Helbiz - Micromobility Hub Reviews

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! My boyfriend and I paid the requisite $10 flat rates for use of these scooters around DC ($10 is the lowest you can go—they do not allow you to pay per minute at the outset) and after riding them for ten or fifteen minutes parked them, locked them up, paused the ride, and went through the process of taking a picture of the park job and receiving auditory confirmation that we had done it correctly. We found later when we came back to them that the meter had kept running, and the company was now charging us an additional $35 for the time we had not been using the scooters, despite the fact that they had been paused. Evidently, the pause button does nothing. If I wanted to stop the bike from moving but leave the meter running and retain use of it I would simply take my finger off the accelerator. It’s upsetting that the pause button is essentially useless and meant as a mere blind, but also that the company continues to take money above the paid for amount without any sort of notification that that the original money has run out, and more will be needed to be added. Utterly lacking in morals. Give your business to another company.

I’ve used this scooter service for over two years in DC. It used to be great under Skip until this app acquired them. Now it’s absolutely terrible. I’ve been on their monthly subscription plan for a while and now only 20% of the scooters I unlock actually work. Most are completely broken but they still list them as available on their app. On top of that, there have been several instances where I lock a scooter (one that, a majority of the time, doesn’t even work) and I get confirmation from Helbiz and via email that the closing of the ride was successful. But then 1.5 hours later I’m charged a small fortune because Helbiz suddenly claims I never locked it. Customer support is a joke so of course none of these issues are never resolved. It’s a real bummer because this used to be the best scooter service in DC but now I’m dropping it. Not a surprise when you do some research and realize this app is a sketchy firm that’s been sued by the DoJ for running a crypto pump and dump scam, among other things.

I use e scooters almost everyday as my go to mode of transport around the town and have used this app a few months back then it disappeared and I saw it all around the place today again in Arlington VA.
I am so disappointed!! This used to be my go to scooter. The county I live in has a speed limit of 15mph allowed for e scooters. The other e scooters allowed in my area are Link, Bird and lime. I stopped using lime almost a year ago cause to limited their speed to 10mph!! They were the only ones and not like they made rent cheaper since it’s time based. Bird had reduced acceleration so that was bad as well. this app was fast and quick acceleration!
Today this scooter was limited 9 mph!! Why?? I almost bought the monthly subscription for unlimited rides and now I feel glad I didn’t.
I had to write this review cause I was excited to see it again and then quickly very disappointed!!

Update after response from developer:
Just to let you know incase there is a confusion, I don’t live in DC. I live in Arlington, Virginia where the county has allowed 15mph for e scooters. Scooter companies like Bird and Link operate in the area as well and they have their speed locked at 15 mph as per county rules

My scooter shut of randomly and I had to restart the ride to get it going again. To add insult to (almost) injury, this app gave me a $10 fine for not locking the scooter when I was trying to restart the ride this app, I can’t control where your scooters malfunction. There may not be a place to lock nearby. Instead of fixing the scooters or putting a ‘restart’ ride button in Helbiz , they give out fines. If anyone is ever injured by a scooter randomly shutting off these reviews are evidence that this app has been well informed of problems and chose to ignore them.

4/8/22: Update in response to the copy paste comment from the negligent developers. If you contact the support email they will send you copy paste rude responses. They knowingly overcharge users, and they know the scooters are dangerous and don’t do anything to fix them.

I was traveling to DC to go to a game. When I attempted to scan my bike, it turned on. When I hit the breaks, the bike refused to turn on. When I then tried to return the bike in the exact same spot, Helbiz would not let me return it. I attempted to leave it in a different one and no dice. I was then charged 50 bucks after also attempted to pause the ride, which, after taking several picture from different angles that didn’t work, I gave up. While I understand you might charge me all the money I had on my account, it’s inexcusable you’d charge me for 2 hours of riding I did not do when the scooter did not move.

I wasted more time starting and ending rides due to issues with the scooters. These minutes were taken away from my times use. Each time I used it I had to contact the help chat and that also used up minutes. Then I was charged additional fees to continue use after this app scooter issues. I outlasted a weekly pass to save time and get around DC. I spend equal amounts of time with the help chat as I did riding the scooter. And for a quick trip time is valuable and this app wasted mine. They also refuse to offer a refund.
Use another company! There are many others out there!

Horrible customer service and most of the scooters I attempted to use did not work. Their geo-fencing is also horrible so you get locked out of areas (roads) that other scooters work. Their parking areas do not allow you to complete the ride in them and on multiple occasions I was force to extend my ride to find somewhere it would complete and just walk back to where I needed to be. Customer service is also zero help. If I were you I would stick to a more established scooter or ride share platform, Hel(L) biz is not worth the trouble.

