I accidentally used my ex's credit card for an Uber Eats order

Just like the title says,

I accidentally charged $60 worth of Uber Eats to my ex-boyfriend’s credit card. I still had his card saved in my account from when we were together, and I completely forgot it was linked.

I had my Visa card set as the default, but it expired and I think the app switched over to his card automatically. I definitely didn’t change it myself.

He added his card to my account once for a delivery, and after that, we never thought about it again.

We broke up on really bad terms. He was violent, and I had to call the police on him when we ended things because he was threatening me. So reaching out to him to say it was a mistake or to send back the money is out of the question.

I’m feeling lost on what to do. It’s been too long for me to just change my payment method, and I’ve already tried contacting Uber.

If it was really recent, you might still be able to switch the payment method in the Uber app. I’ve done it before when I accidentally charged a ride to the wrong account. Good luck!

Have you tried reaching out to Uber to see if they can process the charge on the right card? Seems like the simplest way to fix it.

If you know where he lives, you could always mail him the cash.

Jack said:
Have you tried reaching out to Uber to see if they can process the charge on the right card? Seems like the simplest way to fix it.

If you know where he lives, you could always mail him the cash.

I’m a mailman, and I really wouldn’t recommend sending cash through the mail. You’d be shocked at how certified mail gets handled these days.

@Vesper
Can you explain more?

Oakes said:
@Vesper
Can you explain more?

Certified letters are supposed to be processed differently from regular mail since they’re trackable. However, this year, the postal service decided to process them with regular mail, which could mean they might get lost or not delivered with a signature.

@Vesper
What should we do if we need to send something that should be certified?

Nico said:
@Vesper
What should we do if we need to send something that should be certified?

If your mail carrier is reliable, it should be fine. But it’s better to buy certified letters with a return receipt. That way you have proof it was sent, and when the recipient signs it, the receipt comes back to your address confirming it was delivered.

Nico said:
@Vesper
What should we do if we need to send something that should be certified?

What about using UPS or FedEx with a delivery signature required?

@Vesper
Maybe try sending a postal money order if the person who posted can’t or doesn’t want to write a check.

I did something similar with my parents’ card once. They disputed it, and we never put two and two together. I think it’s best to just remove it and not mention it. Uber likely won’t figure it out and if he wants to dispute it, let him.

@Drew
Just a heads up, if he does dispute it, there’s a chance your Uber account could get banned. I accidentally did this with a friend’s credit card and didn’t realize until he disputed the charges. My account got banned after that.

This might be a unique point, but I really think you should just avoid contacting him. It’s unlikely he will know it’s from you since it will just be another Uber charge on his statement.

Given what you’ve described about him, I think it’s best for your safety to not have any contact.

@Charlie
That does sound like the best plan.

You mentioned two obvious choices here — sending money back or letting him know it was a mistake — are not options. But not really sure what you’re looking for from this forum if those aren’t options.

If he sees the charge, he can contest it. If he asks for the money back, you can return it. If he goes to the cops claiming you stole from him (which I doubt), you can just explain it was an accident and pay him back.

Honestly, refusing to return the money could cause more issues if he’s as difficult as you say. Maybe you can ask a mutual friend to give him the money and explain it was a mistake?

Is this something you’ve already dealt with, or are you worried it could become a legal issue?

@Sterling
I like the idea about using a third party. Do you have any friends who could help out with this?

@Sterling
I’m worried because he has acted crazy before.

I honestly don’t know where he lives now, so sending him a check seems tricky.

Merrick said:
@Sterling
I’m worried because he has acted crazy before.

I honestly don’t know where he lives now, so sending him a check seems tricky.

If he’s got Venmo or Zelle, ask a friend to send him the money. They can enter his phone number to check if he has an account. Include a note about the charge. You could also send it yourself, but that might not feel comfortable for you.

Also, don’t forget to completely delete that payment option from your account if you haven’t already. Check other apps too.

Merrick said:
@Sterling
I’m worried because he has acted crazy before.

I honestly don’t know where he lives now, so sending him a check seems tricky.

Since he sounds unpredictable, it might be better to settle this fast. Just send him the money via Venmo or Zelle, adding a note saying it’s for the Uber Eats mistake. Block him and ignore any attempts he makes to talk to you.

@Brooke
I’ll probably do this from another phone since I’ve changed mine after our breakup. Thanks a lot!