Kelly Rowe, who flew to California from Wisconsin, was trying Wednesday afternoon to get to the 2019 Comic-Con International Convention at the San Diego Convention Center when she approved an Uber ride for $13.08, KGTV reported.
Moments later, she received a fraud alert from her credit card company.
"I got a text from my credit card company asking if it was fraud," Rowe told KGTV. "Uber tried to charge $1,308 to my credit card.
"It was huge sticker shock. I'm sure I swore immediately."
WTF, @Uber, you charged $1,308 to my card instead of $13.08?! (Second screenshot shows the same route fare a moment later; it’s #ComicCon so it’s fluctuating rapidly.) pic.twitter.com/2S6sxRmnRc
— Kelley | 🚀🌌🛰💛 (@Astro_Kelley) July 17, 2019
Uber confirmed the glitch but declined to say how widespread the problem was, the Post reported. Social media posters in Washington and San Diego posted issues that not only involved ride-sharing but also Uber's food delivery service, the newspaper reported.
One person tweeted about being charged more than $1,000 for a $15 meal.
"There's no way to get my money back since you don't have contact info," the person tweeted.
@Uber I just got charged over $1000 for a $15 meal and there’s no way to get my money back since you don’t have contact info. #scam #fraud
— Scargon231 (@Scargon231) July 17, 2019
Another person said Uber maxed out her husband's credit card by charging $1,905, when the fee was only supposed to be $19.05, according to the Post.
“Not cool, especially on his birthday,” she wrote.
Another social media user claimed on Twitter that his wife was charged, $9,672 for a ride that was supposed to cost $96.72.
"There's no way to get in touch with you," he tweeted.
Hey @uber, you charged my wife $9672 for a ride that was listed as $96.72, and there’s no way to get in touch with you.
— Aaron Himelman (@AHimelman) July 17, 2019
Uber officials said the fares and charges would be corrected to the proper amount, although the sky-high charges may still appear on debit and credit cards, the Post reported. There is no need to dispute the charges through banks, Uber officials told the newspaper.
Rowe said her bank put a hold on her credit card when the inflated charge came through, but the card was suspended during Comic-Con and she had intended to use it there, KGTV reported.
"I'm very lucky I had (a) credit card attached and not a debit card," Rowe told the television station.
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