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Uber's 'Vomit Fraud' Sounds Worse Than Surge Pricing [Gizmodo]

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TonyAlmeida
1149 Rider
 Posted 6 years, 3 months ago

I think I saw this on this forum before, but Gizmodo covers it here.  Is it really that common or is this a news outlet trying to have a better headline?

"As an Uber driver, you have to deal with low wages, an uncertain future, and the possibility of getting yelled at by the company’s billionaire founder. There’s also the more common issue of drunk people puking in your back seat. But a news report claims passengers in Miami are getting hit with fees even after they kept their puke to themselves, a practice called “vomit fraud.”

Uber’s policy stipulates that passengers can be charged a fee that ranges from $80 to $150 if they cause damage or make a significant mess in a driver’s vehicle. A user typically gets a notification saying that an “adjustment” has been applied to their bill, the alleged damage is given as a reason for the fee, and photos of the issue are included.

The Miami Herald spoke with multiple passengers in the Miami area who claim they’ve been victims of vomit fraud. One man, William Kennedy, said that he was wrongly billed for cleaning fees twice in one night. After “numerous emails” fighting the charges, he was reimbursed but, according to the Herald, the process of disputing the fees is invariably difficult and Uber typically backs the driver’s claim."

https://gizmodo.com/ubers-vomit-fraud-sounds-worse-than-surge-pricing-1827797566

Featured Answers

Comments

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    Kabe
    224 Driver
     6 years ago

    This is a common answeer I suggest to passengers to avoid driver-instigated fraud. Before you get in the car, start your voice memo app and keep it running during the entire length of the ride. Save the recording naming with date and time of the ride.

    You will have an audible record of all that happened during your ride. Keep it for a couple of days.

    In the event you are subjected to vomit fraud, or any other complaint, you will have evidence of what transpired duing the ride. Obviously there will be no wretching sounds, or complaints from the driver about you vomitting.

    This is a simple, no-cost way to protect yourself.

    Similarly I recommend to all drivers that they have an internal dashcam recoridng all rides.

    Show Hide  5 Replies
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      KaySHarvey
      101
       6 years ago

      It's sad that that's needed.  Passengers are recording their rides and drivers are recording (with dashcam) the rides.  What's this world come to?

      I did hear that Uber requires (suggests?) drivers to send a picture of the mess (i.e. vomit) to them as part of the claim.  So the burden of proof I guess lands on the driver. (actually, can someone tell me if this is true)

      Voice recording is a pain.  Though. Maybe even snapping a pic at the end of a ride?

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        DimSumUng
        130
         6 years ago

        Selfie with the *clean* backseat?

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      blackandyellow
      147
       6 years ago

      So smart. I always turn on my phone camera when I get pulled over. You never know..

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      Bigfrank
      447 Rider Driver Driver
       6 years ago

      Yes that's a good idea since a good amount of drivers have voice activated  cameras in their cars too.

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        EjiEzeEze
        324 Rider Driver
         6 years ago

        I don't know what that is, but that sounds cool.  I will look into it.  I assume it's an app I can download.

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    momof4
    8198 Rider Driver
     6 years ago

    This is awful. How do you as a human being do something like that to someone. You don't know what these people's financial situations are. It's a total disgrace if this is true. Sad part is it gives honest, nice, decent drivers a bad name. SMH hope if you are one of these drivers doing this karma bites you in the ass. You deserve it.

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    ippei
    1202 Rider Driver Guru
     6 years ago  (edited 6 years ago)