Taxi Driver Online

Taxi firm sorry for cutting off calls from stroke victim with speech difficulties

A stroke victim struggled to book a taxi after operators put the phone down on him due to his speech impairment.

William James, 74, of east Hull, suffered two strokes in a month which left him unable to talk at a normal speed.

As a result, the phone was put down on him on four separate occasions as he tried to book a cab with 35 Taxis.

The pensioner, of St John's Grove, said: "I had two strokes and since then I have to think about every word I speak.

"Since the stroke, four times the taxi operators have hung up on me.

"It makes me feel like I'm some kind of weirdo. It's left me really frustrated. Perhaps they think I'm drunk.

"It's a shame because when I do get a taxi the drivers have been impeccable and sympathetic."

Co-owner of 35 Taxis Ian Lamping has apologised for the distress caused to Mr James.

He said: "I would like to make a groveling apology to Mr James.

"We are not in the business of turning away customers.

"But we have now put the fact Mr James has had a stroke on his details so when he calls the operator will be aware of his situation.

"We are keen to accommodate everyone."

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

So long as they can get their request said within 30 seconds

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

If you've got decent office staff who know this person then none of this would have happened.

We have people phone us up who have speech impediments, the operators know who they are and where they live, they know where they want to go to and at what time.

Decent staff = end of problem.

I have a similar problem with a mentally retarded customer the problem is with him that he can't tell you just the booking info its a load of other guff as well which coupled with the fact he cannot speak properly and then he repeats himself the phonecall is always upwards of 5 mins during which time you can lose three or four other calls and he will always phone up to 5 times over every booking because he believes you haven't understood him

Sometimes you have to take a commercial descision its not always a nice thing to do BUT some customers are too much trouble taxi firms are NOT a council funded social service they are a business

Totally agree with you, but, here peanuts and monkeys spring to mind

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

such charm

I find the majority of customers mentally retarded, as well as a good number of drivers and trade reps.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Its a hard call though...tis not easy at times to tell the mentally disadvantaged and the simply mental....more so at pub closing time...