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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think full vomit charge was unreasonable?

125 replies

Sabrina145 · 12/06/2023 23:22

So my friend vomited in the taxi home from a night out last weekend. She was in the front seat and a very small amount of sick went on the gear stick. The driver stopped quickly and she opened the door and continued getting sick outside. The driver wiped the bit of vomit from the gear stick with a tissue. He charged us the full price of the soiling fee-180 euros. Now I totally think the fee is fair, don’t get me wrong, if someone throws up in the car. But this was only a small bit and he wiped it off so should
it have been maybe half the fee? Anyway, we paid and that’s that. I guess I’m just wondering AIBU to think maybe she should have got a partial charge instead? Or am I totally wrong! I do understand it’s horrible for the driver to have any amount of bodily fluids in their vehicle!

OP posts:
Grumpy101 · 12/06/2023 23:23

Poor driver. Your friend needs to learn to control her drinking ffs.

PinkPrincessPhilo · 12/06/2023 23:25

I’d charge a lot more than €180 to wipe up some randomer’s vomit.

I hope your friend is mortified.

Newname211 · 12/06/2023 23:25

You are lucky driver didn’t kick you in it en route. Taxi vomits are almost exclusively for those not old enough to legally consume alcohol. Embarrassing.

Nomorecoconutboosts · 12/06/2023 23:26

From the information given perhaps a reduced fee would have been fairer.
but perhaps from his perspective he’s been caught out before when it’s dark and he has thought its only a small amount but it has been more when he’s checked properly?

Redebs · 12/06/2023 23:26

If someone vomits in a car, it has to be put out of service while it's cleaned. There isn't a pay-by-volume system where you get charged by the amount.
Why are you complaining about this? It's disgusting to get so drunk that you throw up. Think about the poor driver!

Original poster
Sabrina145 · 12/06/2023 23:27

@Redebs I understand that of course. In this case it was a small bit on that one area and he cleaned it off. Nothing on fabric, floor etc

OP posts:
Marblessolveeverything · 12/06/2023 23:27

Have you any idea how long that stench will last,? The length of time they may not be able to take a farr? Not to mention the possible valet cost to get rid of the smell. Honestly other than illness I would have a banned list of customers.

stealtheatingtunnocks · 12/06/2023 23:27

no. You puke, you pay.

good grief

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 12/06/2023 23:28

It went on the gear stick!!!
How is that not bad?

Hotandverybothered · 12/06/2023 23:28

The poor taxi driver…think your friend definitely should pay up !

BoohooWoohoo · 12/06/2023 23:29

It's easiest for the driver to charge full amount each time than negotiate partial fines for smaller amounts with drunk people.

DIYandEatCake · 12/06/2023 23:30

Can’t imagine how someone can vomit in a car but only get a tiny splash on the gear stick?

Original poster
Sabrina145 · 12/06/2023 23:30

@Nomorecoconutboosts That makes sense! As I said of course I think there should be a charge.

OP posts:
Remotecontrolatmyside · 12/06/2023 23:30

That is absolutely disgusting. The poor driver.

NeverThatSerious · 12/06/2023 23:32

DIYandEatCake · 12/06/2023 23:30

Can’t imagine how someone can vomit in a car but only get a tiny splash on the gear stick?

I was wondering that.
Regardless tho, that is absolutely repulsive and she absolutely should’ve been charged!! A ‘tiny’ bit of someone’s vomit is still vomit and it’s where he puts his hand 🤢

Original poster
Sabrina145 · 12/06/2023 23:36

@DIYandEatCake I guess because it was the initial first wave of vomit and she threw the second wave up outside.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sabrina145 · 12/06/2023 23:37

@NeverThatSerious Of course there should be a fee. But the 180 is to get the car cleaned here and loss of earnings. In this case he wiped the gear stick with tissue and the. Went to his boot and wiped it with sanitising spray and there was nothing else.

OP posts:
JandalsAlways · 12/06/2023 23:37

Sabrina145 · 12/06/2023 23:37

@NeverThatSerious Of course there should be a fee. But the 180 is to get the car cleaned here and loss of earnings. In this case he wiped the gear stick with tissue and the. Went to his boot and wiped it with sanitising spray and there was nothing else.

Too bad. Suck it up.

ThursdayFreedom · 12/06/2023 23:38

@Sabrina145

my very close friend is a taxi driver, he did years of late night drunk night club pick ups, he's done with it now. People think it's 'not a big deal' but he was fed up of having to take the taxi off the road & clean up vomit at 2am & air the car so that hopefully he didnt have to cancel bookings for the next day. It can be a very costly (& revolting) job.

but a bit of vomit he could wipe off the gear stick, he would have waived any fee & got her home/hotel safely.

JeandeServiette · 12/06/2023 23:38

Bloody hell. How old are you and your friend?

Busybutbored · 12/06/2023 23:39

DIYandEatCake · 12/06/2023 23:30

Can’t imagine how someone can vomit in a car but only get a tiny splash on the gear stick?

Exactly. I bet it ended uo being elsewhere when he checked later in the morning. Poor guy. You shooing be ashamed of yourself OP for even thinking you should pay less. Smh.

Redebs · 12/06/2023 23:39

Sabrina145 · 12/06/2023 23:27

@Redebs I understand that of course. In this case it was a small bit on that one area and he cleaned it off. Nothing on fabric, floor etc

You think a driver wants to haggle with a drunken customer about how much vomit is in the car?
Lots of them are going to try threats to get out of it.
There's usually a bit of spray when someone is sick and it takes a while to scrape, wipe and sanitise. The driver has to check the car for how much it's spread around. This is at night, remember?
Like I said, it takes time to clean and check a car and that's time he could be earning.
Many drivers use their own cars. Do you think it's ok to puke in a vehicle he uses to take his kids in? He's got to clean and check it. He's earned that money!

CrotchetyQuaver · 12/06/2023 23:40

How would you have felt if it was your car?
Somehow I think you'd be pretty pissed off. Devils own job to get rid of the smell.
Maybe she could pay up and learn from her mistake?

JustGeorgie · 12/06/2023 23:41

Sabrina145 · 12/06/2023 23:27

@Redebs I understand that of course. In this case it was a small bit on that one area and he cleaned it off. Nothing on fabric, floor etc

Would have been a massive distraction to him whilst trying to drive! Also, maybe traumatic....a lot of people cannot bear vomit

Nothing to do with how much was on his gearstick! It almost went on him...

Original poster
Sabrina145 · 12/06/2023 23:42

@ThursdayFreedom Totally underhand that; it’s an awful experience for drivers when someone vomits. He sounds like a very decent guy

OP posts: