YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Let me know if there's something I haven't covered

WHAT IS 'RIDESHARING'?

'Ridesharing' is the generic name for services like Uber. Unlike traditional taxis that you can hail from the kerb or pick up from a taxi rank, rideshare services MUST be pre-booked. This means you can't hail me from the kerbside like you would a taxi - you need to phone me on 0437 339 133. Please DON'T text or email me to book!

DOES 'RIDESHARING' MEAN I MIGHT HAVE TO SHARE THE CAR WITH OTHERS?

On rare occasions I've had requests from people unknown to each other for travel in the same direction at the same time. Should this occur, I will contact the first booking to seek permission to accept the second. While there is no obligation to grant permission, I ask you do if at all possible. Country life has many good points, but transport options aren't one of them!)

As an incentive, a discount for non-exclusive use will apply.

NB: If we are unable to contact the first to book, it will be assumed that sharing the car is ok.

All bookings are accepted on this basis. Please advise if exclusive use of vehicle is required at time of booking.

NB: The above is always subject to government mandates (eg Covid)

WILL YOU ALWAYS BE MY DRIVER?

Usually, but on rare occasions I may use a back up driver. Typically this will be when bookings conflict. However back up drivers, cars and service will be of a similar high standard.

HOW DO I MAKE A BOOKING?

Booking is easy, just phone 0437 339 133 to book a ride.

Email is for correspondence ONLY!

patrick@ilukarideshare.com

DO NOT TRY TO BOOK BY TEXT OR EMAIL

WHAT SORT OF CAR DO YOU PROVIDE?

You'll find my graphite 2020 Rav4 GXL AWD Hybrid a very nice place to be. The car features air conditioning outlets to the rear seats, along with dual usb points and charge cables for both Apple and Samsung devices.

During the Covid pandemic the vehicle was fitted with a custom-made acrylic screen between the front and rear seats. Let's hope that's never again necessary!

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN FIT IN YOUR CAR?

4 is the limit. (3 is comfortable if generously proportioned) You can sit where you like as long as there's no steering wheel in front of you.

However if Covid again becomes and issue, I may limit the number of riders, assign seating and insist on wearing face masks.

HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY RIDE?

Like any booked service, giving as much notice as possible of when you'd like to travel, greatly reduces the chances of being disappointed.

Please do not assume travel can be provided when you call. If I can serve you immediately I will, but counting on it isn't a good idea.

The general rule is...Book early... Book often!

WHEN DO I PAY FOR MY RIDE?

All rides are booked and paid for BEFORE travel. This is as a key feature of ridesharing as distinct from taxis which may offer payment at ride completion.

WHAT PAYMENT METHODS DO YOU ACCEPT?

Cash is no longer king! Cashless payments are always preferred. Why? I pay tax and it spares me from visiting the bank.

I can process Visa or Mastercard payments in car or by phone.
I can send you or your company a receipt for payment made BEFORE the trip.
You can also make a bank transfer - please call for BSB and Acct No.
I can bill NDIS service providers - please call for details

NB: for my own safety, I don't carry a cash float so may not be able to make change.

I do not accept AMEX or Diners Club (if it still exists) or cheques

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

I may charge a 50% cancellation fee if you cancel the ride within 3 hours of pick time requested.

I will always refund to the same instrument that was used to purchase.

I will refund cash in full, less any costs.

I will refund credit card sales, less merchant fees (merchant fees are not refunded to me, so they aren't to you)
At my discretion I may ask for your credit card number, expiry date and CVS number upon booking. Typical situations where this may apply is for late night bookings or pick ups outside Iluka.

CAN I HAIL YOU LIKE A TAXI?

Absolutely not! Only taxis can pick up passengers who flag them down. Nor can I pick you up or drop you off on a taxi rank.

CAN I GET A RECEIPT?

Yes. I can email you a receipt within 24 hours. It will bear my ABN and the GST amount.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN COME WITH ME?

I can take a maximum of 4 people. You can sit anywhere you like, but it's probably best to sit on the left hand side of the car. This will have you entering and leaving the vehicle away from traffic. For safety, if exiting from the right hand side of the vehicle, please wait for the driver give you an 'ok'

WHAT IS YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE?

I started ridesharing in Sydney in 2016. I've done about 17,000 trips and 300,000 kms.

Check my 'Testimonials' page for other people's views of me!

CAN YOU PICK UP MY KIDS?

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ TO THE END

One - Unaccompanied and WITHOUT requiring a child car seat.

I'm happy to transport children who are over 7 years old as long as:

there is an adult with ID available at both ends of the trip
These adults confirm to my car's voice recorder that all children (max 3) are over 7 years of age.

If there is no adult (with identification) at the destination, children will be taken to the nearest police station or hospital.

Two - Accompanied and REQUIRING a child seat.

