An investigation has claimed that Uber seemingly charges users more when they have low phone battery.
Across two identical journeys in Brussels, Belgium, at the same time of day, two taxi riders were given different prices.
The only difference between them was that one phone had 84 per cent battery and the other had 12 per cent, Belgian newspaper Dernière Heure claimed.
It was alleged that the phone with less battery was offered a £15.55 rate to go from an undisclosed office in the city, to Tours & Taxis in the city centre, in an Uber X.
But the phone with nearly full battery was charged almost £1 less, at £14.70 for the same journey.
Uber’s fares are dictated by a range of factors, including time of day, demand, length of journey and more.
So by ordering two taxis to take two identical journeys at the same time, the investigation claimed to eliminate other significant variables.
Alongside the Uber X ride being more expensive, the Uber Comfort also produced differing fees.
Uber Comfort was £17.88 for the 84 per cent battery phone, but £1 more expensive at £18.88 for the phone running out of juice.
Similarly Uber Black cost the phone with less battery £22.47, and Uber Van (the equivalent) cost the phone with more battery £21.69.
Uber has been approached for comment, but when contacted by the Belgian outlet they denied that ride costs were affected by phone prices.
Instead, they said: “During busy periods, when there are many requests for rides and few drivers available in a certain geographical area, this can have an impact on the price of the ride. In all cases, the user is informed of the price of the ride before he confirms his request.”
The car-share giant’s charging tactics are dictated by a process known as surge pricing.
This reportedly takes into account things like demand, special events, tolls and parking charges, driver availability, and even weather to work out prices.
When there is a spike in demand, Uber informs users about the price hikes.
The company’s website reads: "Surge pricing is also specific to different areas in a city, so some neighborhoods may have surge pricing at the same time that other neighborhoods do not.
“If surge pricing applies in your city when demand increases in a specific area, that neighbourhood will change colour in the app. The coloured areas of the map will range from light orange to dark red.
“Light orange areas represent smaller earning opportunities from surge, while dark red areas indicate larger ones.”
