Uber Class Action Lawsuit Accuses Ride Sharing App of Overcharging

Uber Upfront Pricing Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: A New York Uber user is suing ride sharing service Uber.
• Why: The plaintiff says Uber advertises an upfront price in the app and then charges more to people’s credit cards and payment methods afterwards.
• Where: The case was filed in New York federal court.

If you’ve taken an Uber in New York in the past five years, you may be eligible for compensation of up to $550 per ride if that ride was overcharged, according to a new class action lawsuit.

Plaintiff Sonia Spates filed the class action complaint Nov. 30 against Uber Technologies Inc., alleging the company has been making misrepresentations concerning its “upfront pricing” since 2016.

According to Spates, Uber started offering and marketing upfront pricing in 2016 on the premise that riders accept a certain fare before they ride and that fare does not change. 

“Unfortunately for consumers this was and is untrue, as Defendant routinely overcharged consumers,” she says.

Spates says instead of charging customers the price they accepted, Uber would frequently charge their payment methods at a higher amount, which many riders would not have noticed.

“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,” she alleges.

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

Plaintiff Claims She Was Charged More Than The Upfront Price Multiple Times

Spates, who is from the Bronx, says she has noticed on multiple occasions that her card was charged a higher price than the “upfront price” she was quoted. She is looking to represent all consumers who purchased a ride through Uber originating anywhere within New York using upfront pricing from Jan. 1, 2016, to now.

According to Spates, each customer who was duped should receive statutory damages of $550 per ride under New York General Business law sections 349 and 350. She’s seeking certification of the class action, fees, costs, damages, an injunction and a jury trial.

Meanwhile, Uber is facing another class action lawsuit alleging it has been unfairly charging disabled passengers “wait time” fees when drivers have to wait more than two minutes for a passenger to get in the vehicle. 

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

The plaintiff is represented by Michael R. Reese and Charles D. Moore of Reese LLP.

The Uber Upfront Pricing Class Action Lawsuit is Sonia Spates et al., v. Uber Technologies Inc., Case No. 1:21-cv-10155 in the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

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