A couple of weeks ago, I used the Uber app to request a pickup from in front of my apartment to head to work. As I walked to the front, I noticed that the vehicle was shown as being a Lexus. Knowing the pride most Lexus owners show in their vehicle, I figured it would be nice and clean. When it showed up, however, it looked like it had been 2 or 3 weeks since it was last washed. I was surprised, but accepted it as just one of those things that happens, it could be the driver was very busy. When I got in the back, I noticed that even though the driver’s belongings were in the front passenger seat, it was pushed all the way back. I’m 5′11″ tall, and my limbs are much longer than my torso (I always need a lot of leg room, but when I’m sitting I often feel like I’m shorter than many others my height). I asked the driver politely if he could please move the seat forward. He kinda glared at me, then bent over to move the seat up. When I saw that he had to move over some because it was an electric seat, I understood it could be perhaps a bit annoying — though honestly, in my opinion, it should be something done by default, since many Uber passengers prefer to sit in the back. However, the driver simply moved it a mere 2 or 3 inches, then started to get ready to drive again.

Perplexed (that’s not anywhere near enough extra room, after all), I asked him if he could please move it forward a little more. Keep in mind, I have made no comments about the condition of his car, and I was completely polite and even apologetic in tone — I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. He then shot me what could conservatively be called a dirty look, and while he was starting to lean over, he muttered something loud enough to hear but not quite loud enough for me to understand. I replied, “Pardon me?” He then not quite shouted at me, “I said, the last person to ride with me was 6′4”, and he didn’t ask me to move the seat forward!”

I was rather confused; I wasn’t asking him to do anything out of the ordinary, nor was I being rude, I was simply asking for some leg room. Nobody was in the front seat, and if you’re in a service-oriented industry, by definition that means you will have to provide service for your passengers. It felt like he was trying to make me feel guilty for asking him to move the seat forward, but surely, I felt, I must be misinterpreting his actions. So I told him, “I’m sorry, I’m unsure why you’re mentioning this to me.”

The driver immediately replied, “Get out my car.” He said it so suddenly and without cause, I couldn’t help but stutter, “What? Why?” He replied, “I said, get out of my car!” The situation progressed as follows:

“You’re not going to take me to my work?”

“No! Get out of my f***ing car!”

“Why? What did I do? I wasn’t being rude!”

“I said get out of my G** d***** car! I can come over there and make you get out of my car!”

“Are… are you threatening me?”

“No… but it’s my car and I can make you get out of it! You can give me a 1 star rating with Uber if you want, you can even report me! I don’t care! Just get the f*** out!”

Needless to say, I got out. I was dismayed to see that I still got charged over $2 for a ride that never went anywhere. I did indeed report it, and got the charge reversed, and Uber told me that they will re-evaluate the driver’s access to their system.

In my report, I stated that I wondered if maybe the driver wasn’t simply having a really bad morning. I don’t hold it personally. However, if simply requesting to adjust the front seat brought out this level of aggression in this driver… maybe a customer frontline job is not right for him.