Riding the Overnight Uber

What is your worst paying passenger story as an Uber driver?

$7.50 is what I earned for cancelation fee

It just so happened a few hours ago. I'd picked up a request that took me about 20 minutes to get to the pick up. The rider's account name is Tyra*. (*not the actual name)

Let all rider's beware- if you'd request a ride for anyone while you are not there, you WILL be accountable for their actions…including any damages to the Uber car.

So, after a long travel to pick up the rider, I must wait a total of 5 minutes (2 minutes unpaid wait followed by 3 minutes paid wait. After the 3 minutes, driver has the ability to cancel the ride as a NO-SHOW. Driver can be nice and stay longer yet, he can only be paid for those 3 minutes wait).

Around that time frame, drivers are very vulnerable because they have to be constantly looking all around for rider which sometimes, rider's make it a game to flung the car door and scare the driver. So, I make the effort to lock the doors to prevent anyone coming in.

A young boy, covered in layers approached from the driver's blind spot (though I was vigilant, nonetheless) and attempted to fling the door open like he was going to pull the car door like the Hulk. He was caught off guard of the lock door that the momentum made him slipped on the ice and fell on his arse.

I'd cracked my driver's window and yelled at the boy , “…what is the account's name?”

Mind all of you…all presentaries have gone out the door since you've tried to sneak in unannounced and you had the nerve to yank on my car handle like you want to rip it out so there was no “are you okay?” bullshit. (From here on out, I'd determine that this ride wasn't going to happen as you will see…)

“Yo, unlock the door…I'm your rider…”

“What's the account's name?”

“Bitch, let me the fuck in, I'm the one you're pick up…my girlfriend order the ride…”

“…is your girlfriend coming along because you don't look like a woman so until you tell me what's the account's name, I'm not letting you in!”

“Bitch, I don't have to say shit to you until you let me in…”

“…We're done here…”

“Fuck sakes, it's TYRA TYRA…GOD DAMN!!”

“Wow, son…you've could've been nice about it but with that attitude, I'm not letting you in!”

Drove off while the boy runs after me for a few seconds.

A few minutes later, Tyra calls up on the uber app. I made the decision that if I felt disrespected or a passenger disrespect my ride, there's no way to convince me to take you in. They can act apologetic and kiss my arse though out the trip, in the end, passengers will be vindictive, not only will they give you a one star, they can falsely accuse the driver to deactivate them…even temporarily. Therefore, as for me, ever a crossed word prior for me to accept the ride, the request is canceled and I will request a cancelation fee.

Tyra then text me and asked me to return back and pick up her boyfriend. I responded that he'd disrepected me and I won't tolerate such behavior. And I told her that he'd need to calm himself for the next Uber driver or she'll have another cancelation fee to deal with.

She than said, “why should I get a cancelation fee, you left my boyfriend there?!”

I responded, “a boy sneakily approached my car and demanded to let in. He'd refused to tell me who ordered the Uber until he gotten upset that taking him as a rider will be very ackward situation.”

“It's a family emergency, please pick him up!”

Despite the sudden revelation, I was steadfast on my decision and did not pry on what was the emergency. The decision is final and there wasn't anything I could've done to smooth things to a better resolution. And to me, if the boy had cooled his attitude and be levelheaded and explained while in the ride of his action, he'd been there in no time.

No amount of money will ever compensate being disrespected in your own car and/or in your life. Tolerate of such things can only solidify that action as THEE way to get though with life…to bully or intimidate until they create an outcoming of their bidding.

And coming from an ole bully in my youth, such people who cave in to my demands seems to weakminded and deserveing of being a sheep.

Whether the family emergency is a legit or not, I don't care. Passengers must understand that it's the driver's who ultimately decides to take the passenger or not. Of course, drivers’ can't discriminate based on race, sex, creed, gender orientation and disabilities…yet, drivers should never be subjected to bad attitudes or passengers’ own discrimination aganist drivers either.

For me, it's not tough to be polite and at the minimum, a one word response and acknowledgement is suffice. I can take the hint you may not be a chatty cathy. Yet, you come by my car, acting like you own me and demand to do things that is illegal or unsafe or both? That passenger is left on the side of the road so fast, they'll wont ever notice that it was happening till the mud is tossed upon their face!

An ole Drill Sergeant saying went like, “Bees are more attractive to honey than flies on shit…”.