Uber alleges 13CABS created false documents in social media smear campaign
Taxi booking service 13CABS has been accused of doctoring documents in its latest campaign against US ride sharing service, Uber.
On Friday, 13CABS posted on Facebook what it claimed was an Uber driver’s receipt showing a user had been charged $350 for a ride between the Melbourne CBD and Tullamarine Airport that morning – normally a cab fare of $70.
Mumbrella understands the tale was offered to a number of media outlets last week who all declined to cover the story. Fairfax journalist Patrick Hatch posted the receipt in a since-deleted tweet at 5pm on Friday.
A screenshot of Hatch’s now-deleted tweet
13CABS posted the receipt on its Facebook page during the day where it received immediate criticism from commenters and was later shared on the Reddit Australia forums.
In a statement to Mumbrella, an Uber spokesperson said: “This receipt was an obvious photoshop, it is missing the booking fee line item, which is standard on normal Uber receipts.
“The base fare of $91.55 can only be accurate if it was a three-plus hour trip to the airport given our time and distance rates on UberX.”
A 13CABS spokesperson rejected Uber’s claims, telling Mumbrella: “The receipt in question was provided by a ride share driver late on Friday. The receipt shows what the driver earned, and demonstrates the price surge was 3.9 times the basic fare. We have no reason to believe the receipt is anything but authentic.”
13CABS appointed Thinkerbell to manage its creative and strategic marketing services in July. It is not clear if Thinkerbell is responsible for 13CABS’ social media presence or the alleged tampered document. Thinkerbell has been contacted by Mumbrella for comment about the alleged tampered Uber reciept.
In September 13CABS launched its Good Serge campaign, with Thinkerbell’s first effort for the taxi company criticising Uber’s use of surge pricing.
This is not the first time 13CABS – which is responsible for more than half of all taxis on the road in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane – has had problems in its fight against the US ride sharing giants.
In 2012 the company dropped a campaign highlighting the risks of sexual assault to Uber users after complaints to the Advertising Standards Board and an online petition protesting the campaign attracted over 3,000 signatures.
Other Australian taxi companies have also had problems with their anti-Uber messages. In 2016, the NSW Taxi Council also lost out with the advertising watchdog over a campaign claiming the US-based service was unsafe.
UPDATE 3:09pm:
Since publication, Uber has updated its claims and now alleges the receipt was for a premium UberXL ride taken some weeks before last Friday’s storm.
An Uber spokesperson told Mumberella: “After further investigation, we now believe this was an old XL receipt from several weeks ago that was repurposed to falsely claim it was a trip that occurred during Friday’s storm.”
This story has been amended to reflect Uber’s updated statement along with noting Patrick Hatch deleting his tweet.
This article reeks!
“….showing a user had been charged $350”
(accompanied by a photo of a $275 bill)
“…..a number of media outlets last week who all declined to cover the story. Fairfax journalist Patrick Hatch tweeted he had received a copy”
(by definition, when Hatch — a Fairfax journalist — sent this tweet, he has covered the story).
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Several “Nice Guy Serge(s)” illegally refused fares from the CBD to Fitzroy on the weekend.
I’m happy to pay a surcharge for a premium service that taxis don’t provide. Good luck 13CABS…
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Hi Danny,
The user was allegedly charged over $350. The receipt you can see is allegedly the driver’s receipt – as made clear in the article – which shows how much the driver earned ($275.65), and the cut Uber took from the transaction. With these figures combined, should the receipt prove to be real, the rider would be up for over $350.
Thanks,
Vivienne – Mumbrella
A couple of facts about this…
Just because it doesn’t have the booking fee doesn’t mean it’s bogus, per se. Only Uber X fares have a booking fee, not Uber XL or Uber Select (and these two services also charge a higher per km and per min rate).
However… a $91 base fare from Melb CBD to the airport, even assuming on Uber Select rates (the highest), means the trip must have taken 1hr 40min. That’s highly unlikely at that time of the morning, usually takes no more than an hour even in the morning airport rush.
And to the journo who parroted 13CABS’ line about Uber being set to gouge prices during the stormy weekend… Uber imposed a cap on surge of 1.9x from 830am Friday to early this morning. Presumably so they would not be accused of price gouging. All Uber drivers were aware of this surge cap, which had the effect of keeping Uber fares around the same mark as taxi fares.
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The same happens in Sydney. Old school taxi’s drive past slowly, wind down their window and when you say you are headed to the Northern Beaches, they drive off. I also use Uber for that reason. I must admit though – I would love Uber to pay more tax, (not that the taxi industry ever did mind…)
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As proof of a transaction, a receipt is considered a legal document. Surely no-one would contemplate fucking with one for some PR?
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…”should the receipt prove to be real…”
Did the lawyers make you include the word ‘should’ because the receipt is actually fake?
“We have no reason to believe the receipt is anything but authentic.”
Except that it is missing something that is on every receipt? No way that Uber didn’t charge a booking fee.
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Hi MarcusW,
I am not acting on the advice of a lawyer – however it seems like reasonable wording to me given Uber first alleged it was “an obvious photoshop” and is now saying the dates have been tampered with.
My earlier response to Danny was aiming to show that our maths on the $350 was correct, rather than offer up my opinion as to the validity of the receipt.
Hope that clarifies,
Vivienne – Mumbrella
Uber can’t even get their story straight
Still covering up with more lies
Sorry uber you’ve lost credibility .
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Uber and our politicians on both side of politics have turned the taxi industry into dogs breakfast
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A Strong taxi industry is what we need. Uber are sharks and exploitingbeveryone to make profits for the very few
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Just saying i am a taxi driver last xmas i picked up a lady from circular quey to maroubra cost $41.40 she advised me uber charged her $321 2 days before taxis are the sam price 365 day a year …the question is why is uber charges so much when ever thay like its just a app who charge there drivers 30% of the fare thay are just lawbraking scum bags….
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If you say so. Although I have a neighbour who thinks he’s half alien. Doesn’t make it true.
Also “taxis are the sam price 365 day a year”, isn’t true. They aren’t even the same price all day long. The tariff changes depending on the time of day, and there is an extra charge on Friday and Saturday nights. How is this any different to surge pricing?
And don’t get me started on the credit card fee.
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