Drunk graduate coughs up Sh36,000 for Uber after wrong location setting

 

Helen Dryden (right) made an 'embarrassing' error after ordering an Uber following her day drinking. (Courtesy)

A drunk graduate had to cough up a staggering Sh36000 after forgetting to change her home address on Uber - and ordering a cab more than 300 miles in the wrong direction.

Helen Dryden, 25, enjoyed a boozy day out in Shoreditch, east London, with friends and ordered a cab to take her home afterwards.

She had hoped it would take her to Guildford, Surrey, but she forgot her Uber home setting was set to her previous address in Newcastle, 303 miles northeast.

And the bungling Newcastle University graduate fell asleep in the back of the cab and when she woke up an hour later she was 60 miles north - near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

The driver did a U-turn and eventually took Helen to Guildford, a journey which cost the woman Sh36,000.

"I couldn't believe it. The whole day ended up costing me about Sh52,000," she said.

"I feel so embarrassed. I was a bit too drunk and just fell asleep. I was devastated when I woke up. I feel really stupid and completely ridiculous.

"I got too drunk. I'm supposed to be getting more responsible as I get older but it's not happening so far."

Helen had been drinking with two friends in Shoreditch and missed her last train home.

Her only option - other than shelling out more than Sh13,000 for a hotel room - was to order an Uber for the 30-mile trip to Guildford for Sh10,000.

She added: "I fell asleep as soon as I got in the taxi. I woke up at Milton Keynes and I couldn't believe it.

"I thought I said I wanted to go to Guildford when I got in. But I can't remember what his reply was.

"He woke me up and said 'are you sure you want to go to Newcastle?'

"I said 'what, no! Why would I want to go to Newcastle?' I ended up getting home at about 4am.

"I take responsibility for it because I got too drunk. It's the first time I've ever done something like this. I'm devastated by it. It's too much money to comprehend."

To add insult to injury, Helen says she still hasn't paid the bill because the card she paid on has insufficient funds.

The payment will be processed on pay day at the end of the month.

Incredibly, Helen went out again on Saturday night and ordered an Uber home.

This time Helen made sure she asked to be taken home.

An Uber spokeswoman said: "We are currently looking into this issue."