Fake surges going on for over and hour and drivers in that area not being able to catch a ride in that busy area at all during the surge- (Los Angeles)-Total manipulation of riders and drivers.

Drivers and (Riders) Beware:

Since the roll-out  of the update last week, all of the sudden in Santa Monica where I happened to be driving and then again this weekend  in West Hollywood  where I happened to be driving)--the surges went on for hours--and not once was I ever offered ONE ride. That is a complete scam and it's price gouging for the rider.  I've seen a lot from UBER.  UBER cares for UBER alone--PERIOD!  However, UBER creating a demand by forbidding available drivers in a surge area  (via UBER's system/algorithm) and allowing this to go on for hours?  That's a complete Fraud.  Deliberately not offering rides to the available drivers in a surge area and making riders pay 1.7X---2.5X  for essentially 3+ hours is illegal.

Please write in if you have experienced this and let me know what you have been told or heard that is going on.

Of course as soon as I drove out of the surge, I was offered rides--but regardless, the surge continued on and riders were forced to pay the high amount if they wanted a ride out of Santa Monica or West Hollywood.  This happened last weekend and again this weekend, and this fabricated surge blatantly went on for hours!

For me, Uber has reached it's limit to bold deception.  This is Fraud. There is no reasoning this away. One Uber rep. admitted she hears this complaint from time to time, yet she could not elaborate nor would she admit that an algorithm was creating a fake demand, by manipulating the supply.

Question to Drivers:

Is this an algorithm to target certain drivers?

(Ii.e.  certain  drivers that Uber uses to screw with people form time to time?)

I…

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Drivers and (Riders) Beware:

Since the roll-out  of the update last week, all of the sudden in Santa Monica where I happened to be driving and then again this weekend  in West Hollywood  where I happened to be driving)--the surges went on for hours--and not once was I ever offered ONE ride. That is a complete scam and it's price gouging for the rider.  I've seen a lot from UBER.  UBER cares for UBER alone--PERIOD!  However, UBER creating a demand by forbidding available drivers in a surge area  (via UBER's system/algorithm) and allowing this to go on for hours?  That's a complete Fraud.  Deliberately not offering rides to the available drivers in a surge area and making riders pay 1.7X---2.5X  for essentially 3+ hours is illegal.

Please write in if you have experienced this and let me know what you have been told or heard that is going on.

Of course as soon as I drove out of the surge, I was offered rides--but regardless, the surge continued on and riders were forced to pay the high amount if they wanted a ride out of Santa Monica or West Hollywood.  This happened last weekend and again this weekend, and this fabricated surge blatantly went on for hours!

For me, Uber has reached it's limit to bold deception.  This is Fraud. There is no reasoning this away. One Uber rep. admitted she hears this complaint from time to time, yet she could not elaborate nor would she admit that an algorithm was creating a fake demand, by manipulating the supply.

Question to Drivers:

Is this an algorithm to target certain drivers?

(Ii.e.  certain  drivers that Uber uses to screw with people form time to time?)

Is it an algorithm that is implemented to punish certain drivers?

Is it an algorithm solely to price gouge the rider?

Is it an algorithm as a social experiment?

Question to Riders:

have you experienced this and what action did you take?

What as a rider in these areas have you been seeing on your app?

How much were you forced to pay for your UBER ride and what was the trip time and surge price?

ETC.

Drivers: 

Give me your feedback.  Because, last week I had 13 more rides to do for the big bonus and could not compete those rides based on this fake surge.

I need feedback from Los Angeles Drivers or ( UBER employees) , as to what you have experienced and heard/know about this anomaly.  If it's happened 2 weekends in a row--it is not a fluke.  It is deliberate. For the first time last night I had to stay out 4 extra hours to make up for 2 + hours of this surge manipulation going on.  I had to do that, because if I don't get the number of rides needed for the bonus, it is forfeited.  This is pure Fraud in my book.  I am gong to be filing a complaint with Consumer affairs to get it on record, and I sure as hell won't be buying any UBER stock.  I am at the point where if just for  ONE day--if 90% of the driver did not go out for rush hour In the morning and night--it would crush UBER.  We seriously need to implement this type of remedy. UBER can't do this business without us.  But it will take 90% of drivers in a coordinated effort, to sit out in rush hour for a day.  

Uber in the Los Angeles market can actually be done full-time, but what I have experienced last weekend and this weekend, is the epitome of despicableness.   BTW:  don't write me to troubleshoot or explain that this is normal.   I have a very high rating and an extremely low cancel rating. ( I don't cancel rides!) Been doing this for 2 years--and this is FRAUD!  I TALKED TO MY FRIENDS who use UBER--THIS IS A 100% SCAM TO THEM as RIDERS WHEN THIS manipulation of supply and demand IS BEING IMPLEMENTED.   Riders experiencing a 3 hour surge in West Hollywood and can't get a ride out of their without paying 2.3X?  And drivers there in that area that are available and can't get offered a rider match up?  That's not an honest mistake. That's a deliberate Fraud.

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