Topic: Uber loses London Licence

[puroresu_kid]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/22/uber-licence-transport-for-london-tfl

Uber’s application for a new licence to operate in London has been rejected on the basis that the company is not a “fit and proper” operator.

The current licence expires on 30 September but Uber has 21 days to appeal and can continue to operate until that process expires.

Transport for London said that it had rejected the US cab hailing app’s application to renew its licence because “Uber’s approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility” in relation to reporting serious criminal offences, obtaining medical certificates and other issues.

I assume they will appeal and take it to the courts.

London without Uber would seriously suck!!!

[Phil M]

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-41358640

Uber will not be issued a new private hire licence, Transport for London (TfL) has said.

TfL has concluded the ride-hailing app firm was not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence.

Uber's approach and conduct demonstrated a lack of corporate responsibility which could have potential public safety and security implications, it said.

Uber has 21 days to appeal, during which it can continue to operate.

[Crosby Nick]

I manage alright without it.

[killer-heels]

Good.

[CraigDS]

Let’s be honest, this is a ploy to push up the fees they are charging the likes of Uber to obtain a license.

Uber will appeal, and some settlement will no don’t be achieved which sees them dropping some of its more dubious practices and paying a much bigger fee.

[SandyShore]

Haha great news. I'm Hoping it folds, absolute c*nt of a company with no working practices.

[Peabee]

It's a negotiation.  They'll have to agree to pull their socks up.

[J_Kopite]

It'll be back

[SandyShore]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/13/uber-practices-company-london-consumer-sumofus

Omg horrible stuff.

[puroresu_kid]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/13/uber-practices-company-london-consumer-sumofus

Omg horrible stuff.

I don't dispute that.  I am not convinced the general user cares though.  People have got used to having a service available to them at there fingertips which is a whole lot cheaper than a Black cab.

[killer-heels]

I don't dispute that.  I am not convinced the general user cares though.  People have got used to having a service available to them at there fingertips which is a whole lot cheaper than a Black cab.

Its the job of the state to ensure that such things are tackled, regardless of what it costs the public and its ease of use.

[thelinnen]

I'm amazed that they stayed open for so long in the first place, especially after in recent years TFL were made to pull up their socks and take regulation and screening more seriously.

[thejbs]

They'll not have any employees to treat badly in about 10-15 years time when their autonomous fleet is up and running.

[Peabee]

They'll not have any employees to treat badly in about 10-15 years time when their autonomous fleet is up and running.

That's the plan.  The drivers are just Data Collectors. 

[Xabi Gerrard]

I'll be gutted if this decision doesn't get turned around, I use Uber a lot.

[carling]

I've only ever had incredible service with Uber.  Easy booking, easy pickup, easy journey, easy payment... all for a reasonable price.

There's got to be some middle ground between that and being completely ripped off by a regular London taxi while receiving a service that ranges from clunky to downright awful in comparison.

[plura]

I don't dispute that.  I am not convinced the general user cares though.  People have got used to having a service available to them at there fingertips which is a whole lot cheaper than a Black cab.

Yep that's where technology is taking the debate. Overall the experience of using Uber is very easy and useful in terms of its features. Add to that a very cheap price and the question is this a sacrifice we be without. Similarly to what we hear now and have always heard about Ryanair and their treatment of staff. And on which their so nice CEO had to say: O’Leary said that travellers vowing never to fly Ryanair again will almost certainly return to the airline because its prices are lower. “Our booking engine is full of passengers who have sworn they will never fly with us again,” he said.

And will this be the same for Uber. Obviously if they will keep their licence but at a higher price will they be able to keep their cheaper prices still?

[RobbieRedman]

Never used them, quite happy with buses, tube and my own two feet. Can see how younger folk out partying would find them handy though.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Good.

[PhilV]

I've only ever had incredible service with Uber.  Easy booking, easy pickup, easy journey, easy payment... all for a reasonable price.

Also my experience, in London and when in America

[J_Kopite]

Also my experience, in London and when in America

Yeah it is boss

[killer-heels]

Use the tube.

[Xabi Gerrard]

Use the tube.

It doesn't cover huge swathes of London. And most of it doesn't run after midnight. So no.

[killer-heels]

It doesn't cover huge swathes of London. And most of it doesn't run after midnight. So no.

Use a black cab then.

[J_Kopite]

Use a black cab then.

