Real Class

Early this morning two black US sailors requested, "Kings Cross; a hip-hop club." "No worries, I’ll take you to Sapphire," I told them, guessing it was close to their style of music. Readers familiar with Sapphire nightclub can confirm if I was right.

Sapphire is on Kellet, a narrow one lane street which was blocked with cabs servicing a closing bar. Three girls approached and poured one legless friend into the back seat, saying, "Ring us when you get home. Bye." Great, now she was my responsibility.

She couldn’t even sit up straight so before she fell asleep I asked for her exact address. However two minutes later she called, "Stop the cab, I want to vomit !" We were adjacent to the Coke billboard at the top of William Street and I steered the cab to the kerb where she leant out the door and spent some minutes going through an excruciating work-out.

It didn’t take long for a couple of scumbags to gather round, laughing loudly and mimicking her guttural sound effects. "Hey you guys," I called, "piss off ! Give the girl a break", which they duly did. She recovered and fortunately I had some tissues for her. "I’m really sorry," she apologised. "Mate, don’t worry about it," I told her. "It happens to everyone." Though not everyone has the class to open the door before vomiting.

Sure enough, twice more she needed to stop; once next to the Town Hall and thence in suburban Drummoyne, for three or four minutes each time. Whilst stylishly dressed in designer jeans and stilettos, she presented a less than elegant sight hanging out the open door, with her duds half way down her butt and revealing lacy knickers.

After what seemed like an age we reached her home, where I was forced to endure another heaving episode whilst waiting for the fare. She finally paid and stumbled away, only to have me call her back for her phone and a bracelet left on the seat.

At a nearby service station I stopped to check for soiling. There was some minor ‘deposits’ on the door sill and rubber seals which I removed with a squeegee. However the squeamish job was sweetened by a twenty dollar note lying on the floor. Cool, I thought, she even left money for the clean-up. In the cab game that’s real class.

Comments

[Yoffi]

Not sure if she was meant to but YAY for you. That was thoughtful of her to leave a tip.

[John]

You were really lucky there, Nothing worse than hot steaming vomit running down your back.
I really don't know why girls get so hammered and head off home alone.
Though thinking about it perhaps she had split up then got hammered.
Keep up the good work. dublin taxi

[Smokey]

Gosh, Adrian - I hope you're not a sympathy vomiter!!!

[Dataceptionist]

No offence Adrian, but if I was smashed I certainly wouldn't want to be bundled off in a taxi alone. I would hope my friends would be slightly more responsible, and when I sobered up we'd laugh about how I ruined their night getting too wasted, then apologise and be their escort next time.
Hell that's what I have a husband for now.

[Diana]

I would like to ask a Question though (maybe someone reading this will know the answer to it). Yesterday I was (sadly) in the same situation as that girl, and the taxi driver, what i noticed today on my account took 100$ from kings cross to UNSW. I'm very certain that a this ride was not supposed to cost this much, but should have costed maximum 20. My theory is that he charged me for clean up, but 80$? And I am also sure I didn't mess his car up to that extend! Are there any rules regarding vomiting in a cab, and possible fees? Thanks beforehand for whoever answering, sincerely
Di

[adrian]

Diana, coincidentally last night, some passengers told of the same $80 quote from another driver for clean-up. The correct fee is found in my posted Transport Dept link,

If you dirty the taxi, the driver can charge you one hour's waiting fee for the cost of cleaning up ($40.91).

Unfortunately it would appear you've been taken advantage of and unless you retained the fare receipt and/or cab number, an appeal would be hard to investigate. However if your account debit can be traced to the recipient, then the taxi network should be able to take it further.

[Diana]

Thanks Adrian, will call them to fix this then.

[Paul Pluta]

Adrian - why "toady" to this drunk fool DIANA?
If she was sick in somebody's car.... $80- is cheap..... tell that stupid girl I will pay her $80- and then vomit in her car..... see if she thinks it is such a great deal.

$40-91 is NOT the offical rate..... perhaps you are still living in the 80s? The published clean up rate is $75-$100. SIMPLE.

Personally I would prefer not to clean up vomit for any amount of money......

As for DIANA ..... you make me sick! YOU ARE A SCAB.....

[adrian]

Paul, I've linked and quoted the official rate, where's your evidence ? As for the rest of the comment it reflects more on yourself.