We have to ask ourselves: What is the world coming to, when not even the time-honored act of horking up a bucketful of $12 cocktails in the back of a taxi can still be considered sacred?
That’s the depressing takeaway from a new Vice story this afternoon, which dives deep into the latest scandal projectile-launching itself all over the grubby interiors of the ride-sharing industry: The insidious threat of “vomit fraud.”.
This is originally from a Miami Herald report—because of course this is happening in Florida—which alleges that Uber drivers have been padding their bills lately by charging passengers a “cleaning fee” for their rides, then backing up their claims with pictures of vomit-covered backseats.
Except, claim said passengers—irate, presumably, both at the cost (ranging from $80 to $150), and also the impugning of their resistance to chunder—the images are fakes.
The Herald purportedly talked to at least one ride-share driver who confirmed the accusations, too, saying that some of their fellow drivers have “been doing it for a long time,” and noting that the practice relies on customers failing to check their bills for extra fees. »