[Hidden-tech] Drive for Uber? Or ride with them?

[Deborah Chandler]

Hi all,

Well, I have not received a personal reply email from Uber about the
situation, but I received this text tonight (likely sent to drivers
throughout the entire region), in case anyone else would like to show up. I
will definitely be there.

UBER: Meet an Uber representative tomorrow at the Residence Inn Marriott
Springfield-Chicopee from 9–1PM! Come in and get your questions answered.
See you then!

Best,
Deb
On Aug 17, 2015 7:13 PM, "Ron Miller" <ronsmiller at gmail.com> wrote:

> I've used Uber frequently and I always talk to the drivers about why
> they're doing it, how they got into it and if they like it. To a person
> everyone has loved doing it. No complaints.
>
> I've had nothing but positive experiences. In fact, I took one in LA once
> and the guy was so nice, the person I was riding with offered him a tip and
> he refused it.
>
> The thing I love about it is that you order it, you pay through the app
> automatically and you get out when you get there. It's so simple.
>
> I have had instances where it didn't work well, but that was due to
> excessive crowds and the drivers just couldn't get to me.
>
> BTW, there are some drivers set up in western Mass, particularly in
> Springfield, but it's not widespread at this point by any means.
>
> Ron
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 17, 2015 at 3:59 PM, Deborah Chandler <
> debchandler411 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Hal and all,
>>
>> I wanted to bring you all up to date on this insurance issue with Uber.
>> From my research to date, and that of a few local insurance agents, it is
>> looking like Uber has not done their homework in the state of
>> Massachusetts. I just emailed them, included my findings from my local
>> insurance agents, but as of the night I discovered the potentially huge
>> issue, I have not driven for Uber.
>>
>> If any of you drive for them, or know anyone who is, or who is driving
>> for Lyft or Sidecar or any other rideshare companies (or as Uber calls
>> themselves, a "transportation network provider") PLEASE realize that even
>> if you keep driving for them, and play dumb about your insurance coverage,
>> you could potentially be opening yourself up to "uber" liability. I am
>> learning that not only can your insurance company cancel your policy, but
>> once they find out you've driven for one of the rideshares, (and they *can*
>> find the evidence from your phone app) then you could be slapped with
>> insurance fraud.
>>
>> Feel free to contact me offline if you would like to discuss this
>> further. I will also share what Uber writes back to me. But as of this
>> writing, I am putting Uber in the category of unethical companies who are
>> willing to hang their independent contractors out to dry, and who are
>> taking a calculated risk if an incident arises. And I simply do not have
>> any interest in testing those waters. I will not continue to drive for Uber
>> until such time I find out that an insurance agent will legally cover me.
>> Meanwhile, as Hal stated, a commercial policy is just cost prohibitive for
>> many of us wanting to do this type of work. And furthermore, the agent I
>> just spoke to won't even write a commercial policy, because it is too
>> risky, as Uber and the others navigate the turbulent marketplace.
>>
>> Lastly, if you are a passenger with Uber, please make sure YOU are
>> adequately covered if you are injured or killed. That also seems to be up
>> in the air. I don't know any of the details of the Uber case in CA, but an
>> Uber driver hit and killed a little 6 year old girl and it has gone to
>> court. IT sounds like Uber is saying they are not liable.
>>
>> Best,
>> Deb
>>
>> On Thu, Aug 6, 2015 at 7:22 PM, Hal Rosenthal <hrosen50 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I was in the process of becoming a driver and checked with Amica, my
>>> insurance company. They were extremely clear that my policy would not cover
>>> Uber driving. Had I not checked and had an issue, they wouldStoller have
>>> denied the claim. They suggested that I get a commercial policy. I've
>>> decided to cancel my application to drive.
>>>
>>> Are you suggesting that Uber has insurance for its drivers?  At the risk
>>> of being told what Amica told me but at least not getting surprised if you
>>> needed to use your insurance, I suggest you check with your carrier.
>>>
>>> Hal
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thursday, August 6, 2015, Deborah Chandler <debchandler411 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> To follow up, I have been driving for Uber for about a month now. They
>>>> officially rolled out the Springfield area back at the end of April.
>>>>
>>>> All is going fine overall, albeit slow. But I am assured by my student
>>>> passengers that the amount of work will increase when students come
>>>> back to school over the next month. It seems the students all use Uber
