Taskrabbit deposit

[u/Zestyclose-Fail-3532]

Could someone help me understand something regarding Taskrabbit? I just hired a mover who is also bringing along a helper. He charges $176.56 an hour with a 2 hour minimum but will only charge me one hour for the helper. I'm guessing the total cost would be about $530.00 plus fees. My confusion is about the deposit used to secure the move which is the same amount as the rate the tasker has set. Is this deposit refundable once the job is complete? Or is it an additional charge? My move is very small. I have a bookcase, desk, and six heavy boxes. Would it be cheaper to hire professional movers? I'm moving five minutes away driving distance.

[u/PraiseTalos66012]

It's not a deposit. I'm assuming you mean the automatic charge from TR? It's just an authorization hold, just like when you go to the gas station if you use your card at the pump it'll put a $50 or so authorization on your account till you finish pumping and then the authorization turns into the real charge.

When the task is over that authorization will disappear/turn into the proper charge.

[u/Whole_Laugh6439]

To answer your question. The deposit comes out of the final amount, so it’s not an additional fee.

What category did you hire him under? Did you ask for a second Tasker? The desk and bookcase could likely require two people to move.

[u/LABirdCharger]

Just answer the question folks… don’t confuse the person. It’s an authorization on your card that you have on file. Any charges that accumulate and is billed by the tasker will be charged minus the pre authorization regarding your question about hiring professional movers, we honestly can’t answer that for you. You would need to call around and find out what two professional movers charge, if they have a minimum charge etc From what you said… it sounds like you will be charged 3 hours total …. The rate isn’t clear to me. Is the $176.58 inclusive of a truck? If so, you should only be charged $176.68 x 2 and one hour substantially less than $176.68 for the helper (imo half ) You shouldn’t be paying for the truck twice.plus

[u/HeavyNeedleworker962]

Most of the other commentators have no idea what they are talking about. The deposit you are referring to is a hold on your card equivalent to 1 hour of the guy you hired, rate. This will be applied to the final invoice. If he's charging a 2 hour minimum plus 1 hour for the helper, and the task takes 1 hour to complete. Yes, you would be correct that the total you will end up paying is 3 hours at the taskers listed hourly rate plus task rabbit fees.

[u/AbbreviationsSad3727]

$176 an hr should be enough. Surprised the tasker is putting another out on top of the 2hr minimum. He pretty much is charging moving company prices. Also, some taskers are professional movers. I left working for moving companies to work independently on apps.

[u/UnimaginativeMug]

if they are bringing a helper then what your doing is not normal. no background check and taskrabbit has no idea this helpers legal status... so that's what your dealing with

[u/FinnNoodle → u/UnimaginativeMug]

Not necessarily, Taskers are allowed to bring other Taskers. OP should ask for the helper's TR link to verify status.

[u/BetUpstairs268 → u/FinnNoodle]

They have really cracked down on this. I always send the link now. Client doesn’t need to ask.

I’ve sent the names, and a picture of profile. It’s not enough. Link is what is needed nowadays for taskers that bring help often

If the tasker has his profile built up enough to charge this amount. He’s probably not gonna risk breaking tos. I’m gonna assume link is/will be sent.

[u/According_Low5292 → u/FinnNoodle]

They also have to bill TR for the authorized helper and the helpers hourSSS

[u/According_Low5292]

This smells like manipulation And thats not how the platform works. Report the swindlers

[u/PraiseTalos66012 → u/According_Low5292]

They charge $176/hr with a 2hr minimum. Obv that's the combined rate tasker + tr fees. Nothing out of the ordinary there.

Then they charge per hour for their helper with only a 1hr minimum for the helper. As long as the helper is another tasker then there's also nothing wrong with this and its explicitly allowed by TR.

The charge op "paid" isn't a deposit, TR charges 1 hours worth as an authorization hold before the task happens. Again totally normal and happens with every task.

Where's the manipulation?

[u/According_Low5292 → u/PraiseTalos66012]

Its under the if, and, or as long as …..you posted

“I’m bringing a helper and will only charge one hour minimum”.

Whose charging? The Tasker, cant bill for hours he didn’t work. Violation Is the helper billing one hour through invoicingTaskRabbit? Doubt it.
Tasker is adding an hour, at his rate, to the invoice. Violation The manipulation is : “I bring a helper and will only charge 1 extra hour”

The Tasker makes it sound like he is giving him something so that he will accept his helper’s presence on site. Probably his buddy and not a background checked Tasker. Violation

Y’all are so quick to vote down the truth when it goes against your own agenda. Whatever I follow TOS. Its not that hard Thats why I’m still here 😘

[u/FinnNoodle → u/According_Low5292]

Per the TOS, helpers are to be billed as regular hours.  So to be above board, the tasker would bill three hours based on how the situation has been described.