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#1612204 15-Aug-2016 21:09

MikeAqua:

Geektastic:

I'm not sure whether the US authorities feel the need to nanny their citizens as much as the NZ ones do as far as P endorsements etc go - somehow I doubt it.

In the US the emphasis seems to be more on protecting the driver from the customer.

I'd be interested to know in NZ if more taxi drivers have been hurt by customers or vice versa?

I seem to recall the installation of cameras in taxis was prompted by violence against taxi drivers.

Uber is a bit different to a regular taxi. An Uber passenger is not anonymous. You've already paid. They know who you are.

Whereas the people who bash taxi drivers are almost always no-hopers of some kind or other....and think they are anonymous.

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I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

Linuxluver

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#1612208 15-Aug-2016 21:18

Geektastic:

Do the airport firms charge huge fees for public transport buses to stop at airports?

Auckland certainly needs a decent rail link to Britomart from the airport, that is for sure.

I'm pretty sure the Skybus buses pay the airport some money....which is why the fares are so high.

But the AT bus ("Airporter 380") runs back and forth from Onehunga to Papatoetoe (by the train station) via the airport and Mangere Town Centre in both directions......easily the cheapest. The fare appears to be 2 stage from either end to the airport....so $3.10 (with AT HOP card...$5.00 cash)? Runs half-hourly (mostly)

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