'Finger of God': tactic is used by app driver to not accept races

This week, a video of an app driver bypassing the Uber system went viral on social media. The images show a platform partner using a tactic to avoid unwanted rides, without suffering a drop in their acceptance rate for Uber.

Basically, the few seconds video shows how a touchscreen pen and a small broom were used to press the screen when a new race appears as a notification. With the use of the gambiarra, the driver simulates that he is accepting the race while the call appears, but he will not make the race.

The practice is called "Finger of God" and drivers are doing it to avoid losses in their rates. of acceptance, according to Eduardo Lima, president of the App Drivers Association of São Paulo (AMASP).

(Image: Playback/Instagram @marceloforadacurva)

Understand how the Uber Acceptance Rate works

According to the terms of use of transport platform, the acceptance rate is a percentage of the driver's trips. The calculation is made between the number of trips accepted by the driver and the number of trips he received.

For example, if a driver made 85 trips out of the 100 that were received, the rate is 85%. Thus, the percentage of the fee in the last 30 days in which the driver performed the service is established.

If he frequently refuses rides, the system counts negatively, generating a lower percentage. A low acceptance rate can lead to a reduction in the offer of rides and higher value rides.

Therefore, drivers use the “Finger of God” tactic to circumvent the system when they don't want to run races which, according to them, are not worth it. They deceive Uber by pretending to accept the ride notified to them and thus choose the most advantageous rides.

According to the president of Amasp, the practice violates the terms of use of the Uber platform and is subject to banning. already the Uber informed on its portal that having a low acceptance rate makes it ineligible for the company's exclusive promotions.