The cab app Uber has been branded a “disgrace” after it raised prices for its service during the Sydney hostage situation yesterday (December 14th).
Following the news that a gunman had taken several hostages at a Lindt cafe in the city center, Uber Sydney decided that the best course of action was to raise its fares considerably to ensure that drivers would be willing to pick up passengers. The company tweeted: “We are all concerned with events in CBD (Central Business District). Fares have increased to encourage more drivers to come online & pick up passengers in the area.”
Reports from those in the area requesting an Uber pick-up claimed that in some instances the company was charging more than double its typical price, with the public condemnation of this ill-advised sales tactic leading to them then offering rides to passengers for free.
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The company later claimed that the price-hike was a result of “surge pricing,” an automated system that the company employs. After receiving a number of complaints, they later released another statement saying: “We took action to cap surge pricing & made trips free for riders.”
At the time of this writing the hostage situation is still ongoing, though five hostages have since been freed. The gunman has held up the cafe for over 13 hours, though the NSW government has urged residents to “go about their normal business” when they wake up today.
Photo: Getty Images
