Uber Company Slammed For Taking Advantage of Sydney Siege Situation
Uber was slammed for charging unreasonable rates for people wanting to leave Sydney when the cafe siege was happening. According to the company, the rates were high to encourage the reluctant drivers to pick up the passengers and not to take advantage of the tragic situation or high demand.
Daily Star UK reports that Uber was asking customers around Martin Place to pay four times the usual rate if they want to leave the area. The company sparked instant outrage when it initially said rates are quadruple times the usual rate because "demand is off the charts." Uber patrons took to social media to diss the company, which is already currently facing a lot of other backlashes on other issues.
One user posted: "You are horrible. Taking advantage of a situation to make a buck. If u were the only way home, I'D WALK!" "I understand the way the business works - higher the demand, higher the charge - but four-times at $100 minimum is ridiculous," another Uber user shared to Mashable.
The company's communication team did some damage control by explaining why the rates are so high, and saying it was not because the company is being insensitive to the tragedy taking place. The company shared that it is concerned with what was happening in Sydney. Moreover, the rates were high because Uber drivers were reluctant to traverse to the area without the added incentives. Twitter users did not accept the explanation. Within an hour, Uber reversed course and offered full refunds to the users who paid the high amount and then free rates to those who still want to avail of Uber services to leave the area.
On Monday, an Islamist gunman took 17 customers of the Lindt Café in downtown Sydney as hostages. The usually busy area became deserted as the many Christmas shoppers left and office people evacuated the area. The crisis ended when commandos stormed the area, leaving three people dead, including the gunman. Following the siege, #illridewithyou trended, to show solidarity among Australians in the face of terrorism and to show that they are against Islamophobia, despite the tragedy.