Uber Class Action Claims Company Offered Upfront Price, Later Charged Customers More

Uber Upfront Pricing Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: Uber customers in California, Pennsylvania and Illinois are suing the ridesharing app.
• Why: The customers say Uber quoted them a set price for a ride in the app and later charged their credit cards more.
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.

Uber offered an upfront price for its rides and then later charged customers more in a “classic bait and switch scheme,” a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiffs Darcheal Reed, Susan Leo Kopko and Linda Livingston filed the class action complaint against Uber Technologies Inc. Jan. 28 in a California federal court, alleging misrepresentations concerning Uber’s “Upfront Pricing” offer.

According to the plaintiffs, Uber marketed its app as having Upfront Pricing, a feature it claimed provided accuracy, transparency, simplicity and certainty to riders by notifying them of the total cost of a ride prior to purchase. 

“Unfortunately for consumers this was and is untrue, as Defendant routinely overcharged consumers,” the lawsuit states.  “In a classic bait and switch scheme, under the so-called Upfront Pricing, Defendant promises consumers one price to entice them to use Uber for transportation, to then surreptitiously charge the consumers a higher price later.”

Lawsuit Alleges Uber Charged Consumers’ Credit Cards A Higher Price Than Quoted 

The lawsuit alleges that Uber was able to do this because it had received the consumers’ method of payment before giving the upfront price. It then charged the consumers’ credit cards a higher price later on. 

“Indeed, many consumers were overcharged on their credit cards and other payment methods and are unaware of it still to this day,” the plaintiffs say. “Defendant’s records, however, are able to show each and every one of the overcharges during the Class Period.”

The plaintiffs are looking to represent all California, Pennsylvania and Illinois consumers who used the Uber app and were charged more than the price they were quoted at the beginning of their ride.

They’re suing for violations of California, Pennsylvania and Illinois consumer laws. 

The plaintiffs are seeking an order blocking Uber from continuing the alleged scheme, as well as damages and restitution, fees, costs and a jury trial. 

The lawsuit comes after Uber was hit with a class action in New York when one customer noticed on multiple occasions that her card was charged a higher price than the “upfront price” she was quoted. 

Has Uber ever overcharged you for a ride? Let us know your experience in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Michael R. Reese, George V. Granade, Charles D. Moore and Sue J Nam of Reese LLP.

The Uber Upfront Pricing Class Action Lawsuit is Darcheal Reed et al., v. Uber Technologies Inc., Case No. 3:22-cv-00596, in the U.S District Court Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Uber Eats Overcharges New York Customers on Sales Tax, New Class Action Alleges
• Do You Qualify: Uber Upfront Pricing Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
• Chick-fil-A Delivery Customers Served With Secret Upcharges, Says Class Action
• McDelivery Customers Serve McDonald’s Class Action Lawsuit After Data Breach