Taxi Driver Online

Harpenden man charged extra by taxi for using a wheelchair

Wheelchair user Mike Joiner recorded the moment an employee of Harpenden Taxis told him it would cost more to take him home in one of their taxis because he is in a wheelchair.

Charging extra for wheelchair users became illegal on April 6 2017 under the Equality Act 2010 for both private hire and taxis, and drivers still implementing a discriminatory policy face a £1,000 fine and may have their licence suspended or revoked.

Mike booked a cab with the company from his home to the train station on June 3, confirming whether he could be accommodated in an electric wheelchair. He has a rare condition called Addison’s disease which means his body does not produce enough cortisol – it leaves Mike extremely fatigued and sometimes confused, and he has such little body weight and muscle mass that he needs a wheelchair to get out of the house.

When the first taxi arrived it could not accommodate his needs, but shortly afterwards a second car arrived which could. But upon arrival at the Harpenden Taxi office at the station, Mike was told the fare would cost him double, from £5 to £10, because of his wheelchair. Mike said: “I asked them if they were aware of the law change, and he answered ‘it’s not my law’. “So I told them I was refusing to pay the extra £5 and he replied that when I call for a taxi again, they would not accept me. “I felt frustrated and quite upset but just left them to it.”

For his booking home, Mike decided to record his conversation as evidence. He can be heard saying: “I have an electric wheelchair, I want to know if they are going to charge me extra?”

A booking office employee replies: “Ah, they most likely are.”

Mike retorts: “Because you know the law has changed now.”

The person dismisses him: “You will have to speak to the driver, there should be a driver there who will take you though.”

There are two taxi booking offices at Harpenden Station - but the other company who operates from the location, A1 Taxis, have been closed for refurbishment for about three weeks. In the end, Mike had to make his own way home in his wheelchair: “It was very frustrating because I was very tired and when I get tired I get confused.” Mike has lodged a complaint with St Albans district council.

A spokesperson from Harpenden Taxis did not seem to be aware of the law change: “Wheelchair passengers are charged no extra fares when being picked up from taxi ranks, however when a private hire telephone booking is made, they are charged between £7 and £10. “The customer was not overcharged.”

Deputy head of legal, democratic and regulatory services for St Albans district council, Maria Staff, said an investigation is ongoing: “The allegation is that a taxi company refused to take a passenger to their required destination unless they were paid double the normal fare. We cannot provide further details at this point because the case is under investigation.”

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IDFIMH

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IDFIMH

So the *other* firm mentioned in the original article makes exactly the same mistake as the first firm almost two years on

Harpenden man records footage of taxi driver telling him wheelchairs incur surcharge

https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/harpende ... -1-5918284

A disabled Harpenden man has once again recorded evidence of a taxi driver telling him he is being charged extra for a wheelchair-compatible vehicle.

The incident happened on February 16, when Mike Joiner ordered an A1 Taxi from his home for a 1.7mile journey to Spire Harpenden Hospital.

Mike has a rare condition called Addison’s disease which means his body does not produce enough cortisol – leaving him extremely fatigued, sometimes confused, and with such little muscle mass that he needs a wheelchair to get out of the house.

When the vehicle arrived, the 53-year-old recorded his conversation with the driver.

Mike said: “You don’t charge excess do you, for the chair?”

The driver replied: “Yeah, we do.” He then said the surcharge starts at £7, “or something like that”.

Charging extra for wheelchair users became illegal in April 2017 under the Equality Act 2010 for both private hire and taxis, on penalty of an £1,000 fine and a licence review.

This is not the first time Mike has been in this situation - in June 2017 the Herts Advertiser published a recording of a different taxi firm doubling his fare because of the wheelchair.

Mike said: “Discrimination is all around us, from people walking down the street who think it is easier for me to go into road around them - these people are just arrogant. When it comes to companies there should be no excuses.”

He described it as “degrading” and has since complained to St Albans district council (SADC).

A spokesperson from SADC said: “I can confirm we received a complaint that there has been a breach of the Equalities Act by a taxi firm and we are now investigating this.

“We take such investigations very seriously.”

A1 Taxis deny the accusations: “The customer who made the booking was advised that to accommodate his requirements there would be an element of an extra charge, by reason of the fact a larger vehicle was required to accommodate the customer’s requirements and the fact that the only vehicle available was located in St Albans and would have to do the additional travelling time from St Albans to Harpenden.

“Had the customer not agreed, no vehicle would have been dispatched.

“At all times A1 Taxis strive to comply with licensing requirements.”

The spokesperson noted that Mike has not complained directly to A1 Taxis, but if he did it would be investigated accordingly.

Any merit in that argument?

No, as they could have declined the booking for that reason.

Once they took the booking, and once they have used the excuse above, in short they are f***ed.

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IDFIMH