We recently attempted to take an Uber in Milan, Italy from an apartment we were staying at to the Milan CENTRALE station. However, the driver dropped us off at a location that looked strange to us so we asked if this was the train station and the uber driver told us it was through the large entrance into the building where he dropped us off. (He was also rushing to give us our bags and he left the location quickly which seemed a little odd to me.) Turned out to be erroneous instructions and we had to take an approx 20 minute walk/Metro ride from where we were dropped off to the actual train station. The Uber charge was 25 euros. I was recently told a 25 euro charge is a typical charge for scams like the one we encountered. I am curious if the 25 euro charge advice I received is a precursor to potential driver scams like the one we just encountered and/or if others have experienced a similar situation with drivers in Italy. Thanks.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3623 posts
Many scams involve an amount you’re not likely to bother reporting so the scammer basically gets off without any consequences. In this case, the Uber driver shorted the distance of the ride to get you out of the car quickly so the driver could expedite taking their next fare “for a ride.”
When you agreed to the Uber ride, you agreed to the pick-up and drop-off locations and Uber agreed to charge you €25 based on that contract. The driver did not fulfill Uber’s end of the bargain which was to deliver you to the train station. You should report this to Uber and request compensation.
It’s impossible to know if a future Uber driver whose car you step into will be as dishonest as the one you, unfortunately, encountered in Milan. You have it in your power to report that guy to Uber, and maybe spare others from suffering a similar experience with that driver.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
996 posts
I tried to respond earlier, but there are some details we might need....
Did you get dropped off at the "pin" or address that you selected? If they dropped you off there, there might have been some error in the trip request....
If they didn't drop you off at the pin (you could have seen it on their app if it was mounted, yours if you were looking), then you can report it to uber.....
The drivers can't manipulate the app to charge you, the app does the calculating, so I doubt that it's the "customary" scam price....
Posted by
3722 posts
It might have been yet another case of an Uber driver not knowing the town well enough to realize he didn't drop you off at the right place.
Posted by
Portland, OR
693 posts
Hanlon's Razor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."
Though I usually see it as "ignorance" rather than "stupidity".
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
13028 posts
Uber, as it operates in the US, does not exist in Italy
I wonder what/who actually transported you.
Posted by
3722 posts
Uber, as it operates in the US, does not exist in Italy
Uber thinks it does
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3623 posts
Hanlon’s razor is from 1980.
Consider this one from 1836:
“Never say Never because limits, like fears, are often an illusion.”
—The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
2000 posts
Well, I once was on a fake taxi in Orvieto; not by design, he basically was fishing for clients by asking people waiting in the Cathedral piazza if they were the ones who had reserved a taxi and let them on even if he was not the reserved one. The fake taxi could not leave us in front of the station or he would have been spotted by legal taxies, so he left us in the back parking.