Uber Drivers Won’t Return Your Phone – And Uber Won’t Do Anything About It

Michael, I am beyond annoyed. Losing your phone in an Uber should be a simple problem with a simple solution—call the driver, get it back. But nope. Instead, it’s an absolute nightmare that drains your time, your patience, and your sanity. And guess what? Uber is 100% at fault for this.

They have the technology to fix this. They could use chatbots, live agents, or an automated messaging system that continuously pings the driver until they respond. But do they? No. Instead, Uber just shrugs, leaves you on read, and keeps raking in money while you waste hours chasing down a driver who probably has your phone but won’t admit it.

Why Won’t Uber Drivers Return Phones?

Let’s be real—some drivers might steal the phone out of desperation. Uber’s pay isn’t exactly great, and losing a $1,400 iPhone in their back seat might look like an opportunity to make a quick buck. Uber, instead of addressing this massive issue, just pretends it doesn’t exist.

• Drivers ignore your messages. There’s no accountability, so why should they care?
• Uber won’t push for a response. You can report the lost item, but if the driver doesn’t reply, Uber won’t enforce anything.
• It’s all designed to waste your time. Uber drags out the process until you just give up.

Setting Up a New Phone is a Nightmare

Even if you accept that your phone is gone forever, that’s only the beginning of your frustration. Setting up a new phone is a five-hour ordeal, even with all the so-called conveniences like auto sign-in.

• Verifying accounts is a pain. You need codes from emails and texts… that you can’t access because you don’t have your phone.
• Re-downloading apps takes forever. Even with cloud backups, nothing ever restores perfectly.
• You have to file multiple insurance claims. First, with the phone insurance. Then, a secondary claim with Amex.

Meanwhile, time is the one thing you don’t have, which is why you took an Uber in the first place. Now, instead of saving time, you’re spending half your day dealing with this disaster.

Uber, Do Better.

Uber, if you’re reading this, fix your system:

1. Pay drivers better. Maybe they won’t feel tempted to keep someone’s phone.
2. Enforce accountability. Drivers who don’t respond to lost item claims should be penalized.
3. Automate follow-ups. Keep messaging the driver until they answer.

One call. One text. That’s all it takes. If a driver won’t even confirm that they don’t have the phone, they should face consequences. Uber, stop ignoring this—it’s your problem to fix.