A driver who formerly worked for an unregulated app-based ride-sharing service decided to step out of the shadows to share her experiences because she suspects these providers are preying on new immigrants unfamiliar with local bylaws and desperate for work.

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Ian Xie, 66, became a driver for a ride-hailing company Udi Kuaiche in October last year after coming across multiple ads online about the company.

With hopes of enriching her retirement, Xie paid a $50 deposit, provided a copy of her driver’s license to the “employer” and set out to pick up passengers.

She wasn’t aware that the company did not have a license to operate.

“I know some people might think I deserve it after hearing my story. I am not afraid of people laughing at me. I hope my story will help more people avoid falling into the same trap as I did,” said Xie.

Xie realized something was wrong in November when she didn’t receive the wages she was owed for the previous two weeks.

“I used to ask passengers to pay fees to the app to save them time. The employer was supposed to pay me back at the end of the month. However, I didn’t receive anything,” said Xie, adding that the employer still owes her at least $1,360.

In addition, the “supervisor” invoked a number of penalties on drivers if they had a rude attitude or took too long to charge the customer, said Xie.

However, often the driver had done nothing wrong, and the manager offered no proof to the contrary. It was just a way to squeeze money from drivers, according to Xie.

For the past five months, Xie has been in a financial tug-of-war with her employer, whom she has never met in person and who could only be contacted via WeChat.

Xie said she has still not received the money she says she is owed, and her employer has disappeared.

The Richmond News also called the number advertised on the company’s website. However, no one answered the mobile number based in China, and there was no way to leave a message.

In January, Xie voiced her concerns to friends, who told her that offering ride-sharing services was illegal. (Some ride-haling services do have licenses, but not this one.)

“If I knew it was illegal, I wouldn’t have taken the gig. And what makes me concerned is most people working for this type of business are immigrants who are trying to make a living. They have been taken advantage of by these platforms due to their limited knowledge of the local society.

“Many of them choose to remain silent, even though they have been abused by employers, because they are worried that local authorities will go after them,” said Xie.

Drivers with unregulated ride-hailing services are taking a risk, warns the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. If caught, the driver — not the company that created the app and recruited the driver to use it — will be subject to fines of up to $5,000.

The driver could also face further sanctions for not disclosing the commercial use of their vehicles to their lease and insurance providers.

Queenie Choo, CEO of SUCCESS, said people who have lost their jobs should exercise due diligence by going to WorkBC employment services to check if the employer is legitimate before signing any job offer online.

Meanwhile, immigration lawyer Lu Qian pointed out that even though an employee works for an illegal business, the employment relationship is still valid.