Customers divided over Uber driver's demands for the return of lost iPhone
An Uber passenger has taken to social media to reveal his anger at a driver's demands over the return of his lost iPhone.
Malaysian customer Alvin Teo posted photos of his exchange with the driver on Facebook who refused to return his misplaced mobile after unless he was paid to do so.
Mr Teo had left his phone inside the taxi during a 14-minute ride on Sunday and pleaded with the driver to help return his phone.
“This phone may be very important to you, but it’s not to me. It’s not my fault but your own mistake. How much are you willing to pay me to return your phone?" the driver responded.
“If it’s just RM100 ($32) then just forget about it because it’s not worth and I don’t want to waste my time over other’s mistake.
"It’d be better if I just throw your thing into the dustbin."
The driver propositioned RM200 ($65) for the phone to be returned that evening.
"Do you want it or not? Don’t waste my time, I want to continue driving for Uber,” the driver added.
Not wanting to see his phone discarded, Mr Teo agreed to pay the driver for his phone to be returned.
According to Mr Teo, when the driver arrived he had increased his demand and ended up paying him RM300 ($97).
Mr Teo's post, which has been shared over 1,000 times, garnered dozens of comments urging him to report the driver to Uber or the police for his attempts to blackmail him.
"Rotten, report him!" one comment read.
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"He didn't steal it, but he was blackmailing," another user wrote.
However some believed the driver was well within his rights to demand the money after the inconvenience of returning the phone would affect his revenue for the evening.
"Personally, I think it's okay if he's going to send you back. And after all, it's the owner's negligence. Because of your negligence, [the driver] can't pick up business," one user wrote.
"[It] is your mistake and you the one whom asked for help... Just pay and move on la. Don't be silly. Learn from mistake please," another said.
According to Uber's website, neither Uber or independently contracted drivers are responsible for the items left in a vehicle after a trip ends.
Uber cannot guarantee that a driver has your item or can immediately return it to you.
However an Uber spokesperson told Yahoo7 News the behaviour of the driver was against company policy.
"This kind of behaviour is a clear violation of our Community Guidelines and is grounds for deactivation of a driver account," they said.
"We are investigating the issue and will take appropriate action."
