Here's a second-hand account of why Uber is terrible and should be regulated heard from a finnish taxi driver a week ago:
1) Probably all of the Uber drivers are uninsured in the case of accident. Good luck getting your hospital bill covered if that happens and insurance company finds out you were taking an Uber.
2) There is no background check whatsoever for Uber drivers he told. They recently added a clause that requires Uber drivers to have taxi permit (or something similar) which is required by law but they do not actually check it but now the legal responsibility is out of their hands. He said something in the lines of that "bad apples" can start driving and remain much longer in Uber's system than while driving regular taxi.
3) There has been cases in which Uber drivers haven't paid any taxes and actually have been taking unemployment checks while driving. Sure not directly Uber's fault but again if their drivers were regulated I'm sure it would make checking their taxes much easier and Uber would pay pension etc. from the pay.
I think those were his main points if I recall correctly. In Finland regular taxi is well-respected and regulated so Uber has had little luck in succeeding to gain market share. Mostly foreign people use and drive Uber here.
@rockinghigh #1 In paper yes it seems so. But quick googling shows me this page http://jukka-pekkakukkonen.puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/223502-u... In which the guy goes through finnish Uber TOS which states that Uber is not liable of any damage to you or losses caused by the driver. Also because Uber drivers have the basic insurance for personal use but not for professional the insurance companies might decline compensation because it's against the terms of agreement.
#2 Also I think the point the taxi driver and (consequently I) was trying to make that Uber does not check can you actually be a professional driver. They might check your crime record but do you think that's all what it takes to be a taxi driver? Granted it might differ in your country but in Finland taxi drivers are well-respected because they behave like a customer servant should. And from what he said it seemed that Uber's process seemed a bit flaky "fill a form and you're an Uber driver" or something like that.
Have you no trust in me? :) If you show me a non-Uber source that debunks my claims please go ahead.
1) Probably all of the Uber drivers are uninsured in the case of accident. Good luck getting your hospital bill covered if that happens and insurance company finds out you were taking an Uber.
2) There is no background check whatsoever for Uber drivers he told. They recently added a clause that requires Uber drivers to have taxi permit (or something similar) which is required by law but they do not actually check it but now the legal responsibility is out of their hands. He said something in the lines of that "bad apples" can start driving and remain much longer in Uber's system than while driving regular taxi.
3) There has been cases in which Uber drivers haven't paid any taxes and actually have been taking unemployment checks while driving. Sure not directly Uber's fault but again if their drivers were regulated I'm sure it would make checking their taxes much easier and Uber would pay pension etc. from the pay.
I think those were his main points if I recall correctly. In Finland regular taxi is well-respected and regulated so Uber has had little luck in succeeding to gain market share. Mostly foreign people use and drive Uber here.