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Using Uber App in USA (?)


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Old 04-10-2016, 20:20
Willi
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Is the Uber app truly international? If I download it to my iPhone in, say, the UK, will it work in other countries? Would there be some kind of surcharge for using a "UK Uber" app in the USA? I would get a PAYG card for the iPhone in the USA.
Sorry to be dim but I've never used Uber and know hardly anything about it.
W

Last edited by Willi : 04-10-2016 at 20:21. Reason: omission
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Old 04-10-2016, 20:26
bikerlad
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You can use it anywhere, but it will be charged in the local currency, so you may be hit with a foreign exchange fee by your UK card provider, often around 3%.
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Old 04-10-2016, 20:42
Willi
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Thanks.
Might it be better to download the app in the US using a US PAYG card?
W
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Old 04-10-2016, 21:08
d123
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You can use it anywhere, but it will be charged in the local currency, so you may be hit with a foreign exchange fee by your UK card provider, often around 3%.
Can't you pay Uber with Paypal? I thought you could?
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Old 04-10-2016, 21:09
The Phazer
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Thanks.
Might it be better to download the app in the US using a US PAYG card?
W
You could register a US PAYG card on the UK app and just select that one while you're in the US, but I suspect a PAYG card charge will work out more expensive than your UK card provider's currency conversion fee regardless.

The app you download from the app store is literally identical no matter which country you get it from.
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Old 04-10-2016, 21:27
binary
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Like Phazer says, there is just the one Uber app.

It is possible to register multiple payment cards with one Uber account - one has to be the default choice, though this can be changed easily, and it's easy enough to change which card you want to pay with before any particular ride as well (though it's easy enough to forget to do this too - hence why changing the default card can be a good idea!).
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Old 04-10-2016, 21:39
Supercell
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My friends used it in Amarillo, their trip was incredibly cheap!
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Old 04-10-2016, 21:58
Willi
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Lots of good advice ... thanks very much.

In the UK, I use a PAYG on my unlocked iPhone 5. I don't have a contract in the UK.
When I go to the USA for a holiday, I suppose it will be better to get an American PAYG when I'm there ... (?)

But back to Uber again and apologies for my ignorance. So do you pay for your Uber taxi rides via money that's on your phone? Or do you pay the driver in cash, as you would a black cab in London. I was thinking that I'd just pay for the phone call to Uber call via my phone.

W
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Old 04-10-2016, 22:15
d123
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Lots of good advice ... thanks very much.

In the UK, I use a PAYG on my unlocked iPhone 5. I don't have a contract in the UK.
When I go to the USA for a holiday, I suppose it will be better to get an American PAYG when I'm there ... (?)

But back to Uber again and apologies for my ignorance. So do you pay for your Uber taxi rides via money that's on your phone? Or do you pay the driver in cash, as you would a black cab in London. I was thinking that I'd just pay for the phone call to Uber call via my phone.

W
Everything is done via the app.

Here's their website for more info: https://www.uber.com/

I see they do accept Paypal for payment as well.
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Old 05-10-2016, 10:28
tdenson
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I was in Rio a couple of weeks ago, and I was actually surprised at how easy it was. I was expecting to have to register a new account but no, it just worked and charged me in Brazilian Reals. The exchange rate was no worse than if I had used cash. However, I did have a local sim card which is pretty crucial to its effectiveness, you wouldn't really want to be data roaming (unless you're using 3 like home).
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Old 05-10-2016, 11:01
binary
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But back to Uber again and apologies for my ignorance. So do you pay for your Uber taxi rides via money that's on your phone? Or do you pay the driver in cash, as you would a black cab in London. I was thinking that I'd just pay for the phone call to Uber call via my phone.
You pay via the payment method associated with your Uber account, so either a payment card (e.g. credit/debit card) or Paypal. You do not pay the driver in cash - the Uber system handles the payment side entirely, and the fare is based on the length and time of the journey.

You don't summon an Uber car by phone call, rather it's done from the app using a data connection. So you'll either need to have mobile data access (so be aware of roaming charges), or wifi access when you want to summon an Uber car.

I'm sure there are some YouTube tutorial videos which might be helpful.
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Old 05-10-2016, 16:09
Willi
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OK and thanks for the helpful replies.
I've downloaded the app to the iPhone and am going to give it a try later this week.
W
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