How much private information does Uber collect?
 

I am not sure if this is the right place to ask but I couldn't find a better place. Anyway, I have recently tried Uber and I believe many on this forum uses Uber. So I got a visa gift card and tried to use it on Uber but they couldn't verify my card. This happens only when the company collects unnecessary information about the individual. I had a similar problem when I tried to purchase a new cell phone with T mobile online. The reason was that T-mobile checks the identity at a higher level, which is required by the government. But why does Uber do the same? Is that required by the government? I started wondering how much information Uber collects and whether it is necessary...Does anyone know?

I've been using the visa gift card for a while and never had issues with taxi, train etc. Only Uber....

How much private information does Uber collect?
 

Companies routinely verify credit card information. Most gift cards can only have zip codes set - Uber requires a full billing address.

And, why would they take the chance that, after taking a ride, your gift card is empty?

Since Uber does not charge until the end of the ride, I can see their case for not accepting visa gifts cards, which are much more likely than regular card to be declined.

I would be more interested by how long they keep, and who can access your location details, trip origins and destination...

Uber has a posted privacy policy that should explain this:

https://www.uber.com/legal/privacy

Many merchants reject prepaid cards, and this often has nothing to do with identity verification but rather with the need to bill an initially unspecified amount.

Yeah, I agree with the others above. Uber doesn't accept gift cards for simple financial reasons. They don't want you hopping in their taxi with a $50 gift card on-file and enjoy a $150 ride. There is no hidden reason here.

Not to mention for the safety of their drivers; they want a little more data on ya than a gift card!

AFAIK, Uber has your credit card, full address, email address, and then I would imagine some sort of data via the app on your phone like your GPS coordinates when you request a ride etc.

But couldn't that also happen with a credit card? If you took a $150 ride with only $50 available balance on your credit card, would't Uber be just as screwed by the credit card user as by the prepaid debit card user? I don't get the double standard.

No double standard. I always see that Uber pre-authorizes my card before a charge.

Did you try calling them to ask if they could add the prepaid card to your account as first order of billing?

Uber don't do calls. :D

Ah, I forgot (here in China, they don't encourage calls, but they don't shy away from them either).