So I’ve been a taxi driver for the past few years, and in that time I’ve had a few smelly customers, and usually if that happens I just drive with the window open to get rid of the smell.
So a few days ago I picked a customer up who wanted to travel about 5 miles, and I very quickly realised that this guy smelled absolutely disgusting, by far the most putrid, acrid and brutal stench I’ve ever smelled coming from a human being in my life…and as it was raining hard outside, I couldn’t even open the window as I and the interior of the car would have gotten soaked.
So about a mile into the journey, I pulled over at a sheltered bus stop, and politely as possible informed the guy that I would not be able to continue the journey due to his smell, but I would not be charging him anything (it was a cash job), he didn’t say anything and just got out of the car….I then had to drive all the way home with this guys stench still in the car, so I could park the car in my garage with the windows wide open for an hour to get this disgusting smell out before I could pick anymore customers up….so I lost over an hours pay plus the money I would have got from that customers job if he didn’t stink so bad.
I told my girlfriend about this, and she said it was ‘cruel’ of me to do that, and that guy would probably feel bad because of me now.
I haven’t heard anything about this from the taxi company, so I guess the guy didn’t say anything to them.
AITA here?
NTA. Ew
NTA, assuming the stench is as bad as you say it is. Companies do have rules for customer hygiene as well, and I’m surprised my work hasn’t kicked people out for it before.
NAH. I feel for the guy, I really do; some people have medical conditions or lack access to hygiene facilities. But at the same time, it’s really difficult to deal with harsh smells in enclosed spaces, and it sounds like you managed the best you could for as long as you could.
NTA.
Sure, there is a list of reasons why the guy could be smelling like that, but none of them should force you to provide the service (as a taxi driver). If tou weren’t mean at communicating it, I don’t see it as cruelty.
exactly. You weren’t rude about it, and you still have to look out for yourself. Some situations just aren’t workable, and that’s okay
NTA
NTA
You wanna know how to not get told you smell??…. .Take a damn shower and don’t go out in public smelling so horribly that you can’t even get a 5 mile taxi ride. The only person responsible for that person’s possible embarrassment is THEM!
NTA, tell your gf to sit through the same thing see how she feels.
I know someone who chooses not to wash, pisses themselves and even shits themselves. This person does it as they want more benefits. I said you can’t get into someone’s taxi with literal shit in his pants and he said he doesn’t care. Why the hell should you?! What happens if they have hepatitis and you’re having to touch that crap. Not paid enough.
That’s absolutely vile.
What a lad
You could also ask your gf to clean the car too.
NTA, bro was stinky
NTA