>>>> and love it, and they have many reasons to use Uber over a taxi. Word
>>>> about Uber has apparently spread mostly word of mouth.
>>>>
>>>> The reason I am writing to you great folks is that I am having a bit
>>>> of confusion and concern over my auto insurance coverage not being
>>>> adequate and I wonder if someone can help me understand it.  In my
>>>> approval process to become a driver, I shared my insurance policy with
>>>> Uber. They shared theirs with me once I was approved. But now I am
>>>> hearing from other drivers that there is concern over us drivers not
>>>> being adequately covered.
>>>>
>>>> So, if you are either driving for Uber and have already gained a solid
>>>> understanding about our insurance coverage, or you work in the auto
>>>> insurance industry, please be in touch with me right away. I can share
>>>> my documents (which I admit, I don't follow too easily, and my
>>>> insurance agent is still *researching*...)
>>>>
>>>> REQUEST: please don't respond in criticism of Uber if your only
>>>> knowledge about Uber is through reading the mainstream media and all
>>>> the back-and-forth conflict between the taxi industry, the various
>>>> city and state regulators and Uber corporate. As usual, the media
>>>> stories are full of exaggerations and biases. They tend to confuse and
>>>> muddy the waters, and the politicians usually base their loyalties on
>>>> who contributed to their campaign coffers.
>>>>
>>>> In my opinion, Uber is fair competition for the taxi industry and many
>>>> taxi drivers are just getting their knickers in a twist because they
>>>> had to pay a lot of money up front to do their job and now Uber
>>>> drivers are doing the same job better, without the upfront cost and
>>>> they are taking business from the taxi drivers. I would be pissy, too,
>>>> if I were them...
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance for your solid input on this,
>>>> Deb
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Apr 10, 2015 at 11:33 PM, Rich Roth - Webmaster
>>>> <webmaster at hidden-tech.net> wrote:
>>>> > Emailing in from the land of the Uber (SF)
>>>> > We've used Uber/Lyft a few times just in the last week and I'd have
>>>> to say
>>>> > it works well
>>>> > here because there are so many drivers, you wait maybe, well actually
>>>> you
>>>> > don't wait
>>>> > you have to be ready when you call -- ok so you don't call, you
>>>> request it
>>>> > on the ap
>>>> > which shows you exactly where the incoming car is and then handles all
>>>> > payment.
>>>> >
>>>> > No reason someone in the Valley can't drive for Uber, only I'd wonder
>>>> > how many call requests you'd get, esp given how far you'd need to go,
>>>> > AND what I really don't know is how Uber handles the driving cost
>>>> outside of
>>>> > the actual trip.
>>>> >
>>>> > Net-net: might work in the more concentrated area like Springfield,
>>>> > or Holyoke on a busy weekend -- beyond that, many of these 'ap' based
>>>> > alternative
>>>> > approaches to transportation and the like work on spontaneous requests
>>>> > because of the concentration of the people needing such services.
>>>> >
>>>> > Ridebuzz has a better chance of working when people plan ahead
>>>> >
>>>> > Interesting in any case to explore alternatives for rural areas.
>>>> > Part of why airbnb or Uber work is because the infrastructure the
>>>> company
>>>> > provides
>>>> > a level of safety individual connections do not, such as insurance and
>>>> > mutual ratings.
>>>> >
>>>> > Rich/webmaster
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > On 4/3/2015 3:22 PM, Deborah Chandler wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Hi all,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Do you drive for Uber or do you use their ride services? I would like
>>>> >> to ask you about it. I don't see any Western Mass towns or cities
>>>> >> listed yet, but wonder how to find out who drives in our area. I see
>>>> >> Worcester is listed.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> My understanding is that we can offer and get rides in our area, even
>>>> >> if our city is not listed, as long as there are drivers signed up and
>>>> >> available.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Thanks,
>>>> >> Deb
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
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>>>> >>
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>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > --
>>>> > Rich Roth
>>>> > Hidden-Tech
>>>> > webmaster/board member
>>>> > http://www.hidden-tech.net
>>>> > Sponsor: http://www.thrivesmedia.com
>>>> >
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>>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
>
> Ron Miller
> Freelance Technology Journalist
>
> Enterprise Reporter, TechCrunch <http://techcrunch.com/author/ron-miller/>
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