A Warning To Potential Uber Drivers

I recently bought my self a nice car. To help pay it off, I considered driving for Uber. BIG mistake. Here's why:

First off, you need to scan and upload your license, registration, and insurance card to Uber. All fine, if the information was only given to Uber, as they claim. After I uploaded the information, and was then able to see all of the "training" videos, I decided that Uber was not a match for me. Since then, they have decided to contact and send my information to both the City of Chicago, as well as the State of Illinois.

Why did they do this? In compliance with state and local laws, they have to let local agencies know who is driving, what they are driving, when and where they are driving, and what all of my information is. The worst part is, I couldn't pick up a fare in Chicago if I wanted to, since it would have been out of my area.

Speaking of areas, you don't get to drive anywhere that you want, like they suggest before you sign up. You are given an area based on your home address. All contacts that you are given are based on this, not where you are currently driving. So, if you are living in an area without the need for taxis, Uber or otherwise, you're wasting your time applying.

The primary reason that I decided not to drive for them was given to me in a text after I gave them my info and watched the videos. You MUST have either a newer Apple phone, or a Galaxy 6 phone. And with them, Apple service. So, if you like your current phone and service, too bad. You can either get a second phone, or rent a phone for $10 a week from Uber. NOTHING of this is mentioned until the text.

The same night that I gave them all of my information, and turned them down within an hour of doing so, I had hoped that would be the end of it. Within 24 hours I got an email saying that my information would be removed, and a second email saying the exact same thing a week after that. Since then, I have been contacted by the City of Chicago, saying that I have some mandatory inspections. If I don't follow through, I can be fined, or even face legal sanctions. What sanctions, they didn't specify.

Today, I received a letter from the State of Illinois, saying that due to new laws, I must go through both driving tests, as well as vehicle inspections because Uber still has me listed as a driver. If I don't comply, I again can face legal issues.

I have tried to respond to Chicago, as well as the State. Chicago's email bounced back as undeliverable. There was no other way to contact them, other than hitting the reply button on my email. I have not yet heard back from the State, or Uber, about the last letter.

So, if you are planning on driving for Uber, ask yourself if there is ANYTHING that you can do instead. Otherwise, don't be surprised if you start getting legal notices and fees from your local and State governments.