Uber

[Bazile]

How do you book a UBER taxi ?

How does it work ?

[bobbinwales]

You get the app on your phone??

[bobbinwales]

I got it...don't know another way. You book and pay via the app.

[THECORBYLOON]

Allegedly it can be done online without the app.

I went online to do it, had to input my name and 'phone number.

I was then sent a four-digit code to enter which I did but got a message it was not valid. Requested it three more times only to be sent the same code each time and got the same error message.

Tried a fifth time but got a message saying I had tried too many times and to try later.

[barry1010]

I use Uber a lot, the only thing I don't like about is that I can't book in advance.

Download the app, register your details. When you want a ride, open the app, input your from and too and click on the available ride that you want, you usually get a choice of three in staged price brackets (different size cars/better cars) each showing the estimated time of arrival.
They have always arrived on time

[barry1010]

Oops, in some cities you can book an Uber up to 30 days in advance, but not in mine

[Old_Geezer]

By app.

[lankeela]

Load of dodgy drivers doing decent cabbies out of business. I'd rather walk than use one.

[Hopkirk]

Many of them learnt to drive in Kabul, I believe.

[Buenchico]

Information about how to use Uber is, unsurprisingly, available on their website:
https://www.uber.com/en-GB/blog/how-to-use-uber-for-the-first-time/

Possibly the key thing to note there is the bit about 'dynamic pricing', which follows the airline model for setting fares, whereby fares are lower when there's little demand but higher when everyone wants to travel at once. There's no nasty surprise at the end of your journey though, as you're quoted the fare on the app before you commit to making a booking.

All Uber drivers hold Private Hire licences and, as such, are subject to the same background checks as any other Private Hire or Hackney Carriage licence holder is. e.g. here's the procedure in Birmingham:
https://www.uber.com/gb/en/drive/birmingham/get-a-license/

[tomus42]

Download the app to your phone. It works very well. You know the price up front, you don't have to explain where you want to go, you know exactly when the car will arrive, you don't need to worry about having cash on you.

Ignore those that criticise it without good reason and try it for yourself.

[barry1010]

In my opinion the Uber drivers are safer than some private hire drivers. At least you get their name, registration number and the photo from their licence before they arrive.

I've known a few private hire drivers who have rented their licence to unlicensed drivers; and even more who simply masquerade as private hire drivers and pick up fares off the street with no pre-booking.

Many Uber drivers worked for other private hire companies but much prefer Uber. Guaranteed to get their fee, they won't be robbed for their cash and they can pick and choose their fares.
Also they know the drop off address before the passenger gets in the car, which is preferable to trying to get it out of an incoherent drunk