Why would I pay three times as much for my journey? Or risk being refused service by the numerous racist cabbies that refused to pick me and two black friends up one night in Shoreditch?

[Giovanni]

Who cares about poor working conditions, non-existent CRB checks and failure to report crime aslong as I can get from Croydon to Hammersmith for a flim.

 

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Who cares about Londoners

[J_Kopite]

Andy at Allerton will be along shortly

[killer-heels]

Why would I pay three times as much for my journey? Or risk being refused service by the numerous racist cabbies that refused to pick me and two black friends up one night in Shoreditch?

Fair enough. Ill avoid using Uber and those individuals hired who partook in sexual assaults.

[Xabi Gerrard]

Use a black cab then.

Ridiculously overpriced, nowhere to be seen outside of zone 1 and driven by Brexit voting c*nts. No thanks.

[vagabond]

I understand the arguments against uber. But there is another side to this too. I have family members that drive an uber full time and it pays the mortgage. This is highly depressing news for them.

[SP]

I understand the arguments against uber. But there is another side to this too. I have family members that drive an uber full time and it pays the mortgage. This is highly depressing news for them.

It feels like one of those issues where TfL have to make a stand, or just cave in totally and not bother regulating. The regulations are clear, Uber have flouted them, they need to face the consequences. If the regulator does not apply the rules, what is the point of the regulator. If a dodgy backstreet minicab firm had the same attitude to the rules, they would have the book thrown at them, so why should a multinational with billions of dollars get any more lenient treatment?

[SP]

I understand the arguments against uber. But there is another side to this too. I have family members that drive an uber full time and it pays the mortgage. This is highly depressing news for them.

But then then minicab drivers who do follow the rules, who have been price gauged by Uber, also probably have mortgages. There is no victimless course of action here.

[gamble]

I understand the arguments against uber. But there is another side to this too. I have family members that drive an uber full time and it pays the mortgage. This is highly depressing news for them.

I wouldn't worry about it, Uber aren't going anywhere. They have very powerful and influential individuals behind them. Uber are here for the long term.

I too know people who work for Uber in one way or another. One of my good friends is a part-time musician and drives for Uber - he's one of the smartest guys I know with a background in programming. Together we worked through some of the background algorithms used by Uber, and Peabee is right in calling their current stage data collecting. Whether you like them or not, they are a very clever company.

[vagabond]

But then then minicab drivers who do follow the rules, who have been price gauged by Uber, also probably have mortgages. There is no victimless course of action here.

Of course. It's important to bear in mind that many uber drivers today gave up being minicab drivers and transitioned to uber out of necessity because the tfl gave them a license in the first place. Everyone could see that uber would drive other businesses out of the market and it only made sense to transition. I suppose if the tfl is genuinely serious here then they all may just have to transition back.

[Peabee]

I've only ever had incredible service with Uber.  Easy booking, easy pickup, easy journey, easy payment... all for a reasonable price.

There's got to be some middle ground between that and being completely ripped off by a regular London taxi while receiving a service that ranges from clunky to downright awful in comparison.

They haven't been asked to improve their service.  It's based on corporate practices and issues around Greyball.  A great service doesn't mean these problems shouldn't be overlooked. 

[Peabee]

I understand the arguments against uber. But there is another side to this too. I have family members that drive an uber full time and it pays the mortgage. This is highly depressing news for them.

Tell them to put pressure on Uber to comply with TfL.  If they adhere to their regulations then they will be allowed to operate.  SP summed it up well.

[Nobby Reserve]

I've used Uber only three times. On each occasion the driver has been unsettlingly weird.

[OsirisMVZ]

Only had one bad experience with an Uber. Use it weekly to get work due to having shit shifts.

My understanding of this surely is that if they lose the London license, all the drivers will just buy cars from other towns with non-London registered license plates, and carry on working? I went to Stoke recently (Alton Towers) and the driver was telling me that Uber isn't available in Stoke, but it is in Liverpool/Manchester etc, so he just bought a car with a Liverpool reg license and was able to operate in Stoke as long as anyone was using the app.

[carling]

They haven't been asked to improve their service.  It's based on corporate practices and issues around Greyball.  A great service doesn't mean these problems shouldn't be overlooked. 

The problems shouldn't be overlooked, but neither should the service be binned.

Like I said, middle ground. I'm sure that's what will happen anyway.  Uber charge a bit more and start complying with the rules.

It's the taxi firms who have no intention of changing that make me laugh.  They can only fight against innovation for so long...