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Uber Tells Its Drivers to Accept Service Animals or Lose Their Job

March 25, 2017
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4 min read
Service dog with a man in a wheelchair at a doorway
Uber Tells Its Drivers to Accept Service Animals or Lose Their Job
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Last year Uber agreed to a legal settlement of a class action suit brought by the National Federation of the Blind, which had accused the ride-sharing service of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by allowing its drivers to discriminate against riders with service animals. As part of the settlement, Uber agreed to establish a service animal policy, pay the group for an ongoing testing program and send periodic reminders to drivers of their obligation to accept service animals in their vehicles.

As of March 1, 2017, Uber has begun implementing the latter part of that settlement, announcing that all drivers will receive an email every three months with information related to transporting riders with service animals.

In addition, one of our readers who also works as an Uber driver reports that a reminder about the service animal policy was automatically displayed when he recently signed into his Uber driving app.

Before he could begin driving that day, the driver was required to acknowledge and agree to several specific terms, including the obligation to accept service animals regardless of whether the driver is afraid of dogs, dislikes dogs or is allergic to dogs.

Finally, the driver was reminded that any violation of the service animal policy could result in being banned as an Uber driver. While Uber drivers might assume that being subject to this drastic punishment would require the company to find proof of a violation, the terms of the original settlement notice only require Uber to receive "plausible complaints on more than one occasion" before terminating a driver (emphasis added)...



If, following a complaint from a Rider, Uber determines that a driver knowingly refused to transport a Rider because the Rider was traveling with a service animal, Uber will terminate that Driver’s contract and permanently remove the Driver from the Driver platform. In addition, if Uber receives plausible complaints on more than one occasion that a Driver denied service to a Rider because the Rider was traveling with a service animal, Uber will terminate the Driver’s contract and the Driver will be permanently removed from the Driver platform. This second basis for contract termination will apply where Uber was unable to determine whether the first denial was a knowing violation.

The issue of service animals in travel venues has become a hot button topic in recent years. While the law requires travel providers to accommodate service animals, and there is little debate that animals who have been trained to assist disabled travelers serve a valid and welcome purpose, some passengers have been accused of abusing the policy in order to bring their personal pets on board aircraft by declaring them to be "emotional support" animals. Whether this becomes an issue with Uber and other car-sharing services is yet to be seen.

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In its help section, Uber reminds passengers that while service animals are permitted at all times, "if you're planning to ride with a non-service pet, it's good practice to contact the driver who accepts your ride request. Use your app to send a text message or call to let the driver know you'd like to bring a pet. Please help drivers keep vehicles clean for all riders by bringing a crate or blanket to reduce the risk of damage or mess. Some drivers may keep a blanket in the trunk." And if you have a service animal and are denied a ride by an Uber driver, you can file a report in Uber's Accessibility Help Center in the Uber app or online at help.uber.com.

Featured image by Getty Images/DisabilityImages

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.