Theft, ***** and no assistance from Uber who apparently protect their drivers more than the public.

Uber driver with telephone number *** and licence plate number JP 78 HP GP is now involved in a theft case.

On the 13/05/2023, he was instructed to collect a camera from our home address, 40 Bamboes Street, Brackendowns, Alberton, Gauteng, South Africa by one Jared Moodley, whose telephone number is ***. We have not received payment for this piece of equipment. On the 14/05/2023, the uber driver contacted us, saying he too had not received payment of R380.00 for the trip. We told him that we thought there was a **** going on and he demanded that we pay the R380.00 owed to him directly via e-wallet to cover his expenses to return to us. I then told him that I would come to him to collect the camera as I was not willing to pay the money, especially via e-wallet. We then drove from our address to Midrand Boulder's Mall, where the driver agreed to meet us.

On arrival at the mall, I called him again and he refused to meet with us till I paid him R380.00. I did not set up the initial collection ... we did not set up any collection ... it was set up by Jared Moodley (ID number ***), meaning I do not owe the driver a cent. Further, I drove the whole way from Brackendowns to Midrand at my own expense to meet with your driver, as agreed, only to not receive back my property. In the meantime, the buyer has gone dark and now is refusing to answer our calls or messages.

I tried for half an hour to tell the driver that he was now in possession of ****** goods as Jared had not paid us either and that I did not owe him money. He claimed that Jared and I were friends and "out to get him". Jared answered an advert for the camera on Facebook Marketplace. I do not know the man and have no association with him.

We then went through to Midrand Police Station, where a constable spoke to your driver on my cellphone. The driver told the constable that he was currently in Centurion and would only be able to get to the Police Station in an hour. My family and I remained at the police station for an hour. Your driver did not come through. I then called your driver on his cellphone *** three times, him only answering on the third. The constable spoke to your driver. The driver told him that he was currently in Roodepoort and would only be able to get to the police station after work. This is in contradiction to what he had told the officer merely an hour before. We were advised by the officer to file a complaint at the Brackendowns Police Station. We reported to the Brackendowns Police Station at approximately 12:30 on the 14/05/2023. The Brackendowns Police Officers advised that we open a case of *****, but will need to file necessary documents with them. It is our intention to gather these necessary documents and file a case of ***** against Jared Moodley and a case of theft against your driver as he clearly has no intention, despite now knowing that he is in possession of ****** property, of returning the camera to us.

Not only that, but after contacting the uber help line twice, I was told that the operators would not assist me as Jared had booked the trip. I was told to use help.uber.com to report the incident, but there is no option on that site to report such an incident.

The service is shocking ... basically a crime has been committed by one of their agents and they are refusing at all to assist.