FEATURED POST
Meet our Customer Relations Advisor Hasan
Update: Our Hammersmith hub has moved to Shepherd’s Bush
Customer relations advisors are usually the first point of contact for our family of PCO drivers. As a PCO driver himself, Hasan at the Hammersmith hub shares what he likes about being an Uber driver, PCN hotspots to avoid, and the best places to get jobs.
How long have you been with Otto Car?
I’ve been with Otto Car since June 2022, so it’s been six months now.
What is it like working in the Hammersmith hub?
It’s very fast here indeed, private hire is a fast-paced industry. The drivers are nice and friendly. My colleagues treat me well. Abdul has been an amazing hub manager. Within a couple of days, I feel like I’ve worked here for years, in a good way of course!
Do you think that’s partly because of your background as a PCO driver?
Yes, absolutely. I used to do Uber part-time during my previous job, I’ve been a PCO driver since 2017 – and I’m still currently doing it myself, so I can easily relate to the drivers. There is a lot of knowledge I can pass on to new drivers who join Otto Car.
What do you like most about this job?
I enjoy supporting other PCO drivers. A lot of drivers aren’t so sure about certain processes with Uber, I’m happy to help and share my experience. For example, today one of the drivers wasn’t going live on his driver app, so basically we just had to log on to the account on our desktop, and assign the vehicle to him – and that’s it, he’s happy on the road now!
What’s the best thing about being a PCO driver?
In my opinion, it’s about flexibility, and then it’s also a second income stream for me, especially with the current cost of living crisis. I have a family with three daughters, and being a driver helps me quite a bit. You can turn on the app whenever you want, if you’re at home and you want to earn some extra money, just get in the car and drive. I encourage other people to do the same.
How has the industry changed?
When I first started there was a lot of competition. After Covid, sadly many drivers had to drop off their cars. But it also means that there are more opportunities for the new drivers. Everyone can be a part of it.
What’s your daily workflow?
My work differs from day to day. We don’t just do the processing of the cars. My job comes with different issues, for example a driver may have account problems, and the next driver may have document or payment issues.
Every day is not the same, which is good, it makes things interesting. No matter what kind of problems they have, we try our best to direct them the best way possible.
How are you finding the Hammersmith hub?
I’ve covered the Hackney and Ilford hubs, and this branch is different in a way that it’s super-super fast and busy. Location is key, but our drivers are from all over London, and many of them would travel really far, even when we have other hubs. Some of them even bring their family and friends, as they feel comfortable with us.
What’s your most unforgettable experience here?
There was a new driver who just got his licence, he had an issue onboarding with Uber because he couldn’t get an appointment. He was behind his rent for about a month. As he’s unemployed from his main job, he relied on getting a PCO car, so first, we had to get him on board. We provided some vehicle documents for him to go to the Bolt office, so at least he’s got something to work with. We also helped him arrange his driver assessment first, once he came back, we gave him the Kia e-Niro.
It’s all about treating people how you want to be treated. I can definitely understand his situation. He said, “People recommend Otto Car and now I see why.” And he said he’s going to bring more friends to us!
So what are the best spots for PCO drivers around Hammersmith?
Around here there are a lot of food stalls near the Hammersmith high street – that’s the go-to place, and one of the Otto Team’s favourites! I’m not familiar with bars and clubs around though.
You also have the Apollo, which is another main place. Many people come for shows and stuff like that. It’s an absolutely fantastic driver spot for jobs. Every time this area surges – if you see the Uber app it’s constantly surging. Our Hammersmith hub is literally 30 seconds away.
How about PCN hotspots nearby?
There are loads I can talk about in London, like the pick-up point at Liverpool Street station where you can’t make a left turn. But when it comes to the Hammersmith area, you really need to be careful about the cyclist lane on King Street. And there’s another one in Shepherd’s Bush, where drivers park up on the red route, and they get a ticket.
Anything else you would like to tell our drivers?
Welcome to the Hammersmith family hub, welcome to the Otto Family!
Here we treat drivers like our own family members. We don’t just do the processes. It’s also about getting to know the drivers, their financial situations, and what they need.
Want to learn more?
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