# Urgent Uber Information NEED ANSWER FAST **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382 "2026-09-25T20:01:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/1 "2026-09-25T20:01:20Z")
My sister-in-law is getting released from the hospital later this afternoon after a battle with sepsis. I have to bring her home via Uber. The problem: though Uber has no trouble finding my brother’s house to pick me up, it doesn’t recognize the house number when I need to return here. The closest it comes is to a house about 4 blocks away. My SIL can’t walk that far. Uber advises messaging the driver as soon as the driver is matched with my ride. Today when I did that, the driver messaged me to cancel the ride, as the real address isn’t in their system. (It is or how would they pick me up?) She refused to cancel the ride, and I couldn’t, so I spent 40 minutes waiting for her to cancel it. Yesterday the driver refused to drop me anywhere but the house that’s 4 blocks away, and I had to walk home. No problem for me, but it would be for my SIL. Understandably, this seems to be a particular issue for drivers who don’t speak English well. I never have these issues in the state where I live and am at a loss. I have to leave in an hour to help her get ready for the trip home. What can I do? ETA: I tried locating the house on the Uber map but found it impossible to do. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/2 "2026-09-25T20:13:01Z")
Bring up the Uber option to Plan your ride. For the Where to? field, scroll all the way to the bottom of the suggested destinations At the bottom you should see “Set location on map”. Select that. You’ll get a map with a floating pin Move the map around so that the pin is over the house Click “Confirm Destination” That should allow you to set an arbitrary destination. Uber might be able to find your brother’s house to pick you up because it has location data when you’re there. But it sounds like something is messed up and it doesn’t have data to set that address as a destination. When you’re at your brother’s house, there may be a way for you to set that location as a custom location. Call it “Brother’s House”. I haven’t used Uber a lot, so I’m not sure if they offer that feature. Maybe someone knows how to do that and will share the steps. But if it has that feature, you could set the destination using your custom “Brother’s House” location rather than having to set a pin on a map. A taxi service would also be an option. You don’t have to have the destination for that. Call a taxi to meet you and you can tell them where to go. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/3 "2026-09-25T20:20:59Z")
Try Lyft? They might well be working from a better database. They’re also (at least in my area) less expensive, and there’s a tougher background check on drivers (I’ve been told this by people who’ve driven for both), which I consider better in safety terms. (ObDisclaimer: my sole financial connection is as a mostly satisfied customer.) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/4 "2026-09-25T20:30:10Z")
Or a traditional taxi. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/5 "2026-09-25T20:35:30Z")
Can you set it for your next door neighbor (or some other close address)? At least then she’ll only have to walk 50 feet instead of multiple blocks. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/6 "2026-09-25T20:41:18Z")
Yikes. I hope you got it worked out. Why are these things so dang difficult? Hugs for a better evening. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/7 "2026-09-25T20:46:49Z")
Thanks everyone. I had trouble with the Uber map. On my way to hospital. Will try Lyft or taxi if Uber messes up again. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/8 "2026-09-25T20:46:57Z")
Yeah, call a car service or taxi company. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/9 "2026-09-25T22:40:28Z")
Also, file a complaint with the government office that regulates businesses/taxi services in your state. Uber may ignore you, but it will respond to them. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/10 "2026-09-25T22:49:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Long-Term Fix (For Future Trips) > The root issue is that mapping providers (Google Maps, TomTom, or Mapbox—all of which feed rideshare apps) have an incorrect or missing address point for that specific house. > > Once today’s emergency is resolved, a family member can open Google Maps on a computer or phone, search the brother’s address, tap “Suggest an edit on [Address]” or “Fix an address,” and drag the pin to the correct roofline. Google typically updates its indexing within 24–48 hours, which trickles down to rideshare platforms shortly after. Good luck … and to your sister, too! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/11 "2026-09-25T23:58:25Z")
Try the pick on map thing first (on either Uber or Lyft). It should work and snap to a few feet away from where you put it. Worst case, bring a $20 bill with you, and once you’re in the ride, offer it to the driver and explain the situation to them. “Listen, she can’t walk very far and our actual address is a block or so from where Uber’s map says it would be. Would you be willing to take us that extra block at the end?” Or yeah, if your town still has regular taxis, just call one of those. They might be more expensive but are usually better regulated and better trained. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/12 "2026-09-26T00:03:08Z")
