Uber is a successful ride service used by 93 million people in 71 countries around the world.
With a clientele base like that, there is bound to be a cause for a refund every once in a while.
There are numerous reasons why a refund from Uber may need to be issued.
If you had an unsatisfactory ride or didn’t have a chance to take a ride at all, you may be eligible for a refund from Uber.
Read on to learn exactly what the Uber refund policy is and how you can navigate your way through a disputed charge and refund.
Table Of Contents
- Uber Refund Policy
- Uber Cancellation Policy
- Types of Uber Refunds
- Common Reasons for an Uber Refund
- How Uber Refunds Work: Refund Process
- How to Request an Uber Refund
- How to Check the Status of an Uber Refund
- How Long Do Uber Refunds Take?
- Where Does My Refund Go if I Get One?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping Up
Uber Refund Policy
If you are unhappy with your Uber trip, you may not always be eligible for a refund.
According to their policy, Uber will not honor refunds for vehicle or driver quality and request that you use the in-app rating system to address issues of that matter.
User error and uncontrollable events such as traffic are also highlighted as being ineligible for a refund.
Errors in charges, fees that exceeded the estimate by a large margin, or being dropped off farther than a short distance from your destination are all causes for a full or partial refund.
If you suspect fraud associated with your account, such as being charged for a ride you didn’t take, you may also be eligible to receive a refund.
All refund disputes are investigated by Uber and determined on a case-by-case basis.
Uber Eats requires you to cancel your order to receive a refund.
If you wish to do this before getting your food, it needs to be done before the order is prepared.
Otherwise, if you did not get everything you ordered or received an incorrect order, you must file a report within seven days of the order.
Uber cancellation fees may accrue if you violate the outlined policies.
Like Uber and Uber Eats, Uber Connect will charge cancellation fees.
Uber Cancellation Policy
Both passengers and drivers can cancel a ride at any time.
Riders should cancel their ride before they are matched with a driver.
If a driver has been paired with them before canceling, the rider will likely be subject to a cancellation fee.
Cancellation fees can run up to ten dollars and depend on how far the driver had traveled to your location before you made the cancellation.
Drivers can choose to cancel a ride if the rider violates Uber rules, including adhering to the face mask policy as recommended by the CDC.
Noncompliance to company policies may result in cancellation fees, while face mask violations could lead to lost access to the Uber app.
Uber Eats and Uber Connect can charge cancellation fees if they are not performed before the task has been started.
If you are not present to receive a delivery, this can also create a fee.
Types of Uber Refunds
1. Cash Back
As an incentive for the Uber Visa Debit Card, card owners can cash in on cashback rewards.
This refund is granted as transactions are made.
They will accumulate in your account and can be used to contribute to card payments or be transferred into your Uber credits.
Cardholders receive 1% back on up to one hundred dollars a month in qualified purchases.
Additionally, they receive 3% back on charges up to two hundred dollars made at Exxon and Mobil gas stations.
2. Account Credit
You can earn account credit with Uber gift cards, making or receiving referrals, and through promotions or a promo code.
These funds are automatically loaded as they are received and can be earned through Uber and Uber Eats.
3. Refund on Uber Cash
Uber Cash is a payment method exclusive to Uber that allows you to input funds in advance in anticipation of future Uber payments.
The funds never expire and can be used anywhere in the country of purchase.
If you wish to get a refund for a used Uber Cash balance, there are a few stipulations.
A refund can only apply to funds that are not promotional credit, gift card credit, or sent from another source.
Refunds require a minimum of five dollars of unused funds.
4. Other Types of Refunds
Are Uber Gift Cards Refundable?
Uber gift cards are non-refundable.
However, they never expire and can be used for both rides and Uber Eats.
You can add unused credits from a gift card to your remaining balance as you make your next purchase.
Can You Refund Uber Pass?
An Uber Pass is a monthly subscription program that allows you to access additional savings on Uber.
The app will continue to charge you monthly unless you choose to opt out by turning off the “auto-renew” feature in the app.
Cancellations to the subscription can be made up to 24 hours before the next payment, but once a payment is made, you will receive the service until the next pay period.
For those who subscribed by accident, Uber will need to be contacted directly for extra support.
Common Reasons for an Uber Refund
1. Driver Didn’t Show Up
If your driver did not arrive at your request, but you were still charged, Uber will review your claim and potentially issue a refund.
Outside of the driver just not showing up, there is potential someone else may have taken the ride instead.
Uber recommends verifying your ride through the app to ensure you are the one who receives the ride you requested.
2. Driver Cancelled the Ride
Drivers can cancel a ride for any reason, some of which may come with cancellation fees.
If you received a cancellation fee but are believed to not be at fault for the cancellation, you can contact Uber for a refund via the app.
Uber Drivers are also held to a standard they must follow when deciding to cancel a ride.
If they breach these policies, the rider may be entitled to dispute the cancellation fees.
3. Poor Ride Experience
Generally, Uber does not consider a poor ride experience to be grounds for a refund.
