Lyft issues may affect customers

[JimMIA]

Just a quick heads up for Lyft customers -- they are having issues nationwide, and particularly in the Orlando market.

I'm not personally affected by either problem, but if you have trouble getting a ride, this may be affecting you as a customer.

Two issues:

• The nationwide issue is that they seem to be randomly deactivating drivers for "safety issues." Numerous drivers, all over the US, are reporting they have been "fired" because of some unspecified safety issue, but the drivers are long-time drivers with good records, and in many cases 5.0 ratings with Lyft. In Miami, two excellent drivers I know personally got the ax (I've seen one guys rating, and it's 5.0.), and there are apparently hundreds of drivers affected nationwide.
  • Lyft's only response to driver questions is a packaged email repeating the deactivation and saying that there is no recourse.
  • Drivers who go to Lyft offices are told that the office personnel think it's a mistake but the "Deactivation Team" will not cooperate with local offices.
• Lyft has also begun drastic reductions in the pay of drivers who rent cars through Lyft. Rental drivers in the Orlando market are now only being paid 20.8 cents per mile! (For comparison, in Miami our normal lowest regular rate is 62 cents per mile and our rental drivers get 43 cents per mile.)

So if you're a lyft passenger and you either cannot get a ride, or you get a grumpy driver, one of the above problems may be the cause.

 

[SteveH]

@JimMIA do you know what the reasoning behind the reduction in pay for rental drivers?

 

[JimMIA]

@JimMIA do you know what the reasoning behind the reduction in pay for rental drivers?

Because they can.

You have to realize that both Lyft and Uber are losing billions of dollars per year, both just went public in the last few months, and both absolutely MUST make significant progress toward profitability. So they are raising rider fares gradually, reducing driver pay, and streamlining their operations wherever they can. This is one part of one piece of that puzzle.

Several months ago, Lyft changed their vehicle requirements for the state of Florida. All of their cars are now supposed to be 2017 models or newer. That forced many drivers into rental vehicles. Also, throughout Florida, we have hundreds of drivers who are refugees from Puerto Rico (Hurricane Maria) or Venezuela (political turmoil). Those drivers typically rent, and many of them LIVE in the rental cars...overnighting in airport staging lots.

Rental contracts force the drivers to drive full-time -- often 12 hours per day, 7 days per week. They are paying a high weekly rental, and as noted above, are being paid a low rate -- so they have to work a lot of hours and drive a ton of rides to make ends meet. There are some benefits to renting, primarily that insurance is included in the rental and the driver can simply switch cars if the car needs any repairs.

But if you don't have a new car, and can't qualify to drive for Uber for some reason, there really isn't much choice but the Lyft rental program.

 

[DebbieB]

I got a Lyft from the Pittsburgh airport to home 2 weeks ago. I was surprised when the car popped up 2010 Toyota Corolla. I thought they had to be 2015 or newer.

 

[JimMIA]

I got a Lyft from the Pittsburgh airport to home 2 weeks ago. I was surprised when the car popped up 2010 Toyota Corolla. I thought they had to be 2015 or newer.

Vehicle requirements are all over the place. In some jurisdictions, vehicle requirements are set by state law or local ordinance. In Florida, it's up to the companies.

In Florida both Lyft and Uber previously had a 10-year limit. Then, for no apparent reason, Lyft suddenly went to 15 years. Needless to say, Uber followed.

And then a few months ago, Lyft went from 15 years to THREE! It's rideshare. It's not supposed to make sense.

 

[SteveH]

@JimMIA thanks, figured it was something like that but didn't know if it had a more specific reason behind the change.

 

[seashoreCM]

Also, at least in the Boston MA area, Lyft has reputedly emailed random customers telling them to change their names. It seemed that certain names that sounded erotic when pronounced, or or looked/sounded unusually catchy, had cropped up often when it came to friction with riders and billing disputes. The name Peter Pan was mentioned during one talk show segment on that subject.

This certainly generated negative publicity for Lyft.

 

[JimMIA]

duplicate, please delete

 

[JimMIA]

Also, at least in the Boston MA area, Lyft has reputedly emailed random customers telling them to change their names. It seemed that certain names that sounded erotic when pronounced, or or looked/sounded unusually catchy, had cropped up often when it came to friction with riders and billing disputes. The name Peter Pan was mentioned during one talk show segment on that subject.

This certainly generated negative publicity for Lyft.

Yes, LOL...and this fiasco is just classic Lyft being Lyft. It has nothing to do with billing disputes; that's just the excuse they offered when it blew up in their faces. This "crisis" is all about some snowflake in San Francisco being "offended."

The funny ones are where the person is using their actual given name and Lyft finds it offensive. One customer was quoted telling them to respect the name his parents gave him and to get their minds out of the gutter!

And they are not just asking people to change their names -- they are canceling customers accounts. Uber is laughing all the way to the bank.

*****
I should point out that this is actually a major departure from the norm. Generally, both Lyft and Uber are VERY customer-oriented.

I don't know what got into them, but the punitive nature of their response is classic Lyft.

 

[JimMIA]

Another Miami Lyft driver deactivated today. She drove for Lyft for 4 1/2 years, zero problems, zero complaints, deactivated without recourse -- no reason given. Just goodbye.

More detail on that driver. 4 1/2 years driving, 2,500 rides on Lyft, about 6,000 rides on Uber, 4.95 rating on Lyft, 4.97 on Uber. No known complaints on either system.

Fired for Christmas by Lyft. Nice.