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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think he taxi driver was right to send them the cleaning bill?

57 replies

Sparklingbrook · 19/09/2013 20:03

Here DM Link if it bothers you.

Why should he foot the bill? And his car was off the road for 2 days so he's really out of pocket.

OP posts:
VanitasVanitatum · 19/09/2013 20:08

Definitely fair enough for them to get the bill, that's normal, surely? He should probably get a better seat cover though!

Sparklingbrook · 19/09/2013 20:08

Well that's what I thought Vanitas. I would have been giving him the money without him having to ask. Sad

OP posts:
CatAmongThePigeons · 19/09/2013 20:10

That's normal. A lot of taxi drivers won't take a labouring woman for this reason.

TheRunawayTrain · 19/09/2013 20:11

Yanbu. £40 is quite small compared to the takings he could have probably earned over the two days missed + the cleaning bill.

AlannaPartridge · 19/09/2013 20:11

I'm with the taxi driver.

And, I understand that the firm are not being arseholes about it - they've told them to pay it when they can.

Perfectly fair enough.

Sparklingbrook · 19/09/2013 20:11

I want to say something. It is about being on benefits and having a 3rd baby. But I won't.

OP posts:
bundaberg · 19/09/2013 20:12

yes of course they should pay.
this is the exact reason why many taxi firms refuse to take labouring women to hospital!

BruthasTortoise · 19/09/2013 20:13

I think he should have refused the fare to be honest. He was aware of the situation when he collected them.

MisselthwaiteManor · 19/09/2013 20:13

I have some sympathy for the woman, I doubt she chose to birth all over his seats but the taxi driver should absolutely not be out of pocket for it. She should pay the bill.

PosyNarker · 19/09/2013 20:13

Agree that they should reimburse the taxi driver, but I have to add...

Typical DM article had to have a bit about benefits, to make them sound as feckless as possible. I think the DM reporting on people like this (young, poor etc) is pretty exploitative and I'm no raging leftie.

Sparklingbrook · 19/09/2013 20:14

Well at least the Mum isn't stood there with her arms crossed and a sad face. Plus the baby is very sweet.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 19/09/2013 20:15

Man, those storys are supposed to have a proper sad face photo.

It's 50 quid here.. taxis are very clear about the penalty of fouling a car.

The product of childbirth would have went 'off' really quick and the smell would have been vile. They should have paid it without being asked.. although he'll probably be getting some decent waterproof seat covers now I would hazard a guess.

Guessed at the content of the comment section and yep, wasn't disappointed.

Musicaltheatremum · 19/09/2013 20:15

He could have charged her for 2 days lost takings too. That would have been a lot more.

SenoritaViva · 19/09/2013 20:16

Absolutely they should pay. I can't believe the daily mail actually printed it. Oh, it's the DM, maybe I can.

judgejudithjudy · 19/09/2013 20:16

if they cant afford it why not get a job instead of bringing more children into the world on benefits?!

totally on taxi drivers side ;-)

Sparklingbrook · 19/09/2013 20:17

I can't imagine the mess if giving birth in a car, you would need more than a plastic sheet. When I had DS1 he came out and blood went onto the wall. Shock TMI.

OP posts:
AlannaPartridge · 19/09/2013 20:18

Blood hit the trainee midwife in the face when they cut my cord!

kinkyfuckery · 19/09/2013 20:21

Of course they should pay!

Wink
gamerchick · 19/09/2013 20:25

OOoh the 'if you can't feed em, don't breed em' comments are coming out.. which is exactly the angle the DM always takes.

I always wonder how they fit that into the interview... 'sooooo mrs whathaveyouus.. was dad at work when you got the phone call??........ I mean, only an idiot would actually tell a DM reporter that they're on the dole, right? Or do they have access to DWP computers?

Sparklingbrook · 19/09/2013 20:26

You can think it but don't say it kinky Wink

Feel better now Alanna. Grin

OP posts:
xuntitledx · 19/09/2013 20:28

Not trying to jump on the benefit bashing bandwagon but it is concerning that they're so panicked about trying to stump up the £40 to pay the bill...

What happens when something urgent comes up regarding the kids?

And I also agree that they should pay the bill, quite reasonable considering the guy was out of work for 2 days!

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 19/09/2013 20:29

Of course the readers comments pick up on the benefits thing and say stuff like why breed if you can't afford it. 9mo this is a reasonable length of time. A lot of things can happen in that time including redundancy
I've never been sick in a cab, how do they bill someone who is really drunk normally?

CatAmongThePigeons · 19/09/2013 20:30

I had to cross my legs after my waters broke- I soaked the midwife head to foot. Grin

That article is not so subtly wabting you to be Shock over the young/benefits angle.

BrokenSunglasses · 19/09/2013 20:36

That couple should consider themselves lucky that the bill was only £40!

Cheeky buggers thinking they have any right to moan about it!

dandydorset · 19/09/2013 20:40

yanbu,cant see why anybody would think differrent

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