Ahmedabad: A Gujarat-based woman, Saniya, alleged that an Uber driver verbally abused her when she requested to cancel a ride after waiting for over 11 minutes. She shared her experience in a LinkedIn post that has now gone viral, including screenshots of the abusive messages from the driver.

“Is this what Uber calls a top-rated driver? A few days ago, I had a very concerning experience with Uber, and it isn’t the first time,” Saniya wrote.

She explained that she and a friend booked a shared Uber ride with two stops. As a regular commuter to her university, Saniya relies on Uber multiple times a week. For safety, she had subscribed to Uber’s premium service, which promises top-rated, experienced drivers.

“When I explained the two stops, the driver, who was eleven minutes away, called and said: ‘Cancel karide ne.’ I replied politely, but instead of cancelling, he started abusing me,” she said. She expressed concern about the ride, adding that the driver, rated 4.78, had only two months of experience—hardly qualifying as “top-rated.”

Saniya recalled a previous troubling experience with Uber before her subscription, when a newly joined driver spent most of a 45-minute ride on a loud phone call, used abusive language, and nearly caused accidents. That incident prompted her to pay for the subscription for added safety.

“Even with the subscription, I faced the same issue. It raises questions about how Uber verifies driver backgrounds and experience and whether complaints lead to any action,” she wrote. She emphasized that riders, particularly women, should feel safe and that the subscription service should deliver on its promise.

The post received strong reactions from LinkedIn users. One commented, “Uber and Ola are the worst rides. These services prioritize money over safety.” Another shared a similar experience in Delhi, stating the driver refused to drop her at her destination at night. Others advised riders to always share ride details with friends or family and remain vigilant. DeshGujarat