In the app, if you select (i) under the estimate, then select (i) again at the Fare, then you are presented with the Fare Breakdown.
For a fare requested in San Francisco, it specifies:
Base Fare $2
Booking Fee $1.75
Minimum Fare $6.75
+ Per Minute $0.22
+ Per Mile $1.15
If the eventual time and mileage are less, then hasn't Uber broken the contract by charging the upfront estimate? It sounds like fraud; I don't know if it legally meets the elements for the fraud.
I personally have not seen prices increase in the past year, but I could have been affected by this. I also could have had a lower charge than the estimate at the end of the trip; I haven't paid attention to it. But now I will.
I've never seen Uber provide the intended route prior to accepting the ride (although this may just be caused by PTSD from their latest UI update or the fact that I take mostly UberPools).
In their wording of the fare breakdown it says that the "fare will be the price presented before the trip or based on the rates below and other applicable surcharges and adjustments". With their technical wording they wouldn't have an obligation to pay you the lowest fare of the two, but they could charge you the higher option.
However, on the screen prior to that it states that "the fare will be the price presented upon booking" unless if "the journey changes, the fare will be based on the rates provided" (which obviously vary by location).
I don't really see how they could get away with the bait and switch without it being pure fraud. I'll have to check this out next time I get an UberX but I seriously doubt if this allegation were to be found true that this would still be enabled.
For a fare requested in San Francisco, it specifies:
If the eventual time and mileage are less, then hasn't Uber broken the contract by charging the upfront estimate? It sounds like fraud; I don't know if it legally meets the elements for the fraud.I personally have not seen prices increase in the past year, but I could have been affected by this. I also could have had a lower charge than the estimate at the end of the trip; I haven't paid attention to it. But now I will.