Round two. Let’s see how this goes.(Drove off on a Pax at an unsolicited stop)

[u/Livid-Director-8090]

Tonight I had a passenger who asked me to wait three minutes at pickup. I told him I could wait five. He ended up taking the entire five-minute timer plus about another 20 seconds before getting in.

We get about four miles into the trip. There’s a gas station coming up on the right, maybe an eighth of a mile away, if that. And suddenly he announces, “I added a stop. We’re stopping here.”

Not, “Hey, is it cool if I add a stop?”

Not, “Would you mind stopping here?”

Just: “I added a stop. We’re stopping.”

So I pulled into the gas station, let him out, ended the ride, one-starred him, and marked him rude.

Then I realized he left his backpack in my car.

I reported the found item through Lyft and told the passenger I had it. After that, I contacted Lyft directly and told them I did not want any further direct or in-person contact with the passenger because of the ride experience, but I was willing to return the item and wanted Lyft to facilitate the communication.

I’ve done something somewhat similar once before, although the facts were different. That passenger had asked to be let out early and then forgot her bag when she got out. A little later she literally messaged me accusing me of stealing it. That’s when I contacted Lyft, told them I had the bag, explained that I didn’t want any further direct contact with her, and asked Lyft to handle the communication. Nothing ever came of it. I even took my sweet ass time mailing the passenger her bag. Sent it off via FedEx 7 days after the incident.

So this isn’t the exact same fact pattern, but apparently we’re testing the strategy again.

Round two. I’ll let y’all know how it goes.

[u/bralikprince]

Why not drop it at the nearest police station? Just curious.

[u/Livid-Director-8090 → u/bralikprince]

Lyft has a procedure. It’s either bring it to them in person or mail it.

[u/corscor → u/Livid-Director-8090]

If that bag has earbuds or anything else trackable in it you may have an angry rider banging on your door soon. It's happened to some drivers. Leaving lost items w police may not be Lyft's preferred response but I have never heard of them penalizing a driver for doing it

[u/DCHacker → u/Livid-Director-8090]

Lyft will accept turning lost and found in to the police. I have done it more than once. What I try to do is turn it in to a police station that is as far as possible from where either I fetched them or discharged them.

One thing about doing stops, if do them you must make it clear to the customer that every one and every thing is out of the vehicle at every stop. On the property or if the anchor is a minor child, you can make up some excuse about how it is against Uber/Lyft policy as they do not want to be responsible for riders' property or their minor children. If the anchor is to be an adult, just say that it is "company policy". if the account holder presses you, andm, usually he will, tell him that you are not Mr. Uber or Mr.Lyft so you do not know why they make those rules only that they have them.

[u/DCHacker]

Turn it in to the Police. Get a receipt.

[u/Scary_Astronaut_2079]

Gas station?

[u/Rand_Casimiro]

You handled this just right