ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – A state worker mentioned he’s out $150 after a seven-minute Lyft trip from the State Capitol to the Albany-Rensselaer Train Station on Feb. 15. Jeorge Cymon mentioned he was charged the utmost injury payment for leaving vomit within the backseat, one thing he strongly denies.
Lyft drivers can cost a injury payment to riders who go away behind mud, dust, animal fur, drink spillage, or meals. Pictures despatched to Cymon from Lyft present what seems to be vomit on the again of the motive force’s facet of his Lyft driver’s automobile. According to the Lyft web site, riders who vomit in autos could be charged the utmost injury payment of $150.
A textual content message between Cymon and Lyft reveals that he tried explaining to the corporate the cost was made in error. However, the corporate denied his attraction.
“As soon as I was dropped off, I got a message, and photos, from Lyft that I have to pay a $150 cleanup fee,” Cymon mentioned. “I tried to fight Lyft, but they insisted that these photos are all the proof they need to charge $150.”
Cymon isn’t the one particular person to complain about being charged for injury that didn’t occur. There are a number of experiences on the Better Business Bureau web site from Lyft clients who mentioned they have been wrongly charged injury charges.
A buyer complained on Jan. 31 that his group was charged $150 for injury that was supposedly carried out to a headrest. On Jan. 19, a buyer mentioned they have been charged $80 for leaving gum on the seat of their Lyft driver’s automobile and one other complained they have been additionally charged $80 for getting a seat moist on Jan. 12.
“It is plain fraud, and also irrational that a state government employee who takes a seven-minute rideshare trip during expected work hours would vomit in the car and then jump on the train like nothing happened,” mentioned Cymon.
This isn’t a brand new phenomenon. News companies have reported individuals wrongly charged injury charges for each Lyft and Uber. The rip-off is dubbed “vomit fraud.”
On its web site, Lyft mentioned clients can dispute a cost by:
- Tapping ‘Ride history’ from the Lyft app menu
- Tapping the trip they need assistance with
- Tapping ‘Get help’ on the backside of the display
NEWS10 reached out to Lyft offering details about Cymon’s expertise and to search out out what clients ought to do if they’re wrongly charged a injury payment. A consultant mentioned they might examine the cost on Cymon’s account however didn’t reply by the point of publication.
Cymon is aware of he’ll in all probability should reside with the $150 cost however hopes his story serves as a warning to different rideshare customers. “I know this won’t necessarily solve the problem, but it is predatory behavior towards the consumer.”