Imagine hopping into an Uber for what you think is a $55 ride, only to find yourself charged nearly $30,000 instead. Sounds like a nightmare, right? For Dominique and her husband Douglas Ordonez, it became a shocking reality during their fifth-anniversary trip to Costa Rica.
The chaos began when Douglas noticed something strange after the ride. His Twitter post, showcasing a jaw-dropping $29,994 Uber charge, quickly gained traction. “Uber charged me $29,994 USD for a ride in Costa Rica,” he wrote, attaching a screenshot of the colossal bill.
The couple expected a simple conversion from Costa Rican colones to U.S. dollars. But instead of the intended 29,994 colones (around $55), their account was drained of nearly $30,000. Suddenly, their anniversary celebration turned into a financial disaster.
Despite Uber’s promise to resolve the issue, the couple spent over a day stuck in limbo. Determined to make their story heard, Dominique took to TikTok, sharing the absurd charge, her frantic conversations with Uber, and even her struggles with Altura Credit Union, their bank. Her video exploded online, amassing over 5 million views and sparking widespread outrage.
Dominique expressed regret for not using a credit card for the international charges, which might have prevented such a massive overdraft. “I trusted the system, and it failed me,” she lamented. According to her, Uber should’ve charged the equivalent of $55—but a mix-up in the currency conversion led to the astronomical bill.
@dominique.xo.xo Trying not to let this ruin the remainder of my trip, but…. Yes! @Uber charged me $29,994 for a single ride! Correct conversion should have been $54, but was charged 600% more. Contacted Uber: They replied w/ “Do not worry”, but did not provide any further assistance 😩 I cannot find a customer service number anywhere. They have ignored my messages & I have only received pre-generated messages. Yes, I contacted my financial institution @Altura Credit Union immediately. They said there is nothing they can do about it at the moment as I have to wait another 4 days for the amount to possibly convert to the correct amount. Cannot believe they allowed a payment of this amount to process. Failed security measures & negligence. So now I am on a trip out of the county with no way to access my funds 🙃 Pray for me 🙏🏽 Just trying to enjoy my vacation 🌴 ##emotionaldamage##horrorstory##uberscam##uber##fyp##viral##travelhorrorstory##wtf##traveltiktok ♬ Song Oh no oh no oh no no no – Hip Hop
What made things worse? The couple claimed both Uber and their bank initially ignored their cries for help. Dominique slammed Altura Credit Union, blaming them for allowing the charge to bypass security measures, despite a travel notice on her account. “They left us stranded abroad, unable to access our funds,” she shared.
Eventually, a glimmer of hope emerged. The erroneous charge was reversed, and the couple finally regained access to their money. Dominique described her relief but didn’t hold back her criticism. “This was a total failure of security measures—a disaster that could’ve been avoided.”
Uber later confirmed the resolution, stating that the issue was settled with the bank. Altura Credit Union also issued an apology, acknowledging their role in the mix-up.
@dominique.xo.xo Replying to @user485530046132 ‼️‼️ Part 2 (posting part 3 rn) I always use my credit card for international charges. Unfortunately, I was rushing & didn’t realize my debit card was attached to my @Uber ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim
Now, Dominique’s viral story serves as a cautionary tale for travelers: double-check everything, use a credit card for international charges, and prepare for the unexpected—even on a seemingly simple Uber ride.
@dominique.xo.xo Replying to @LLC Still haven’t heard from Uber…. 🤔 #travelhorrorstory #uber #fyp #emotionaldamage ♬ original sound – TBK
What do you think about this ordeal? Share your thoughts, and don’t forget to pass this story along to your friends—it’s a wild ride worth talking about!
