A UK tourist has warned fellow travellers to stay vigilant after falling victim to a potential Uber scam in Bucharest, Romania. Stacey Nuttall shared her experience on the Facebook group Extreme Day Trips, describing how an Uber driver cancelled her trip and demanded cash payment.
According to Stacey, she and her friend ordered an Uber to the Therme Spa. Shortly after the journey began, the driver pulled over, claimed there was a problem with the app's price, and asked them to pay more in cash. When they refused, he cancelled the trip and told them to get out. Stacey was charged a cancellation fee, and subsequent Uber drivers also cancelled, incurring further penalties.
Stacey said they were then approached by four different taxi drivers asking for cash upfront or payment via Revolut or Apple Pay. Eventually, they found an independent cabbie who allowed them to pay upon arrival at their hotel. She noted that new taxation rules may be causing some drivers to lose money, leading to such behaviour.
Others in the group reported similar issues, including at Faro Airport in Portugal, where drivers accepted and cancelled rides, or directed passengers to walk to distant pick-up points only to drive away. One commenter advised disputing cancellation charges with Uber for reimbursement.
An Uber spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'The behaviour that has been described is completely unacceptable. Uber has clear rules regarding payments and cancellations, and we will investigate and take appropriate action on any reports of this nature.'
