This seems unlikely. Lyft takes 30% after subtracting any fixed costs (tolls, etc.) of the fare. There is no way the guy was getting $20 of an $80 fare, unless there was $50 of tolls or congestion pricing or whatnot. In which case if he agreed, he screwed himself.
Here are the “fees” Lyft takes from the driver. Note that Uber and Lyft have an opportunity to “self deal” on a lot of these fees, much like a health insurer charging you $80 for a $15 drug.
Commercial auto insurance and other risk-related costs: Lyft drivers need insurance to cover their vehicle while driving for the platform, and this cost is passed on.
Airport fees: Lyft drivers may incur fees when picking up or dropping off passengers at airports.
Data processing fees: These cover the costs associated with processing the data generated by the platform.
Sales tax: Sales tax is collected on rides and remitted to the appropriate authorities.
Government fees: These can include various fees imposed by local or state governments.
Ancillary insurance fees: These fees may cover additional insurance coverage beyond the standard policy.
I bet Commercial insurance and related risk fees is a major source of outsized “skim”.
I’ve owned Avis Rental Car for more than 20 years precisely because of the amount of money they are able to roger from their customers in “price gouging” and the “collision damage waiver”.
I haven’t rented an automobile myself, since, now that I know how the system works. Never used Uber or Lyft either – I’d rather walk if I’m able, or take public transit.
But did she get to where she wanted to go? Unclear…
We’ve used Uber a bit, have the App on our iPhones… A week in Seattle a few years ago, parked my vehicle in the hotel garage, it didn’t move until we left.. Either walked to nearby, or further if we found more interesting things to do, but when it was time to head back, very easy to call in an Uber, meet them on the corner, etc…Ordered a larger vehicle for my 6’-2" frame, worked great… Cost? Not noticed, so not unusual… Handy, use as needed… We’ve use cabs here at home to get to an airporter bus, so we didn’t have to leave our car, pay for parking at the bus depot… Or if possible, a relative can drop us off…
I’m pretty sure she got to her destination. But there’s a danger both she and the driver could be banned from the Lyft app for using a “workaround” to the excessive skim.
Same thing with the airlines if you use “skip lagging”
If there was an accident, the driver might have a rude awakening about the limits of their personal insurance coverage - which likely doesn’t cover driving for hire.
If there had been an accident on that $40 cash ride, how would the expenses be covered?
What they probably should do immediately after cancelling the ride is to kill the uberlyft app, and maybe even turn off location access for a while. Later after dropping off and driving some more, they can turn on location access again.
A much more common “workaround” is to use uberlyft, and pay the additional fees, for the first trip. Then, if you like that driver, make a side deal with them to do subsequent trips via direct payment without using the uberlyft apps. Like all the unlicensed car services have been doing in large cities for many decades now (though without any of the high tech stuff, just a regular phone call).
A couple of years ago I arrived at SFO late at night and needed a ride home. As I walked to the Uber/Lyft pickup spot someone asked me if I needed an Uber or Lyft and where was I going. Offered to give me the ride for 25% off and showed me an Uber price estimate web site. This happened again a few minutes later until I realized that during Covid they had moved the Uber/Lyft pickup location to a nearby short term parking area.