NEW YORK A Manhattan couple was stunned and outraged when an Uber driver refused to drive the woman, who was in labor, to the hospital and then charged them $13 for lost time.
When David Lees wife went into labor in the middle of the night last November, he quickly gathered their bags and summoned an Uber to drive them 3 miles to the delivery room, according to Fortune. But when the couple got out to the car, the driver told them he couldnt let Lees wife, whom he saw retching on the sidewalk, into his vehicle.
When the confused Lee asked the driver why, he told him hed lose $1,000 a day if the woman threw up in his car. Despite Lees promise to pay for any cleaning that might be necessary, the driver continued to refuse and ultimately drove away.
But not before charging the couple $13 for the time spent arguing on the curb.
The couple did eventually make it the hospital another Uber driver rushed them to the delivery room without objection, where their baby boy was born a few hours later but Lee and his wife were left wondering how they were left stranded by a driver whom they claim openly and illegally discriminated against them.
I dont blame Uber for one drivers poor actions, since bad apples can appear in any organization, but I do think that when a company has a culture of bullying their way past laws and regulations, as Uber seems to do, they begin to think they can act with impunity in anything, Lee told Fortune.
Uber responded to the couples complaint by refunding their $13 but refused to identify the driver involved. Lee, an attorney, argued that information should be made available to the public by law, but the company stopped returning his emails and never issued a formal apology.
Uber should have clarified their policies on drivers and women in labor, and confirmed that the driver received appropriate disciplinary action, Lee told Fortune. Im fortunate enough to know my rights and have access to resources, but I feel for the person who is not as lucky.
When contacted by Fortune, Uber did admit that what happened to the Lees shouldnt have happened, calling the drivers actions unacceptable.
We extend our deepest apologies to both riders and have taken action to respond to this complaint, the statement reads.
When David Lees wife went into labor in the middle of the night last November, he quickly gathered their bags and summoned an Uber to drive them 3 miles to the delivery room, according to Fortune. But when the couple got out to the car, the driver told them he couldnt let Lees wife, whom he saw retching on the sidewalk, into his vehicle.
When the confused Lee asked the driver why, he told him hed lose $1,000 a day if the woman threw up in his car. Despite Lees promise to pay for any cleaning that might be necessary, the driver continued to refuse and ultimately drove away.
But not before charging the couple $13 for the time spent arguing on the curb.
The couple did eventually make it the hospital another Uber driver rushed them to the delivery room without objection, where their baby boy was born a few hours later but Lee and his wife were left wondering how they were left stranded by a driver whom they claim openly and illegally discriminated against them.
I dont blame Uber for one drivers poor actions, since bad apples can appear in any organization, but I do think that when a company has a culture of bullying their way past laws and regulations, as Uber seems to do, they begin to think they can act with impunity in anything, Lee told Fortune.
Uber responded to the couples complaint by refunding their $13 but refused to identify the driver involved. Lee, an attorney, argued that information should be made available to the public by law, but the company stopped returning his emails and never issued a formal apology.
Uber should have clarified their policies on drivers and women in labor, and confirmed that the driver received appropriate disciplinary action, Lee told Fortune. Im fortunate enough to know my rights and have access to resources, but I feel for the person who is not as lucky.
When contacted by Fortune, Uber did admit that what happened to the Lees shouldnt have happened, calling the drivers actions unacceptable.
We extend our deepest apologies to both riders and have taken action to respond to this complaint, the statement reads.