They suggest you make a rating through the app to reflect your experience.
A driver taking the wrong route or extending the mileage are some experiences that may be cause for a report.
We don’t suggest this often, but if things are really extreme, you’ll want to report an Uber driver for whatever bad behavior they displayed.
Uber refunds are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, so if you’d like to dispute a charge based on a poor experience, you will need to report it through the form offered on the site.
4. I Didn’t Take the Ride
Similar to a driver canceling a ride, you may encounter cancellation fees for not taking your ride.
These fees can only be disputed if they fall outside of the parameters of fee accrual by Uber.
Grounds for cancellation fees include canceling a ride after a driver accepts the request and having a ride canceled by the driver after waiting past the minute grace period at the pickup point.
Learn More:
How Uber Refunds Work: Refund Process
When looking into how to get an Uber refund, it’s important to understand how the process works.
1. Report the Issue
The best ways to report an issue with Uber is through the app, on their help site, or tweeting to Uber Support.
Customer service can review your dispute once a claim is submitted.
Share details of your experience in your report.
2. Refund Processed
Uber will review each case reported before issuing any money back to determine if it falls into the correct parameters for a refund.
3. Charge Dropped or Refund Received
Once a refund is accepted from Uber, it can take up to five days for the refund to process and be delivered to your selected bank account.
How to Request an Uber Refund
1. Request a Refund through the Uber App
From the mobile app, you can select a past trip to request a refund.
Click on “your trips” and choose the trip you wish to request a refund for.
The app offers several reasons that you can choose from that most closely resembles your specific refund request.
Add details as needed to best inform Uber of your situation and submit it for review.
2. Request a Refund through the Uber Website
Through the site, you can find the refund section on the help page.
Sign in to your account and submit a refund request by selecting the trip you want to be refunded and choosing your issue.
Enter any additional information necessary and send your dispute.
How to Check the Status of an Uber Refund
You may wait a while to receive your returned funds from an Uber refund request.
If you would like to check the status of your dispute in the meantime, contact the support team through the help page on the Uber website.
How Long Do Uber Refunds Take?
If accepted, an Uber refund can take up to five days to be processed.
This is contingent on whether or not Uber deems the dispute refundable based on their policies.
Where Does My Refund Go if I Get One?
If you are issued a refund, the money will return to the source in which you used to pay.
Commonly, the payment is made and returned to the chosen bank account or credit card associated with the account.
If funds were taken via credit or Uber Cash, they are reissued to that format of payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Uber drivers get penalized for canceling?
Uber drivers can be deactivated or penalized for making cancellations that breach their contract.
This includes refusing rides based on intended location, fare, and noncompliance with discrimination laws.
A discriminatory factor that may apply include discrimination towards a person’s gender or sexual orientation.
Repeated trip cancellations and refusal to provide service with the presence of a service animal are other valid reasons a driver may experience a penalty.
Cancellation penalties may lead to limited platform access for the driver.
Will my Uber driver know I reported them?
Drivers are unable to see specific ratings.
Additionally, the app has a safety feature that allows you to discreetly report incidents that will go directly to the Uber support team.
These reports will not reach the driver, but they may be subjected to penalties based on their committed infraction.
Why does Uber keep charging me?
Uber submits temporary holds on accounts called authorization holds.
These holds are made to prevent fraud and do not actually charge your account.
On your account, you may see several charges, but only the true charge will go through.
The authorization holds may linger for a few days, so monitor the charges closely to ensure you are being charged for what you owe and nothing more.
Otherwise, you may need to dispute a charge.
Will PayPal refund Uber Eats?
PayPal adheres to a separate refund policy that adheres to its own guidelines, which may make you eligible to receive refunds through Uber Eats.
These disputes must be opened with PayPal within 180 days of the transaction and meet the refund.
If your refund is granted the funds will return in the form of whatever account you used to pay for the transaction.
Can Uber drivers have a passenger that isn’t a customer?
No, Uber drivers cannot have a passenger that is not an Uber customer for the ride they called.
Sometimes this happens, and if you are put into this situation, you should report the ride immediately.
How do I transfer Uber credit to another account?
The easiest way to transfer Uber credit to another account is by sending them a gift card.
These can be purchased in person at participating retailers or through the app.
You can send funds instantly by clicking the “send a gift” option from the menu through the app.
These funds can only be used in the country in which they were purchased but apply to both Uber and Uber Eats.
Wrapping Up
There are many reasons why you may want to dispute an Uber charge.
To get your refund, be sure you review the policy beforehand to ensure it qualifies for dispute.
Submit a dispute through the app or site and expect to see your funds returned around five days after the dispute has been accepted and processed.
If you need to dispute a charge with Uber, be prompt and concise with what you challenge.
The more detail you can provide, the more likely you will increase your chances of getting your money back.
Why is Uber charging me 9.99 every month? I used Uber 1x in September and since you have been charging my credit card . Stop it! I’m only an occasional user. Refund all charges from October 2022 thru January 2023. I gave no permission for these charges.