Ride-hailing service Uber has been known to impose pricing surges whenever the demand is high.
It is facing scrutiny once more after netizens accused the company of deliberately raising its prices during the London Bridge and Borough Market terror attacks over the weekend.
READ: Pedestrians hit on London Bridge; police say terror attack
As posted by several Twitter users online, prices spiked to over twice the normal for app users near the area during the crisis.
Do us a favour @UberUK @Uber, drop the surge pricing in London would you? You’re needed! pic.twitter.com/Dp0c02LCAu
— Robin Lanfear (@RobinLanfear) June 3, 2017
Hey @Uber — you’re really going to surge price x2.1 during a terrorist attack in #London??? Lower than low. #londonbridge #emergency pic.twitter.com/yXHFZsYZkT
— Amber Clemente (@yankeeamber) June 3, 2017
Seriously @Uber ? 2.1x surge pricing during a serious incident in London? Your driver was a gem, but I can’t say the same for you. pic.twitter.com/Krv7am5X0R
— Victoria Anderson (@VFAnderson) June 4, 2017
A bit horrified that Uber applied 2.5x surge pricing this evening in London.
— katehartley (@katehartley) June 4, 2017
Uber, however, denied the accusations and claimed that they suspended the dynamic pricing feature during the attacks, and ensured that all rides around the area were free of charge.
In a statement, the general manager of Uber in London, Tom Elvidge, expressed his condolences to those who lost their loved ones during the incident.
“Our hearts go out to everybody affected by yet another horrific attack on our city,” he said, as relayed by Metro.co.uk.
“As soon as we heard about the incident we immediately suspended dynamic pricing all around the area of the attacks – and shortly afterwards across the whole of central London – just as we did following the attacks in Manchester and Westminster,” the executive said.
“We are also ensuring all rides from around the affected area were free of charge. Our team is also working with the Metropolitan Police to help them get any footage from drivers who were in the area at the time,” he added. Khristian Ibarrola /ra