Uber has unveiled its annual Lost & Found Index, revealing some of the most unusual items that have been left behind by passengers in the UK. From passports to Gucci Caps, from someone who lost their marbles (not a joke, an actual set of marbles) to an unfortunate rider who went home hungry after letting their Chicken Selects get away and a rider who misplaced their teeth before they could tuck into their takeaway.
However children and pet’s were also unfortunately victims of lost items, with a parent leaving behind a micro scooter whilst a pet’s owners left their dog buggy in their ride. Predictably, the list of items forgotten most regularly was headed up by mobile phones, closely followed by wallets and bags. Interestingly, cash has fallen out of the top 10 list, further highlighting the UK’s shift to a cashless economy. Passport’s were also regularly misplaced alongside keys, jewellery and headphones.
London has been named as the most forgetful city in the UK over the course of the last year. Manchester and Birmingham residents rounded out the top three most forgetful cities from across the UK.
When it comes to missing items, the most popular items to lose varies by day. On Mondays, headphones tend to be the most forgotten item whereas wallets tend to go missing more than any other items on a Saturday night. In fact, with many riders hitting the town as nightlife opened up again, wallets, phones and bags were top of the charts when it came to items reported missing on Saturday and Sunday mornings, as partygoers rushed to the action, leaving their belongings behind.
New Year's Day 2022 was the UK’s most forgetful day over the course of the last year, with people across the UK (accidentally) socially distancing themselves from their possessions whilst making their way home from a New Years Eve party.
Meanwhile in the US, the craziest items reported missing ranged from stuffed sloths and sex toys to caviar and a Billie Eilish ukelele.
But Uber customers can rest assured, as every trip booked using the Uber app is GPS-tracked to ensure there is a record of the licensed driver, passenger and journey, making it simple to track down a lost item. Passengers who leave their items behind on a journey can immediately contact their driver through the Uber app. What’s more, your number will be anonymised so you can get in touch without sharing any personal information.
Additionally, Uber’s support team is available 24 hours a day through the ‘Help’ section of the app or the customer support line in the event the passenger is unable to contact the driver.
Andrew Brem, UK General Manager at Uber said: “As the world opens back up and we’re all excited to be out and about a lot more, it can be easy to accidentally leave something behind. No matter what the item is, the Uber app makes it easy to contact your driver and arrange for your possessions' quick and safe return.”
The 10 most frequently left behind items on Uber journeys in the UK this year
- Phone
- Wallet/Purse
- Backpack/Bag
- Keys
- Headphones
- Items of Clothing
- Glasses
- Jewellery
- Cardholder
- Passport
The most common date for people to leave things behind is January 1 (New Years Day), closely followed by December 4.
The hour that items are most frequently left behind is between 11 - 12, with 10 - 11 in second place.
How to retrieve an item you’ve left behind on a trip booked using the Uber app
- Tap “Your Trips” and select the trip where you left something
- Scroll down and tap “Find lost item”
- Tap “Contact driver about a lost item”
- Scroll down and enter the phone number you would like to be contacted at. Tap submit.
- If you lost your personal phone, enter a friend’s phone number instead (you can do this by logging into your account on a computer, or using a friend’s phone).
- Your phone will ring and connect you directly with your driver’s mobile number.
- If your driver picks up and confirms that your item has been found, coordinate a mutually convenient time and place to meet for its return to you.
- If your driver doesn’t pick up, leave a detailed voicemail describing your item and the best way to contact you.
