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Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
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Author:  captain cab [ Sun May 04, 2014 6:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare



A WORTHING private hire driver refused to take a fare from a profoundly deaf couple because they were travelling with a hearing assistance dog.

Paul Tolchard called A2B Taxis to book a vehicle to take himself, his wife Sarah and her parents Cathleen, 71, and Richard Edwards, 73, to West Worthing railway station on March 28.

But when the driver arrived at the Edwards’ home in Leeward Road, Tarring, at 9am, he said that his insurance would be invalidated if he allowed Cleo, a small cocker spaniel/miniature poodle cross, which has been specially trained, to travel.

Mrs Tolchard, of Upton Road, Tarring, said: “We were going on a coach at the station to go down to Devon for a short break.

“When the driver turned up we loaded everything into the car and then he saw we were all getting in. I think he had assumed that my mum was seeing us off.

“He said he was not taking the dog and I told him it was like a guide dog and that I did not think he was able to refuse.

“He told us that it would be dangerous because the dog would be under his feet.

“Even though I told him that the harness was on so he would be attached to my mum so that would be impossible, he still said no.

“He did call another taxi, which arrived about 20 minutes later, and we were told that the first driver should not have done that.

“It came completely out of the blue, I was so shocked.

“We have never had any problems before and Cleo wears a jacket to say that she is a hearing dog.

“She has stayed in hotels, gone to restaurants and wherever mum goes Cleo goes with her.

“We have been told that it works in the same way as a guide dog in that the dogs can go anywhere.”

Mrs Tolchard said her parents, who have both been deaf since birth, were upset by what happened. “Mum shouted at the driver that what he was doing was against the law but unfortunately at the time I did not know what was right or wrong,” she said.

“I am really angry on my parents’ behalf. The driver was not rude but he was really adamant and it was totally unnecessary.

“Taxi drivers should know what the rules are so this does not happen again.”

Mrs Tolchard has since contacted Worthing Borough Council and the driver met with the council licensing officer last Wednesday.

She said: “When we looked further into it and looked at the paperwork that came when mum got the dog, we realised it was actually an offence to refuse to accept a booking or fare on behalf of a disabled person who has to take a hearing or assistance dog unless they have a medical condition to exclude them.”

John Roberts, of A2B Taxis, said: “This driver broke his licence from the council by refusing to take the hearing dog but because he is self-employed this matter has been dealt with by Worthing Borough Council.

“This driver was unaware that a hearing dog was in the same bracket as a guide dog and he should have taken the dog. However, when the booking was made there was no mention of a dog. It’s a horrible situation because he could have lost his licence.”

The council took no further action.

http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/news/lo ... -1-6028006
Author:  gusmac [ Sun May 04, 2014 7:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
Quote:
“This driver was unaware that a hearing dog was in the same bracket as a guide dog and he should have taken the dog. However, when the booking was made there was no mention of a dog. It’s a horrible situation because he could have lost his licence.”


Why was he unaware of his obligations? :?
Author:  Skull [ Sun May 04, 2014 8:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
Complete bollocks!!

A guide dog is a guide dog, regardless, if it is for seeing or hearing, the dog is providing assistance for the impaired senses of its owner.

I think this is one lucky taxi driver to have gotten away with this bullshit! #-o

Oh and let me guess. The driver's name was Smith? #-o #-o #-o #-o
Author:  gusmac [ Sun May 04, 2014 9:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
Skull wrote:
Complete bollocks!!

A guide dog is a guide dog, regardless, if it is for seeing or hearing, the dog is providing assistance for the impaired senses of its owner.

I think this is one lucky taxi driver to have gotten away with this bullshit! #-o

Oh and let me guess. The driver's name was Smith? #-o #-o #-o #-o


This isn't a breach of some council regulation, it's an offence for which he could have been prosecuted.
Regardless of his name, it is the driver's responsibility to know his obligations under the law.
Author:  Skull [ Sun May 04, 2014 9:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
gusmac wrote:
Skull wrote:
Complete bollocks!!

A guide dog is a guide dog, regardless, if it is for seeing or hearing, the dog is providing assistance for the impaired senses of its owner.

I think this is one lucky taxi driver to have gotten away with this bullshit! #-o

Oh and let me guess. The driver's name was Smith? #-o #-o #-o #-o


This isn't a breach of some council regulation, it's an offence for which he could have been prosecuted.
Regardless of his name, it is the driver's responsibility to know his obligations under the law.


Absolutely!! But then you have to ask why the council ducked the issue and never prosecuted and why a hearing dog was a problem to this driver, in the first place? :?
Author:  gusmac [ Sun May 04, 2014 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
You're jumping to a conclusion there Skull :shock:

It's probably not much of a jump though..... :sad:
Author:  Skull [ Sun May 04, 2014 9:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
gusmac wrote:
You're jumping to a conclusion there Skull :shock:

It's probably not much of a jump though..... :sad:


Let me put it this way, I wouldn't want to stake my life on being wrong in my assumption. :-|

I think it's an especially warped way of looking at the world, that makes a person, refuse to pick up disabled people because they have a guide dog. :cry:

I mean, WTF.... :shock:
Author:  Sussex [ Sun May 04, 2014 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
captain cab wrote:
But when the driver arrived at the Edwards’ home in Leeward Road, Tarring, at 9am, he said that his insurance would be invalidated if he allowed Cleo, a small cocker spaniel/miniature poodle cross, which has been specially trained, to travel.

Love to read that policy. :---)
Author:  Skull [ Sun May 04, 2014 11:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
Sussex wrote:
captain cab wrote:
But when the driver arrived at the Edwards’ home in Leeward Road, Tarring, at 9am, he said that his insurance would be invalidated if he allowed Cleo, a small cocker spaniel/miniature poodle cross, which has been specially trained, to travel.

Love to read that policy. :---)


That is a pile of shi* and for the council to accept it, they must have been running away from something. :-|
Author:  roythebus [ Mon May 05, 2014 7:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
Insurance invalidated for refusing to carry a dog?? WTF planet does Mr.Smith live on?
Author:  Nidge2 [ Mon May 05, 2014 10:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
More bollocks.
Author:  cabby john [ Mon May 05, 2014 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
I have to genuinely say that I have never heard of
Quote:
a hearing assistance dog.
if I did not know better then I would think someone was taking the pizz. To my knowledge our Council/L.A makes it compulsory to do a disabled attendance course i.e someone comes along and tells us what we have to do etc, they mention guide dogs for the blind - but nothing else, so I am guessing the L.A concerned have been caught with their pants down through inadequate training.

Quote:
This driver was unaware that a hearing dog was in the same bracket as a guide dog and he should have taken the dog.


I honestly do not believe that it is common knowledge.
Author:  grandad [ Mon May 05, 2014 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Deaf couple upset as driver refuses fare
cabby john wrote:
I have to genuinely say that I have never heard of
Quote:
a hearing assistance dog.
if I did not know better then I would think someone was taking the pizz. To my knowledge our Council/L.A makes it compulsory to do a disabled attendance course i.e someone comes along and tells us what we have to do etc, they mention guide dogs for the blind - but nothing else, so I am guessing the L.A concerned have been caught with their pants down through inadequate training.

Quote:
This driver was unaware that a hearing dog was in the same bracket as a guide dog and he should have taken the dog.


I honestly do not believe that it is common knowledge.

The training should mention assistance dogs. Anyway, why is it down to the Council to train drivers? The base owner should sort it out.
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