Uber is now charging riders who are late for their rides

The new policy is being tested in a handful of states

Uber is testing a program that lets drivers charge customers if they are late for their rides. (image: Uber)·Yahoo Finance
Daniel Howley
·Technology Editor
0

The next time you call for an Uber you'd better make sure your drunk friend is ready to roll as soon as the car shows up or you’re going to get stuck with a fee.

That’s because Uber is testing a new pricing plan that will let drivers start running the meter for your trip if you’re more than two minutes late for your ride. Currently, Uber can either cancel your trip and send you a fee, or ask to start charging you if you're more than 5 minutes late

(Update: Uber's previous wait time was 5 minutes, not 10 as a previous version of this piece indicated)

I’ll be honest, it takes me more than two minutes to get my coat on and find my keys, so I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking two minutes is a bit too short of a leeway time for riders.

That said, I’m looking at this from a lazy millennial rider’s point of view, not as a driver who has to sit in his car and wait for my friends and me to stumble out of a bar with in our Patagonia jackets and Adidas sweatpants.

So, you know, whatever.

In addition to the new two-minute grace period, Uber is also introducing a two-minute limit between when you call an Uber and when you cancel it.

If you don’t cancel within the two-minute time frame, you’ll be hit with a fee, though Uber hasn't said exactly how much it will be. Uber’s previous cancellation window was 5 minutes.

But don’t start freaking out about potential Uber charges just yet. The company is only rolling out the new times and fees on an experimental basis in Dallas, New Jersey, New York, and Phoenix. If you live outside of those areas, you’re fine for now.

I, on the other hand, am from New Jersey and live in New York, so I’ll probably be shelling out a lot of cash on fees.

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at@DanielHowley.

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