Child throws up, cabbie blows up, but Mom won't pay up

[ddrew]

"The New York Post ran an unsavory story today that might ring a bell with a few parents. A Manhattan mother and her 6-year-old son were riding in a taxi cab when the little boy suddenly vomited all over the back seat. Horrified, the mother told the driver that as soon as they reached her destination, her husband would come down with some cleaning products and they would take care of the pungent mess. The cab driver flatly refused, instead insisting that the woman pay him $120 for a professional cleaning job. Debate ensued. Upon reaching her destination, the cab driver called the cops while the mother started scrubbing. When the police arrived, they said the driver had no grounds to make the demand. The mother refused to pay anything more than a her fare and four dollar tip. The cabbie drove off, later saying that the foul stench from the interior of his cab scared away a good deal of business.
As parents, we all know what it’s like when our children suddenly throw up. It’s awful and unfortunate. We feel for our children and deal with the mess. It’s just all a part of parenting. But do you sympathize with the cab driver at all in this instance? Did he have the right to demand the money for a professional cleaning job? What would you have done if you were the parent in this situation?"

http://moms.today.com/_news/2010/10...cabbie-blows-up-but-mom-wont-pay-up?gt1=43001

The Mom should have paid for a professional cleaning.
You know as soon as she got out of that cab she wasn't coming back.
I'll be right back with my husband and some cleaning supplies, yeah right.
Would you want to ride in a cab that reeks of vomit?

Parents need to take responsibility for the actions of their kids.

Your kid is screaming their head off in a movie or restaurant, you take them outside, your kid super barfs in a cab, you pay to have it properly cleaned.
Your kid vandalizes the neighbors house, you pay to have it repaired.
This is how it should be IMO

What do you guys think?

 

[shafty420]

that poor cabby that cabs probably his life so shes just ruined him storys like this annoy me cus people just don't teach there kids respect in this case namely cus they don't have any themselves some people shouldnt be aloud to procreate

 

[BrainSellz]

I would think its unsanitary for the public since its public transportation however 120 dollars is alot for cleaning a seat unless he was also covering lost wages for the day. If you puke in a cab around here its something like 40 bucks for the clean up.

 

[Cookie monster]

What would Judge Judy do????....apart from a lot of shouting

It's not unreasonable for the taxi driver to demand compensation for a pro clean job, it's doubtful the parents will have the equipment to do the job properly.

Maybe he should keep a few puke bags in the back of the cab, probably not the first time it's happened...

 

[♥Mo♥]

I think this is the cost of doing business. She was cleaning when cops came, she offered to have her husband clean when she got to her destination. She was willing and did pay the fare plus $4 tip. I am pretty sure airlines, trains, buses and most other public transportation does not demand a cleaning fee for vomiting. Unfortunate but part of the business imo.

 

[CrumpleZone]

Puking passengers is part of the cost of doing business.

 

[Mr. Mountain]

She should pay for a professional cleaning job. $120 is kind of expensive though. At the very least she should have offered to have it detailed at a less expensive (but still suitable) establishment.

If it had been me I would have cleaned it up as best I could at the moment, then had it detailed at my expense.

That cab is that man's office, his place of business. Show a little respect.




Lets not forget...

She only gave him a $4 tip...


The fact that she gave him a $4 tip speaks volumes! I don't care if the fare was only $5 or $10. If your kid throws up in the back of the cab at least drop a $20 on the guy. Not to mention you just avoided paying $120 to get the cab cleaned, GIVE THE POOR GUY A NICE TIP!


Talk about cheap,



Mr. M

 

[arcticsun]

Vomit is unsanitary, she most likely will not have the correct products to kill the possible harmful bacteria in the seat. Taxi's often use professional car cleaners to ensure their car is cleaned correctly and thoroughly.

She should definitively have paid for cleaning it, alltho 120 sound a bit stiff, half that should be sufficient.

