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Some Uber users are discovering a rather ugly surprise today: their accounts are disabled.
DoC reports the shutdowns seem targeted to those “with Uber cash funds that add gift cards to their account. Uber is then asking users for their most recent gift card purchase details.”
Discounted Uber gift cards can help you enjoy Uber rides and Uber Eats for less than retail prices. They’re occasionally sold through Amazon, PayPal Digital Gifts, BJ’s Wholesale Club, etc. Uber Gift card purchases also usually work with Amex Offers at Lowe’s and Staples. It can also be worth your while to buy gift cards from grocery stores and other retailers if you use a card rewarding those purchases.
“My gut reaction to this was that accounts that have been disabled have purchased gift cards that were used fraudulently,” DoC’s William Charles writes. “But long term reader @MordyNY had their account shut down and their gift card purchases were directly from Amazon.”
It’s certainly not unusual for frequent Uber or Uber Eats users to load up their accounts with Uber credit purchased through discounted gift cards.
Fallout has, not surprisingly, been swift and harsh:
@uber is stealing people’s money by deactivating their accounts while they still have a uber cash balance . This is theft and it’s wrong . I think we should start a class action suit . #UberDisabled #UberGate #uberfail
— Anniee LG ♀️ (@_AnnieeLG) January 28, 2020
#UberDisabled I was disabled right after I hit Platinum right away. I spent hundreds and hundreds on this app. Was always a respectful rider. Account always had money. Now they have my $165 and tell me this when it’s not true. #UberGate @Uber_Support now about to lose my job pic.twitter.com/GOj2uq3Dzy
— Donny Black (@Thedonnyblack) January 28, 2020
Account disabled and gift card funds wiped, what a mess.#UberFail#UberGate#UberDisabled
— AK K (@Average_kancha) January 28, 2020
We’ve read that Uber apparently asking for affected users to show proof of their gift cards. It’s a good idea to hold on to all gift cards — Uber or otherwise — for about a year after you obtain them.
This sure makes the new Chase-Lyft partnership look slightly more appealing, doesn’t it?
— Chris
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This happened to me yesterday. It was nuts. I emailed them and then they asked me to send the gift card information. Sent them a screenshot of it and my account was reactivated.
A quick look at Twitter shows a LOT of people were affected by this. I don’t understand why this would happen. Do they not want people to redeem gift cards they receive? To just randomly do this is a real inconvenience and I would hope an explanation is provided.
@K: Thanks for the data point!
Your gut is wrong….most GCs I bought were from Amazon, BJs or a grocery store with a select few at Raise. Still shut down….I was putting close to $400 in spending every month with Uber/Uber Eats.
Amex Platinum users with Uber Benefits are going to be super pissed. A lot of us top up Uber Cash with GC to fully utilize our Uber Amex credits monthly. Amex needs to step in and ensure their users aren’t targeted during this crack down. Great way for Amex to lose even more customers since they are definitely charging you for the $200 Uber credits that you receive annually.
Do you have a phone number that we can call to report issues to Uber.
@Tim Grable: I don’t have one — but some Googling or Bing-ing would probably yield something.
@Tim – Here you are! 😉
https://www.elliott.org/company-contacts/uber/
Same thing happened to me…gift cards purchased during amex promotion with amazon and then account disabled.
@RB: Is your account restored yet?
I can’t thank you enough for this post. My kids got me Uber gift cards at Christmas as they knew we were about to take a trip to Hong Kong and I’m hard to buy for. Great gift. So I loaded 10x $25 in gcs on my Uber account and Uber freezes my account! Seriously? If they don’t want you to buy and use them why sell them?
Now I’m forced to use Hong Kong taxis that only take HK $ – cash! Uber loses out as well as me. At least your post explains what happened.
I thought my account had been hacked. I’ll deal with Uber after the trip but thanks again
@Jerry Udell: You’re quite welcome, Jerry. Have a great trip. Let us know what happens with Uber.