Got this in DC and got the unlimited pass. What it doesn’t tell you before you buy it is that it’ll charge you if you go over 30 minutes. How convenient that whenever I went to pause the ride, Helbiz wouldn’t let me pause the ride. They also charge you for going over 30 minutes, and they do not tell you that ahead of time. There are no parking areas for it in DC and essentially useless because there are so many no-ride sections. Stick with literally any other brand

This is my first and last time using Helbiz . The bike I used stopped working mid-ride and I almost flew off the bike. To make things worse, I was forced to walk another quarter mile because it would not let me end the ride until I was a designated location. I contacted support and was then told I would have to send a separate email outside of Helbiz in order to receive a refund even though I had filed a report. Riders in Atlanta, stay away from this app. Thank me later.

I have had issues with their rides not ending even after submitting a photo. If the request does not go through, you will be fully charged for two hours, and I have had to pay $50+ previously. Their customer support says they did not show the ride was ended and will require you to make the payment. With all of the scooter options, there is no reason to use this one.

Will let you pick up a scooter in a zone where it doesn’t work and charge you until you move it somewhere where it does work. It will then proceed to not let you park and continue to charge you while holding you and your credit card hostage for 30min until you figure it out how to move it into a parking zone the size of a dinner plate while customer support is non responsive.

Took me like 4 tries and had to ride around the corner just to park other than that ride was smooth

Non functional scooters. Support has no info or abilities to give assistance. I was informed “fianancial” would get to it later. No idea of when, who I was talked to, etc. left a voicemail as well- no contact or information. I just want to be refunded for we attempted four scooters and only one worked. And I was charged an extended amount of time for parking the nonfunctional scooters. It shouldn’t have to be this hard

When I tell you try every other scooter app other than this one believe me. First these scooters have absolutely no speed. Secondly they have VERY specific parking spots to park the scooters. I had to park the scooter four blocks from my home and walk back. Completely defeats the purpose of grabbing a scooter. Made it a more of a hassle. Try any other scooter that don’t have these stupid restrictions.

I use e scooters twice a day to commute in the city. this app is so bad the scooters are so slow. It slows down too every time there’s even a bit of a down hill or anything it might think is close. I’ve given it so many chances and I can’t anymore this app is by far the worst. Also there are e scooters that are way faster and cheaper. this app isn’t even the cheapest for how slow the scooters go.

I attempted to end my ride. After waiting the 30 seconds multiple times, my ride still would not end. I am now facing a $44 charge and customer support is completely unwilling to help or even hear me out. I had no action of recourse, and because their app doesn’t work properly I am the one who is supposed to foot the bill?!

Scooter has great acceleration and their upkeep of scooters is fantastic. Bird suffers from not having enough staff to work on units. This scooters is new and up to date

I’ve seen these bikes around my city lately and with gyms closed thought this would be a great way to get some exercise. Also the bikes look cool. Upon downloading I was charged for (2) card checks and told to contact my financial institution. Being the first city in the US to have these bikes, I would give advice as you will go no where with this happening.

I could not end the ride in Helbiz after a five minute ride due to poor internet connection and app connectivity issues. They charged me more than $50 for 120 minutes of riding and would not refund me the money they overcharged me. Absolute scam of a scooter company and will not be riding again.

We had a blast we was kids again

Great around milan. Just wish they would extend the outer limits of the red zone as it makes it almost useless around bocconi.

We were visiting friends for our 10th anniversary and rode and had an absolutely amazing time

If you live in Washington D.C I don’t recommend this company. First of all, the bikes is always broken or vandalized. There are a few bikes, always I need to walk at least 15 to get a bike and doesn’t matter where you are in DC. Definitely I won’t subscriber again this service and I don’t recommend as well.

Helbiz is great, really easy to use and visually is perfect

Used it once couldn’t even turn it off...loud alarm noise while I was riding and customer service lol, what customer service? Maybe you should put instructions on Helbiz , where ppl expect to find them. 0 stars

Great concept and breathtaking app 😄 User friendly app and super easy scooter rental 😀

Very user friendly experience.
Amazing layout
great job indeed, this app team!

Solid-feeling machine with thick tires, best ride of all the scooters I’ve tried.

Great app, works well

Easy to use super quick I genuinely love it

This is the most refined bike shatter I’ve experienced.

Absolutely gorgeous !

I just use in Miami! Love this app!