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Uber wins court battle to continue operating in London

Sept. 28, 2020
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3 min read
Businessman using taxi app
Uber wins court battle to continue operating in London
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Uber has won its long-lasting legal battle with London regulators. On Monday September 28, Westminster Magistrates' Court said that it deemed Uber a "fit and proper" operator, "despite historical failings," meaning the ride-hailing company can continue operating in one of its largest markets.

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The win for Uber comes three years after Transport for London (TfL) first rejected its license application. Last year, safety concerns surfaced again in which regulators in the capital turned down Uber's license renewal.

In November 2019, regulators refused to renew Uber's license because of a security concern with unauthorized drivers using the app to pick up customers. Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that the security concern allowed 24 drivers to share their accounts with 20 others, leading to 14,788 rides.

Uber insisted that it had fixed the problem, but regulators declined to renew Uber's license in order to make sure there weren't other software issues. Uber appealed that November decision, and during the time since has been permitted to continue operating.

Uber "does not have a perfect record but it has been an improving picture," the judge said. "The test as to whether [Uber] are a 'fit and proper person' does not require perfection. I am satisfied that they are doing what a reasonable business in their sector could be expected to do, perhaps even more."

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The new license is valid for 18 months, and will require that Uber continues to adhere to TfL's conditions, including allowing the organization to monitor that Uber's adhering to regulations.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that historically, TfL was "absolutely right" not to renew Uber's license last year, however, the company had "made improvements."

Uber's issues in London started in September 2017 when regulators originally refused to renew the ride-hailing company's license. Uber then won a 15-month license in June 2018, which was extended by two months in September 2019. However, TfL decided not to grant a new license entirely, a decision that Uber appealed, and as of Monday, won.

"Uber has demonstrated time and time again that it simply can't be trusted to put the safety of Londoners, its drivers and other road users above profit," the Licensed Taxi Driver's Association said. "Sadly, it seems that Uber is too big to regulate effectively but too big to fail."

According to Uber, it has 3.5 million riders and 45,000 licensed drivers in London.

During its appeal process, Uber continued operating — and expanding — in London. In August, the company launched its Uber Boat service, using Thames Clippers boats to transport passengers down the Thames.

Featured image by Getty Images

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Best for dining at restaurants

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

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.