Couple’s Calahonda date night derailed by two Uber incidents in one evening

Booking an Uber in the Costa del Sol during July and August is very different the rest of the year, and local couple Lizzie and James knew having lived in the area for a few years that the peak holiday season would mean waiting longer than usual for a cab. To avoid the summer scramble, they pre‑booked a car for 6pm from their home in Calahonda to take them to Marbella Old Town where they were having dinner.

The driver arrived ten minutes early, called and pressured them to come out sooner than planned. They stepped outside at 5.55pm, despite intending to leave at six. Once inside the vehicle, James, who also speaks Spanish, politely asked the driver to pull into their usual cash machine on the direct route so they could withdraw money for their babysitter without incurring extra charges. The bay outside the machine was clear and easy to access and on the route.

As they approached the spot, James again asked the driver if he would mind quickly pulling over. Suddenly the driver abruptly stopped in the middle of the road and began shouting aggressively and repeatedly in Spanish, pointing his finger: “I will tell you when to stop, you don’t tell me when to stop.”, over and over again. He then ordered them out of the vehicle. While the couple knew the area well, they noted that a tourist or someone unfamiliar with their surroundings would have found the situation intimidating.

Although the driver claimed he would not charge them, the fare had already been deducted from their account. Not close enough to a taxi rank they were forced to request another Uber, losing valuable time and facing the usual August struggle of ‘we are looking to find you a driver’ repeatedly on Bolt and Uber, until finally someone picked up the job and came to meet them.

Second driver strange steering issue

A second Uber eventually arrived, but the journey quickly also became strange. Travelling along the A‑7, the driver maintained a slow speed, unusual for that stretch of road. He then announced there was a problem with the steering and pulled into a lay‑by, opening the bonnet to inspect the vehicle.

Back on the road, he asked the couple if they had any cash, claiming he “desperately needed to get something changed in the oil” related to the steering. They declined, aware he was attempting to obtain money from them. He later dropped them in Marbella Old Town, but again, they noted that anyone unfamiliar with the area could have felt vulnerable and might have handed over extra cash simply to avoid confrontation.

Uber issues refund after complaint

The couple reported both incidents to Uber, who refunded the fares in full. The popular taxi company responded promptly and with sympathy. The experience was far from the relaxed start they had hoped for on their rare evening out.