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SA Uber drivers can now decline cash trip requests

Johannesburg - Uber South Africa has introduced a new, pilot cash indicator feature. The cash indicator allows Uber driver-partners to choose whether they’d like to accept a cash trip request or not. 

Jonathan Ayache, general manager Uber South Africa says: "We’ve received a lot of feedback from driver-partners expressing their need to be able to choose the kind of trips they want to accept. This feedback came from our focus groups, comments at partner appreciation events and recent safety working groups. We’ve taken heed of this request and believe the new cash indicator pilot will address their needs."

Uber has taken heed of this request and believe the new cash indicator pilot will address their needs. 

Here are some facts you should know about the new system:

The cash indicator allows Uber driver-partners to choose whether they’d like to accept a cash trip request or not.

Feedback from driver-partners showed that drivers wanted the option to choose the kind of trips they want to accept. 

Some driver-partners feel the cash option has opened them up to new riders and provides the consumer with more choice. 

Uber believes riders should have the freedom to pay for riders how they wish. 

The cash indicator will only appear to driver-partners on cash trips - no indicator will pop up for card trips. 

The dispatch process will not be impacted at all, should a driver choose to decline the request, the app will immediately alert another driver-partner. 

Driver-partners who decline to accept a cash trip will not face any consequences. 

Uber has introduced many key safety features that did not exist before the introduction of the Uber app in South Africa.


Will the new cash indicator feature have an impact on your Uber usage? What do you think about this option for drivers?
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Ayache says: "While some driver-partners have asked for the cash option to be removed, other driver-partners feel the cash option has opened them up to new riders and provides the consumer with more choice. Cash is a dominant payment method in Africa and many riders do not have cards to use on the app; cash removes the barrier for those without a card who want to use Uber.

"That’s why it’s not feasible to remove the cash option completely - we believe riders should have the freedom to pay for rides how they wish, but we also believe that driver-partners should have the freedom to accept cash trips or not."
 
Uber says the cash indicator will only appear to driver-partners on cash trips - no indicator will pop up for card trips. The indicator will be clearly visible directly under ETA (estimated time of arrival) on the driver’s app. The dispatch process will not be impacted at all, should a driver choose to decline the request, the app will immediately alert another driver-partner. This also means that driver-partners who decline to accept a cash trip will not face any consequences - they will not be penalised for declining a cash trip, nor will they be deactivated for doing so. 
 
"We are in the business of technology; we’ve introduced many key safety features that did not exist before the introduction of the Uber in South Africa. We remain committed to using and investing in technological solutions to any issues, safety included”.
 
"Unfortunately, Uber’s technology cannot prevent crime, but with the introduction of core safety features such as GPS tracking, 24/7 support, an emergency number for drivers, as well as our partnership with multiple security companies, and now, the cash indicator, we are doing everything we can to prioritise the safety of those using the Uber app. We will regularly monitor the success of the pilot", concludes Ayache. 
 
Uber remains committed to working with the authorities who have promised to prioritise the safety of Uber driver-partners in Gauteng and around the country.
 

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