Woman protests Uber's $100 'bodily fluids' fee

Chris Woodyard | USA TODAY

A Southern California woman says an Uber driver added a $100 "bodily fluids" cleanup fee to her $7 ride.

Annie Pho tells CBS2-TV in Los Angeles that she didn't throw up or otherwise do anything that could lead to a finding that bodily fluids had found their way into the car. The only possible explanation, she says, is that it was a stormy day and rain water had dampened the inside of the ride-for-hire car.

"I don't think I'm responsible for weather conditions," she told a CBS2 reporter.

Michael Amodeo, an Uber spokesman, says that Pho was hit with the fee when the driver thought they saw paw marks in the back seat of the car. "But again, after further review, a decision was made to fully refund the rider," he said in a note to USA TODAY.

On its web site, Uber doesn't exactly refer to it as a "bodily fluids" fee, but only as a "cleaning fee." There is a $100 to $200 cleaning fee "for cosmetic or physical damage to the interior or exterior of the vehicle incurred as a result of events such as vomiting or pet accidents." It goes on to say that the "exact amount depends on the extent of the damage" and "we will always notify you when such a charge is necessary."

Uber, a fast-growing online service that hooks up private drivers with passengers, has come under fire for competing against taxi companies around the world.