A rude shock awaited several new year revellers across the country when they caught a ride back home, choosing Uber.
News sapce and social media was inundated with countless stories of commuters who felt robbed after having to pay upto eight times more than it normally costs them to reach home.
Sydney woman Skye Shanahan ended up paying $720 for a ride from Sydney’s Neutral Bay to Blacktown that would would normally $100.
Perth man Kris Keen, who has lodged a formal complaint after his 20km Uber trip that would usually have cost $37, had to fork out in excess of $300.
Uber's surge pricing on the new year's eve has become a world wide talking point.
One Canadian Uber user has had to pay in excess of US $1000.
Uber is considered simpler and more efficient than conventional taxis. Recently, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Terrirtory legalised Uber's ride sharing service. However, it's surge pricing that many say is ambiguous, has got the otherwise popular service some very bad press.
Uber says surge pricing is an effective way of gettting Uber drivers on the road when demand exceeds supply. The company also says that the users are sent a message when surge pricing comes into effect. But many say, either they did not receive any such message, or they didn't just understand what it was.
