*The United States Government says Uber鈥檚 failure to 鈥榤ake reasonable modifications鈥� to its wait-time fees policy and ensure 鈥榚quitable fares鈥� for passengers with disabilities is discriminatory under the Americans with Disabilities Act

*We had been in active discussions with the Department of Justice about addressing any concerns or confusion before this surprising and disappointing lawsuit 鈹�Uber Spokesman

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

For apparently making them feel like 鈥渟econd-class鈥� citizens while running afoul of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the United States (US) Department of Justice (DOJ) has instituted a legal action against Uber Technologies Incorporated over 鈥渨ait-time鈥� fees charged to disabled passengers.

绿帽献妻 gathered the Joe Biden administration sued the ride service company for charging a wait-time fee to the concerned passengers with disabilities and allegedly refusing their refund requests.

A passenger with disabilities set to board a taxi聽 聽Photo: BBC聽

The complaint the DOJ filed Wednesday, November 10, 2021, in a San Francisco Federal court noted that Uber鈥檚 failure to 鈥渕ake reasonable modifications鈥� to its wait-time fee policy and ensure 鈥渆quitable fares鈥� for passengers with disabilities who need more time to board vehicles is discriminatory under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Justice Department is asking the court to block Uber鈥檚 policy and seeking damages to compensate passengers, including for emotional distress they experienced, as well as a civil penalty, agency report said.

In its complaint, the American Government cited the experience of two disabled passengers, including a 52-year-old quadriplegic woman, who relied on Uber to go back and forth from her apartment in Louisville, Ky., to a rehabilitation facility about five blocks away.

However, an Uber representative informed the unidentified woman, that nothing could be done when passenger sought a refund on wait-time fees, according to the complainant.

The government said: 鈥淯ber鈥檚 refusal to refund her money or to change its wait-time fee policy makes Passenger A feel like a second-class citizen.鈥�

Similarly, the DOJ stated that a 34-year-old man with cerebral palsy was 鈥渁ngry, frustrated and upset鈥� after Uber charged him wait-time fees and began refusing refund requests after initially giving him some refunds.

Uber鈥檚 reactions to US Government’s allegations

In its response to the allegations preferred against it, Uber says its wait-time fees were 鈥渘ever intended for riders who are ready at their designated pickup location but need more time to get into the car.鈥�

The company鈥檚 Spokesman Matt Kallman said in an e-mail statement that 鈥渨ait-time fees are charged to all riders to compensate drivers after two minutes of waiting, but were never intended for riders who are ready at their designated pickup location but need more time to get into the car.

鈥淲e recognise that many riders with disabilities depend on Uber for their transportation needs, which is why we had been in active discussions with the DOJ about how to address any concerns or confusion before this surprising and disappointing lawsuit.鈥�

Uber鈥檚 statement disclosed the company recently updated its app to automatically waive fees for any rider who certifies they are disabled.

Uber鈥檚 ride-hailing business was decimated as COVID-19 lockdowns kept people home and cratered demand, report stated.

The ride-share sector has since bounced back sharply amid improving COVID-19 conditions and rising vaccination rates.

Uber reported bookings were up 67 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, according to report.

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