Seething Stephen shells out £24 for one-mile Uber trip home from dentist

A man with severe arthritis was left seething after he realised he had been charged £24 for a one-mile Uber ride. Stephen Cook booked the trip to his local dentist on April 10, and was left baffled by the quote.

The 65-year-old said: "I use Uber quite a lot and I know all too well how their prices can change. But when it came up at nearly £24 I couldn’t believe it.

“I had to rush to make it to my dental appointment which was only 20 minutes later and I didn't have time to try to find another taxi so I ended up just paying it. But this is the very definition of daylight robbery.

"It’s extortion. It was a 1.3 mile trip so how can that price ever be justified? Uber are just ripping people off.”

Stephen could have jetted to sunny Alicante for less, with discounted trips to the Spanish resort from the UK on Ryanair showing for as little as £22.99, as reported by the Daily Record.

Stephen said: “It’s crazy when you think of it like that. I could have flown to another country on holiday for the same as a trip the local dentist."

Former international trade advisor Stephen is currently on employment support allowance after having a heart attack last year, he also requires a double hip replacement for his arthritis and relies on taxis regularly. He said: "I don’t have a car and I rely on taxis. £23 for a short journey is huge dent in the finances of someone on low income or benefits.

“That is a worth a weeks shopping to some people. It’s a disgrace.” Uber prices can change throughout the day, with the taxi firm adding a price surge (increase) when times are busier or there are less drivers available. Stephen says he has complained to Uber chiefs over the fare. He said: “At first they doubled down on the fact I accepted the fare. They tried to explain that it was down to a lack of cars, and in the end gave me £10 back as a gesture of goodwill."

But Stephen still can’t see the logic in their price strategy after it cost him just £6 to get an Uber home from the dentist." He added: “After my appointment I took an Uber home and that only cost me £5.96 - just over an hour later.”

Uber has been contacted for comment.

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