Woman claims taxi driver used 'fat girls' jibe to refuse her a ride

A taxi driver has been claimed to have not taken a customer because of her size. Photo / Thinkstock

A South Auckland woman claims she was denied a taxi ride because the driver refused to take "big girls".

But the company denies the allegation and says the incident was a misunderstanding.

Joyce Mangisi, 30, was trying to get from Sale St bar in Auckland central to an inner-city hotel when she and her friends were allegedly told by a Sail Taxis driver they were too big for his cab.

Ms Mangisi, who is "about a size 18", thought she had misheard the driver, until he repeated himself.

"I walked up to the taxi and asked the driver through the window if he could take me and my friends to Queen St, to which he replied while shaking his head vigorously, 'No, look at my car. I can't take big girls like you.'

"I thought I must have heard wrong, so I asked him to repeat what he said and he said it slower: 'I won't carry fat girls in my car.' When he said the word 'fat' I was just blown away."

She said the incident occurred about 2am on August 2.

Ms Mangisi, from Favona, near Mangere, complained to Sail Taxis via email on August 6. Five days later, she sent a follow-up complaint, because the company had not replied.

A company representative replied that day to acknowledge the complaint and then, after two more days, responded to the allegations.

"We have spoken to the driver," operations manager Kevin Goundar wrote. "He has advised us that what he was trying to explain to you was that due to his car being a very small vehicle he suggested for you and your friends to take one of our other vehicles ... simply because you would have more space and would have a more comfortable ride."

Ms Mangisi said the taxi was a Toyota Prius.

Mr Goundar said that "due to the language barrier" for his driver there was "a huge misunderstanding" and the man was very apologetic.

But Ms Mangisi said the apology was insufficient.

Mr Goundar told the Herald last night that two to three other taxi drivers from different companies overheard the exchange and all denied Ms Mangisi's version of events.

"He's a religious and really nice guy, he wouldn't say that to anyone. We have witnesses from our taxi company and other taxi companies."

The driver was trying to encourage the woman to use the first car on the rank, that was another Sail Taxi and had been waiting longer for a fare.

Mr Goundar said the driver then offered to take Ms Mangisi if she didn't want the first taxi.

Mr Goundar said Ms Mangisi had requested compensation, but not provided her phone number for him to call her and discuss the issue.

Human Rights Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue said discrimination against size was not illegal, but it did not sit well.