Dear Urban Diplomat: Do I have to pay my share of an outrageously expensive Uber ride?

My work buddy and I went to a show at the Amphitheatre and got pretty drunk, so we decided to cab home together. We couldn’t find a taxi—traffic was nuts—so he ordered an Uber. The next morning, he sent me a cheery text asking me to cover half the ride, which, because of surge pricing he neglected to mention, cost $200. I’d have never agreed had I known. Should I speak up or pay up?

—Taken for a Ride, Agincourt

On the one hand, your friend pressed the button, so he should have mentioned the price hike or offered to take the hit the next morning. On the other, you could have easily spotted the signs of a potential surge and asked. You were both squiffy, so trying to nail down who was more responsible—and how that translates into splitting the bill—will just make things weird at work. Be a mensch and cough up your portion. You’ll be out roughly $70 (the difference between half the Uber and half the $60 cab you’d have taken anyway), but if you can afford to get plastered at the Amphitheatre, I’m sure that’s chump change to you.

Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com

More Urban Diplomat

City News

Dear Urban Diplomat: My friend shamed me for buying US products. Then I caught him pouring Jack Daniel’s into a Wiser’s bottle

He keeps criticizing me for keeping my Netflix subscription. Should I call him out on his hypocrisy?

City News

Dear Urban Diplomat: My friends rented a Cybertruck for our cross-Canada road trip

Even before the trade war and the Tesla founder’s unholy alliance with Donald Trump, I’d have been mortified to be seen in one of Elon Musk’s hulking metallic lemons. How should I break it to my friends?

City News

Dear Urban Diplomat: My tenant asks me to change her lightbulbs

I do these minor tasks for her, but are they really my responsibility? And is there a polite way to suggest she learn some basic skills?

City News

Dear Urban Diplomat: My mom keeps throwing away family heirlooms

My parents are downsizing to an apartment and have taken up Swedish death cleaning. I’m all for decluttering, but does that have to mean trashing boxes of childhood photos?

City News

Dear Urban Diplomat: My rich friends are using me to avoid the Vacant Home Tax

They plan to travel the world and want me to “house-sit” while they’re gone. Should I swallow my ethics and accept?