Uber will pick you up from anywhere since they don’t use addresses but the location of your phone. But they will take you only to a location on whatever maps they use. I once had the following experience. My wife had an appointment at a hospital and, parking being very hard there, I called for an Uber. Unfortunately, our street is under construction and it is hard to get to. But there was a way, though their maps didn’t show it. In fact the map I followed on my phone did not actually exist (never mind the construction). The driver got to a block away and gave up. They send a second car. Rinse and repeat. Five drivers gave up; we missed the appointment and I canceled. The bastards charged me a cancellation fee anyway. I could not figure out even how to make a formal complaint. The next time I used Uber, I drove to a nearby park, and called Uber. They found me using my phone location. But coming back I gave my home address but explained to the driver what I had done (and why) and he was perfectly amenable to take me to that park. So maybe that is the answer to the OP. The drivers are human and I would assume that they will not insist on letting you off 4 blocks from your sister’s home. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/13 "2026-09-26T00:16:36Z")
One reason they didn’t drive to the house might be that it was a longer drive. Scammers might pick a destination location that’s a shorter trip to get a cheaper price for the ride, but once in the car, they would ask to be taken to a farther location. If the house was four blocks farther, they might have considered that too much farther to tack on for free. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/14 "2026-09-26T01:15:05Z")
I can’t thank all of you enough for the advice and recommendations. I asked the Uber driver who took me TO the hospital this afternoon, and she suggested A) using an address across the street or B) just selecting the option that had the house number and street right but the town wrong. She said that since there was no street by that name in the town listed, it might still work. My SIL is not coming home today after all. The GP who stopped in this morning said she was going home, but the infectious disease specialist said she needed to stay at least another 24 hours. However, I needed to get home. Putting in the address across the street did nothing, so I decided to try the right-place-wrong-town option, and it worked! I really appreciate all the replies. When I didn’t know what to do, i turnef to the Straight Dope. It never lets me down. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/15 "2026-09-26T01:24:12Z")
Whoo hoo. I’m glad it worked out. 😅 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/16 "2026-09-26T11:58:38Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > just selecting the option that had the house number and street right but the town wrong. She said that since there was no street by that name in the town listed, it might still work. It worked, so you know it works, but I’m not understanding WHY it worked. Does that mean when you get picked up you have to tell the driver that you’re not going to 123 Main St, Any City, USA, but rather 123 Main St, Any _Town_, USA? Doesn’t that put you in the same situation as telling the driver you put in one address but you actually need them to take you to a house a four blocks away? In either case, you’re asking the driver to take you to a different place than what you had listed. I’d be worried you’re running the risk of the driver cancelling the ride when they find out. Especially if they purposely picked a ride with a destination of Any City (ie it’s their last ride of the day and this gets them closer to home) and they don’t want, or have time, to end up in Any Town instead. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/17 "2026-09-26T12:18:57Z")
I feel like this bit might be the controlling part: > So while it seems like the app “knows” the house for pickups, it actually just knows **where the phone was standing** , whereas the drop-off system requires a **verified entry in a text database** that simply isn’t there. That seems to fit with the OP scenario pretty well. I probably _would_ try ‘schooling’ Google Maps, as described above, and see if that database change fairly quickly cascades through to the rideshare service’s database of valid destinations. Meanwhile, I think a whole lot of good hacks were offered. And … yes … I keep thinking about your sister, @nelliebly . Sepsis … An Unmitigated Bad ThingTM. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/18 "2026-09-26T14:05:43Z")
I don’t understand why it worked either. I don’t understand why it DOESN’T work to just put in the correct address. I went back to the hospital at 3 a.m., but not in an Uber. My brother, who had a total knee replacement on Tuesday, had some complications that required emergency care, so for the second time in three days, I rode in an ambulance. The EMTs had nNO trouble finding the right house. 🙂 He’s OK and is home now. Sis-in-law will probably get sprung later today. Hopefully that’ll be my last trip to the hospital for awhile. Thanks again, one and all. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-uber-information-need-answer-fast/1033382/19 "2026-09-26T14:11:07Z")
Oh my goodness. You just can’t catch a break! Sending you hugs and wishing you a better day.