I don’t know if city scooters are everywhere but in my city you unlock them with the app and it charges a small deposit (like $1 or $2 equivalent) to your card when you start, then refunds it when you properly dock and end the ride. It’s supposed to stop people from just leaving them in random places.
There’s kind of an unspoken thing where if someone asks for your scooter after you’re done, you hand it over unlocked (or give them the QR code) and they give you their deposit amount in cash/app transfer or whatever. Saves them walking to another dock.
Today I rode one to my destination, docked it properly to end the ride and get my deposit refund processed. This guy comes up right after and says “hey can I take this one?” I said sure, but do you have the deposit ready? He said no, he’s out of credit on his app and doesn’t have cash.
I just said sorry, I want my refund so I’m ending it. I finished docking/locking it, got the confirmation my deposit was refunded, and walked away.
He rolled his eyes, muttered “really? it’s just a couple bucks” and something about how I’m making him walk farther. A couple people nearby kinda looked at us. It made me feel self-conscious (I’m not really an extroverted person) and quite guilty to be honest.
But I don’t want to set a precedent with myself of giving away my deposit just to save someone else a walk.
AITA for not handing it over and just ending my ride myself?
NTA. If the understanding is that he had to transfer you money in order for you to let it continue, he wasn’t able to keep up his end of the bargain. You did the right thing. His saying “it’s just a couple bucks” speaks volumes when he admitted he had no cash. You didn’t do anything wrong. He was the AH.
Not familiar with these. Who is held liable if the scooter goes missing?
Honestly I don’t know but now that I think about it probably me since It would be associated with my account until its docked again
It would absolutely have been you. I imagine the purpose of the small deposit they take is to make sure your card on file is valid. It’ll help them pursue you for damages or lost bike.
NTA for not giving a stranger (with an attitude) money.
That’s a good way to buy a scooter if someone steals it or doesn’t bring it back since it’s rented to you. Never do that regardless.
I’m glad you guys have pointed this out because it didn’t even occur to me
You must live in a nice neighborhood/be a trusting person. Out here in NY people take anything that isn’t bolted down and everything is a scam lol
I am surprised that no one else mentioned this. Records would show that you did not return the scooter and even if he handed you $2 in cash, he would be buying himself a new scooter for virtually nothing if he did not return it. Am I missing something here?
NTA. It may be someone’s unspoken rule, but not everyone has to do it that way. Furthermore, there was no guarantee that if you let him take the scooter, he would properly dock it. I guess he just wanted to have the scooter for free. It was suspicious that he was muttering about having to walk farther. To me, that indicates that he had the deposit but didn’t want to use it.
You did what you agreed to do with the scooter company/city. You used it as agreed and docked it. That’s it. Anything else is entitlement to things they have no right to.
NTA I’m guessing you would have been liable had he stolen it? sounds like you were just being smart
This is just a variant of the 0.25¢ Aldi shopping cart deposit post from the other day.
In case it’s real, and not obvious, nobody is an AH for refusing to hand over their deposit. Especially not on a scooter which is registered on an app to one person until it’s returned.
NTA
Walking is good exercise for him.
Not to mention that if he stole/damaged it, you would be liable.
NTA
I’d assume if they don’t get returned after a given time period, they charge the last card for the full value…?