South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Balance is key for star when traveling
For “My Unorthodox Life” star Robert Brotherton — whose fashion stints included working with La Perla, Zac Posen and Escada, as well as the modeling agency Elite World Group — traveling is a way of life. “I usually book a hotel that I have seen on Instagram or have heard about from friends,” Brotherton said. “After that is booked, I start with lunch and dinner reservations. I think showing up to a city without looking into the food scene is a huge mistake. Then I look into activities, day-drinking hot spots and spas. I like a loose but structured itinerary that gives me a balance between relaxation and fun dress-up moments.” are so many islands to see you really can’t go wrong. Even the beach suburbs of Athens can be a fabulous retreat with all the sights, scenes and historical adventures of the ancient city a few miles away.
As you’d expect, I overpack clothing and shoes. Something special for travel (is that) I like to pack evening and bedtime looks. I never dress up for bedtime at home and sometimes I just want to be Blanche Devereaux (from “The Golden Girls”) in a flowy silk number and head down to the lobby bar for a nightcap.
If you messed up your Lyft, you should pay for the cleanup. But after reviewing your case and Lyft’s claim against you, I have serious doubts that you were the guilty party.
I’ve seen dozens of cases like this. Lyft first tries to charge your card and then sends scant documentation. When you appeal, you get a form letter that says, “We reopened your case, and after extensive review of the information provided by both you and the driver, no adjustments will be made to this claim.”
But Lyft didn’t share the driver’s written report with you. Also, the photos it sent had no metadata. So you don’t know if the driver took them after your ride or a year ago.
Lyft also doesn’t require its drivers to prove they paid to have their cars cleaned. (UbUber does.) As I looked at the correorrespon-p ddencence betweebetween you andan the company, I concluded that Lyft had not proven its case. Lyft needed to send time-stamped photos and the driver’s report to make a convincing case that you were responsible for the leaf incident. But it wouldn’t.
Never get into a rideshare car where there is preexisting damage. Instead, ask the driver to note the debris and take lots of pictures. Otherwise, there is an excellent chance the driver will ask you to pay for the cleanup.
In a situation like this, you could have appealed to one of Lyft’s executives. I list their names, numbers and email addresses on my consumer advocacy site, www.Elliott.org.
Lyft’s system for resolving problems with damage is a cycle of claims, appeals and denial, from which there’s no escape. It allows the company’s drivers to perpetuate the Lyft vomit scam, charging riders for nonexistent damage.
I contacted Lyft on your behalf. A representative emailed you and said, “We always strive to be fair to both riders and drivers involved in a damage claim.” The company agreed to refund the $80 it had charged your card.
Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers resolve their problems. Elliott’s latest book is “How To Be The World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). Contact him at elliott.org/ help or chris@elliott.org.