world
Uber Riders Report Higher Fares When Using Certain Payment Methods
Some Uber users have reported observing higher ride fares when selecting American Express cards or other specific payment options in the app. The company denies personalizing prices based on payment method or other factors like battery level. Complaints have appeared on social media and forums, echoing similar concerns from previous years.
FO
disabilityscoop.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Some Uber riders have reported that fares appear higher when they select an American Express card as their payment method in the app. These observations have led to accusations that the company's pricing algorithms may adjust costs based on the chosen payment option.
Post by @FortuneMagazine on X
The reports have circulated on platforms including Reddit, Instagram, YouTube, and credit-card forums. A viral video showed an UberX ride in Atlanta priced at $33.05 with an American Express card selected, dropping to $20.33 after switching to a Visa card.
Users have also noted similar price increases when using Uber Cash credits, Uber One memberships, gift-card balances, or business profiles. Uber stated to Fortune that prices are not personalized and that it does not set prices based on credit or debit card brand, account balance, or battery level.
explained that it collects certain data to personalize promotions, such as offering discounts to inactive users, but does not use that for fare pricing. The company attributed fare variations to its dynamic pricing model, which updates in real time every few seconds based on factors like location, demand, traffic conditions, driver availability, and estimated time and distance.
A spokesperson for Uber told SFGate in an April 2025 story that the pricing technology does not set different prices according to payment type. American Express offers Uber credits as a perk for certain cardholders, providing up to $200 annually in Uber Cash, distributed as $15 monthly plus a $20 December bonus.
