Montreal Riders Can Now Join Class Action Against Uber Over Disputed Cancellation Fees

A Quebec Superior Court judge has greenlit a class-action lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc., setting the stage for a legal battle over the ride-hailing giant’s cancellation fee policy. The decision, handed down in Montreal, opens the door for thousands of Quebec users to seek compensation for fees they argue were charged unfairly.

The lawsuit, spearheaded by a Montreal-based plaintiff, alleges that Uber’s practice of charging customers a fee for cancelling rides after a two-minute window is abusive and violates the province’s Consumer Protection Act. The core argument contends that the fee, often $5 or more, is imposed even when a driver has not yet arrived at the pickup location, constituting an unreasonable penalty.

“This authorization is a significant step for consumers in Montreal and across Quebec,” said a local legal analyst familiar with the case. “It challenges the standard terms of service in the gig economy and questions whether these fees are truly proportional to any loss incurred by the company.”

The certified class includes any person in Quebec who paid a cancellation fee to Uber between October 1, 2019, and the present date. With Uber’s widespread use in Montreal, the potential number of claimants is substantial. The suit seeks the reimbursement of all contested fees, plus interest and additional punitive damages.

Uber has historically defended its cancellation fee as a necessary tool to compensate drivers for time and fuel spent en route to a passenger. The company now has the opportunity to present its defence as the case moves forward. For Montrealers who have felt the sting of a last-minute cancellation charge, this lawsuit offers a formal avenue to contest what they see as an unjust cost of modern convenience.