CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman said a hacker ran up her Uber bill in France and Canada, and when she contacted the popular transportation service, she had trouble getting the company to respond.
Jenny Ramkissoon has used Uber three times, all for rides to and from the airport.
She said she was shocked when she saw about 40 charges on her account, about $500 worth, for rides in France and Canada.
"Every time I look at my phone, I'm getting charge, charge, charge," she said.
She thought someone hacked her account and thought all she needed to do was call or email Uber, but she couldn’t get in touch with a representative.
"You don't get a person there. All you get is a runaround," she said. "You never get a person with a pulse. At least I have never been able to."
She said she spent hours trying to talk to someone.
She gave up and emailed Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke. Stoogenke contacted Uber's media representatives on her behalf.
"And I contact you, and bam," Ramkissoon said.
Fewer than 24 hours later, Uber dropped the charges and gave her a $50 credit for her trouble.
She said she is still upset that she never spoke with a real person.
"I'm not unique. So if this happened to me, I'm pretty darn sure this has happened to somebody else," she said.
Better Business Bureau president Tom Bartholomy said the BBB has spoken to a person at Uber.
"That's a recurring theme in the complaints we receive on Uber is getting to a live person," he said.
The national BBB is urging Uber to change its ways.
"There's got to be some way for people to get in there, especially in a situation like this, where it's a serious situation," Bartholomy said.
In the meantime, if you have a problem with Uber and can't reach a real person, save your paperwork and contact Action 9 or the Better Business Bureau. Both groups have access to live company representatives.
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