If given notice, I am usually able to provide a car seat (one) for a child between 4 and 8 years old. You can also bring your own child car seats or capsules

The accompanying adult MUST be a person over 18 years of age (with ID available for recording if a young adult) The accompanying adult must accompany them for the entirety of the trip.

NB: THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE

CAN I EAT, SMOKE OR DRINK IN THE CAR?

Liquids?

Short answer, NO!

Longer answer. You can drink water, but not if flavoured and not anything else.

Of course no one intends to spill their drink, but experience has proven that uncapped drinks are a significant risk. Spill your drink and I'm off the road until cleaned up.

So please finish soft, drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea, chai, etc, etc before entering the car.

Food?

I ask no food is consumed in the car. Food leads to mess. Mess is bad.

Alcohol?

There are too many reasons to list why I don't want anyone drinking alcohol in my car. Suffice to say that it is illegal in NSW to have opened containers of alcohol accessible to passengers in a moving car.

Opened bottles must be carried in the car's luggage area.

Smoking? (You're actually asking????)

C'mon! No one smokes in someone else's car anymore. Of the 4 or 5 people out of 17,000 plus rides that have ever asked if they could smoke, all were either drunk or had issues.

I think there was only one (probably very drunk) who got into the car still smoking.

Same goes for e-cigarettes, vaping, hookas, bongs, joints, pipes and cigars.

Iluka Rideshare only provides services to those who are cool, normal, chill and don't 'make a case', throw 'tanties' or otherwise give me grief.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I OR MY COMPANIONS MAKE A MESS IN YOUR CAR?

YOU DID WHAT?

You and your dog will be executed by firing squad (complimentary blindfold for dog)
Your well will be poisoned
Your land sown with salt
Your house burnt down
Your children sold into slavery
(OK, OK Only kidding! Dog will be pardoned)

Alternatively you can simply pay whatever it costs (including for my time) to make good for your grime crime.

The better option is always exit my car as clean as you found it!

CAN I BRING AN ANIMAL?

Guide and registered service dogs are always welcome. Many other non-humans can also come for a ride if a few reasonable conditions are met.

Special arrangements apply to UNaccompanied animals. Please discuss this with me at time of booking or before my arrival

If you want to bring ANY animal with you, please discuss this with your driver. SERVICE ANIMALS ASIDE, CARRIAGE OF ANIMALS IS ALWAYS AT THE DRIVER'S DISCRETION.

Dogs

Of course service dogs are very welcome, however please allow me to place seat protection BEFORE having fido jump in.
By law, dogs (other than guide or service dogs) must be tethered to travel. Your driver will ensure your buddy will be securely strapped in.
Your dog MUST be social. No biting the driver!
Anti-social dogs MUST be in a dog carrier and travel in the car's cargo area.
You agree to pay to make good any damage done by your pet. Most often this means my time cleaning dog hair or slobber.

Cats

Cats can only be transported in a secure carrier. This will be placed in the car's cargo area.

Birds and reptiles

As for cat's

WHAT HAPPENS IF I LEAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR CAR?

Phone or text me immediately! 0437339133. If you've just jumped out of the car, I'm likely to be nearby I may be able to swing back quickly. If not and I'm far away, charges apply to reunite you with your missing item.

Please, oh please!, check you are whole before leaving the car!

CAN YOU PICK UP OR DELIVER A PACKAGE FOR ME?

Yes. Please text me with a description of the goods in question. (size, weight, type etc). Ideally you or your agent will be available to receive the goods. However I will require clear instructions in the event no one meets me. Please be aware that further costs may apply in these situations.

In the event I cannot contact anyone associated with the job, goods will be reported to the police and taken to the nearest police station as 'lost property' and opened in the presence of police and if of value left with the police or if not accepted, kept for 3 months then disposed of.

Fees for having to muck around with the above will apply to recover goods.

WILL YOU PICK ME UP IF I'VE BEEN AT THE BEACH OR BEEN SWIMMING?

No.

This is what always happens for beach pick ups...

Me: Are you and your party all dry and sand free?

You: Oh yes! Absolutely! None of us have been in the water for hours!

You see it's like this. As you want a ride much more than you are concerned about leaving my car a wet, sandy mess, you lie. You always lie. Even the Pope or Dalai Lama would lie. Everyone lies.

So no one rides.

CAN I EXTEND MY TRIP AFTER THE RIDE STARTS?

Sure, but subject to availability. If for example I were to have another job scheduled (and therefore paid for) that I wouldn't be able to pick up as requested, I may have to decline. Unlikely perhaps and I'd do my best, but could happen.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO THINK YOUR SERVICES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE?

Perhaps because cars are so ubiquitous, they're not valued as much as less common equipment.

Look at it this way, if you hire any other $50,000 worth of kit along, with a trained operator, my bet is it will cost you way more per hour than me.

Unlike city-based services where there is sufficient work, in the country the likelihood of getting a return journey is remote. In short, you have to cover the costs of me to get home.

You have to cover all my expenses and pay me fair hourly rate.