 

[KharmaGirl]

lmao! She's a MOTHER....She'd have the neccesary cleaning products to clean up kid puke

 

[arcticsun]

lmao! She's a MOTHER....She'd have the neccesary cleaning products to clean up kid puke

Not according to public health regulations?

 

[Happy Haole]

It's obvious here who doesn't have children. Offering to clean it was more than sufficient but not necessary. It's part of doing business. And to the person who said she wasn't c
oming back after leaving the cab.....seems you let out exactly what you would have done. Everyone isn't always trying to get over on someone and some people are good for their word. How many drunks that puke in a cab get charged a $120 cleaning fee? None, that's how many.

 

[KharmaGirl]

Not according to public health regulations?

what? I can guarantee you I can clean up to any standard...It isn't exactly difficult...

 

[Miss Blunted]

Oh my god people....it's a kid, he got sick. For all of you that don't have kids, you WERE kids once too...don't be so harsh. I know I'm gonna find myself in situations like that after my son is born, not like anyone means any harm. I think the Mother was absolutely mortified and felt terrible. She offered to do what she could. Let the freakin' cab company pay for the cleaning. How many drunk people you think puke in cabs and aren't asked to pay for damages??? I've never asked someone to pay me for puking in my car....and I myself have never even puked in my own car...or anyone else's. It just happens. What a dick cab driver!!! Invest in a freakin' bissell douche bag....mine was only $200 and it'll clean a car interior waaaaaaay more than once for $120.

 

[arcticsun]

sry.. my English language skills fails to express what i meant.. ill try again..

Atleast in my country, cleaning is a professional job. Even tho mothers in general do a great job of cleaning and im sure they clean up after their kids constantly. Even so, I doubt the avg mother has the same professional tools and skills as a professional cleaner does. I think its fair to ask for a professional cleaning job since vomit is so unsanitary.

 

[KharmaGirl]

Professional skills lol! It's scrubbing puke out of upholstery.Yes, I bet any mother could outclean your average Molly Maid..I don't clean for fun...when I do it I do it right and well.

 

[arcticsun]

How many drunk people you think puke in cabs and aren't asked to pay for damages??? I've never asked someone to pay me for puking in my car....and I myself have never even puked in my own car...or anyone else's. It just happens. What a dick cab driver!!!

Thats nice of you, but afaik at least in my town its customary to pay for cleaning if you drunk vomit in the car. They use a cleaning service for the job.


Should you or should you not be held responsible if you puke, well thats a different question then whether or not one should use a professional cleaning service or not IF one is held responsible.

 

[arcticsun]

Professional skills lol! It's scrubbing puke out of upholstery.Yes, I bet any mother could outclean your average Molly Maid..I don't clean for fun...when I do it I do it right and well.

They actually go to school for it, think its a two year study here.. You get a title and everything.

 

[Miss Blunted]

Thats nice of you, but afaik at least in my town its customary to pay for cleaning if you drunk vomit in the car. They use a cleaning service for the job.


Should you or should you not be held responsible if you puke, well thats a different question then whether or not one should use a professional cleaning service or not IF one is held responsible.

Lol, I wouldn't know how it is here Arctic, I don't really drink and I've never gotten sick in a car...there may be a cleaning fee each cab company has. Hopefully not $120 though!

Karma Girl....hot water and an extraction devise(carpet cleaner with hose) can do it all. I have to clean up puke from my 5 cats almost weekly, it gets it done! Mom's have to take all the heat for their kids...oh boy, I can't wait for that...lol

 

[KharmaGirl]

People need 2 years to learn how to properly clean??? That's messed up...lol no pun intended...Proper supplies and elbow grease..

 

[arcticsun]

People need 2 years to learn how to properly clean??? That's messed up...lol no pun intended...Proper supplies and elbow grease..

hehe yeah i see your point


Its Scandinavia.. All jobs are protected, you cant take a jerkoff here without a diploma and a certificate.


I guess its a Scandinavian thing maybe, we have a really heavy bureaucracy. You cant get any type of public cleaning job here without some type of diploma or education.