Fighting artificial rideshare "surge pricing"

American and British researchers say there's evidence Uber drivers are gaming the system and making customers pay more.

The study out this week takes a look at how the company's "surge pricing" works.

Harry Cross, who goes by Rideshare Harry, is a former Uber driver who stopped working for the company in June.

"In Dallas, you just can't do it," said Harry, "It's just not sustainable."

He and three other Uber drivers who spoke with Fox 4 say drivers don't get a big enough cut of rides.

Many turned to logging off to try and drive up demand which would in turn, increase the cost of fares.

The drivers admitted to doing it more often at big venues and events.
   
An Uber-Texas spokesperson said in a statement that the behavior was neither widespread or permissible and that the company has technical safeguards in place to help prevent it from happening.
   
Still, new research out this week backs up drivers claims that it happens.

"People game the system," said Lior Zalmanson, "People try to outwit the software, try to find ways they can actually earn more by doing less."

Lior Zalmanson and two British researchers interviewed drivers in New York and in London.

They also researched a forum where Uber drivers talk to each other about how to make the most out of their rides.

Uber points out there is a long list of community guidelines that it says if violated, could lead to a driver losing access to the company's platform.