How to improve your Uber rating

Uber is planning to ban passengers from its taxi service in Australia and New Zealand if they receive poor feedback from drivers.

From 19 September, those who have a four-star rating and below will not be able to use the service for six months.

The company said the “vast majority” of passengers had a rating of at least 4.5 stars so the move should only affect “a few thousand” people. The aim is to improve passenger behaviour, it said.

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“The same policy was introduced in Brazil earlier this this year, Uber said, but it’s the first time the control has been rolled out in an English-speaking market,” reports the BBC.

So how can you improve your Uber rating?

Uber says drivers tend to consider three areas when scoring passengers:

• Waiting times: The company recommends being ready when the vehicle arrives at your pick-up location and ensuring that you have given the correct address.
• Courtesy: Basic manners are key. “Treat drivers and their cars the way they'd expect to be treated themselves,” says the company. That includes refraining from swearing, putting feet on the dashboard and leaving any rubbish behind.
• Safety: Uber warns against pressurising drivers to break any laws, such as packing too many people into the vehicle or failing to wear a seatbelt.

How do the ratings work?

Both passengers and drivers have a rating, out of five, with decimal points, based on anonymous reviews of individual trips. The system is in place to “make sure the most respectful riders and drivers” are using the service, says Uber. Poor ratings for drivers can lead to them being “deactivated”. But drivers also want protection against “aggressive, violent or disrespectful riders”. Ratings show up as averages, so you can’t see an individual rating for a particular trip. Therefore, passengers will need to have taken several trips before their rating shows up.

How do I find my Uber rating?

Rider ratings can be found on the app. If you touch the menu, your rating is the number displayed under your name.