Guy Smarts: Uber to start charging a fee if they have to return your lost phone

The new policy is part of the company’s “180 Days of Change” initiative to better the experience of its employees.

Uber is planning to institute a new policy in which if its drivers are requested to return a phone, wallet, or another lost item left in their vehicles, a $15 fee will be levied to compensate for the driver’s lost time and fuel.

The new policy is part of the company’s “180 Days of Change” initiative to better the experience of its employees, reports The Telegraph.

The fee will affect customers in Chicago and Boston at first, but could be added more widely. Previously, when a customer lost an item in an Uber, the app suggested the customer tip the driver extra as compensation (in countries where tipping was an option). But more likely than not, everyone will soon be shelling out a bit extra for their absent-mindedness.

The personal connectivity and convenience of Uber already gives the ride-sharing service a huge leg-up over cab companies when it comes to lost items. It’s a huge relief to be able to know exactly how you’ll retrieve an item after you lose it, and that might compel a lot of people to pony up should the fee become commonplace.

On the other hand, paying for something you would normally receive for free is annoying, and the question persists whether Uber’s new focus on employee well-being could compromise their consumer base, regardless of the intentions of the new policies.

Whichever side of the debate you land on, there’s reason to be thankful the app doesn’t charge for other things yet. How many people would pay a $5 silence fee just to ensure you don’t have to talk to some nosy weirdo on the way back from the bar? Or a $2 up-charge to play your own music or charge your phone during the trip? We’d at least think about it.

The new policy is part of the company’s “180 Days of Change” initiative to better the experience of its employees. Read Full Story