Uber tests stricter waiting time charges for late passengers

If you're not showing up for your Uber, you might get charged sooner than you think. The company is trialling fees if you keep your driver waiting more than two minutes after they arrive at the pickup spot. The waiting period was previously five minutes (the same time given by its rival Lyft), though during these tests, drivers were still required to wait five minutes before they charge a full no-show fee. Uber is also adding a cancellation fee if a customer cancels a pickup two minutes after ordering one, which can range from $5 to $10 depending on the area.

Uber uses a similar rule with its carpool rides, when multiple users split the cost of a trip. The pilot program is reportedly running in Phoenix, Dallas, New Jersey and NYC. According to CNN Money, Uber says the cancellation fee is there compensate drivers for their time. "Drivers' time is valuable, and while we expect riders to request a ride only once they're ready, we know that waiting for a rider at their pickup location can be frustrating," the company said in a statement. It added that delays and cancellations affect Uber's ability to deploy drivers "efficiently."