{"id":500124,"date":"2022-10-11T23:16:01","date_gmt":"2022-10-11T20:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/ftc-probing-accusations-uber-bilking-rewards-customers-sources\/"},"modified":"2022-10-11T23:16:01","modified_gmt":"2022-10-11T20:16:01","slug":"ftc-probing-accusations-uber-bilking-rewards-customers-sources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/ftc-probing-accusations-uber-bilking-rewards-customers-sources\/","title":{"rendered":"#FTC probing accusations Uber bilking &#8216;Rewards&#8217; customers: sources"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a285fd6eec12\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a285fd6eec12\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/ftc-probing-accusations-uber-bilking-rewards-customers-sources\/#%E2%80%9CFTC_probing_accusations_Uber_bilking_%E2%80%98Rewards_customers_sources%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;FTC probing accusations Uber bilking &#8216;Rewards&#8217; customers: sources&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CFTC_probing_accusations_Uber_bilking_%E2%80%98Rewards_customers_sources%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;FTC probing accusations Uber bilking &#8216;Rewards&#8217; customers: sources&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The feds are probing accusations that Uber has been bilking customers as the ride-sharing giant winds down its \u201cUber Rewards\u201d loyalty program, The Post has learned.<\/p>\n<p>In August, Uber said that beginning Nov. 1 it will scrap Uber Rewards \u2014 a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2018\/11\/14\/18088010\/uber-rewards-loyalty-program-perks\">program launched in 2018<\/a> that uses a free, points-based system to dole out perks like complimentary rides and discounted food deliveries \u2014 to focus on its paid sub<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">script<\/a>ion service, Uber One.  <\/p>\n<p>The Federal Trade Commission, however, has launched an informal investigation into complaints that Uber is making it difficult to redeem Uber Rewards points ahead of expiration, sources close to the situation told The Post. <\/p>\n<p>The company in August sent customers an email announcing it was ending the program, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/8\/13\/23304267\/uber-shutting-down-rewards-loyalty-program-this-year-one-subscription\">according to a report<\/a>. But some said they never received any emails and \u201cdidn\u2019t even know\u201d it was ending. One source who has amassed more than 20,000 points \u2014 worth nearly $150 in rides \u2014 said he was repeatedly met with a message saying, \u201cSorry, something is wrong \u2014 please try again later\u201d as he tried unsuccessfully to redeem them.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-09.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Federal Trade Commission building\" class=\"wp-image-24210013\" width=\"618\" height=\"411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-09.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1233 1236w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-09.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=925 927w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-09.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=618 618w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-09.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=308 309w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-09.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\/><figcaption>The Federal Trade Commission has launched an informal investigation into complaints that Uber is making it difficult to redeem Uber Rewards points ahead of expiration.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Universal Images Group via Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-10.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Dara Khosrowshahi\" class=\"wp-image-24149902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-10.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-10.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-10.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is laser focused on Uber\u2019s bottom line.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cUber just wants to apologize for an error \u2014 not actually pay out the money,\u201d the irate customer told The Post.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of the month the agency could announce a more formal investigation into Uber ending its perk program, a source close to the FTC told The Post. The source added that Uber should extend the opportunity for users to redeem points as a result of the glitches. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/IMG_4608.jpeg?w=473\" alt=\"uber\" class=\"wp-image-24149810\" width=\"228\" height=\"557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/IMG_4608.jpeg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=456 456w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/IMG_4608.jpeg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=342 342w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/IMG_4608.jpeg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=228 228w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/IMG_4608.jpeg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=114 114w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/IMG_4608.jpeg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\"\/><figcaption>Uber users who tried to redeem points repeatedly got a screen that read, \u201cSorry, something is wrong.\u201d <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The FTC probe comes as Uber\u2019s former chief security officer\u00a0Joe Sullivan last week was <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ndca\/pr\/former-chief-security-officer-uber-convicted-federal-charges-covering-data-breach\">slapped with criminal obstruction\u00a0charges<\/a> for failing to report a cyber hack to federal authorities. Sullivan, who paid a $100,000 \u201cbug bounty\u201d to a hacker in 2016 to protect users\u2019 data tried to prevent regulators from finding out about the payment, the FTC alleged. Sullivan could face eight years in prison.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe feds have been playing close attention to Uber \u2014 from the continued hacks that risk consumers\u2019 personal information to this scam-like rewards program nonsense,\u201d a source close to the FTC added. \u201cBottom line is that there\u2019s an Uber \u2018pool\u2019 of problems the company is facing internally.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s not clear how much money Uber could save by ending the program without properly paying out points, people close to the FTC believe it could be in the millions. <\/p>\n<p>Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2022-08-02\/uber-ceo-says-company-is-focused-on-profitability-this-year\">told Bloomberg<\/a> in August that his focus at the company is \u201cprofitability\u201d as the company\u2019s stock has tanked more than 35% over the past year. People close to Khosrowshahi say he has looked at every piece of the company \u2014 including rewards program \u2014 and whether it helps the company\u2019s shareholders. <\/p>\n<p>Beginning Nov. 1, Uber will offer all customers a free monthlong trial of Uber One. But the fine print reveals that enrolling users will automatically be renewed unless they opt out, putting them on the hook for a $9.99 monthly fee.  <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-2-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Uber logo\" class=\"wp-image-24210038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-2-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-2-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-2-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>While it\u2019s not clear how much money Uber could save by ending the program without properly paying out points, people close to the FTC believe it could be in the millions. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Protecting users from glitchy rewards programs has been a focus for the FTC over the last decade. In 2010, the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/topics\/truth-advertising\/gift-cards\">agency implemented a rule<\/a> that ensured companies had to honor gift cards for at least five years and that the money on those cards couldn\u2019t expire before then.<\/p>\n<p>An Uber spokesperson didn\u2019t respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>An FTC spokesperson declined to comment.<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/10\/11\/ftc-probing-accusations-uber-bilking-rewards-customers-sources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;FTC probing accusations Uber bilking &#8216;Rewards&#8217; customers: sources&#8221; The feds are probing accusations that Uber has been bilking customers as the ride-sharing giant winds down its \u201cUber Rewards\u201d loyalty program, The Post has learned. In August, Uber said that beginning Nov. 1 it will scrap Uber Rewards \u2014 a program launched in 2018 that uses&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":500125,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/uber-rewards-comp-b-1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[134039,74382,70875,70358,73424,1450],"class_list":["post-500124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-10-11-22","tag-federal-trade-commission","tag-ftc","tag-investigations","tag-ride-sharing","tag-uber"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=500124"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500124\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/500125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=500124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=500124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=500124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}