Dad demands refund for 'melted £3 Asda ice cream' after Folkestone Taxi's delay in hot weather
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The manager has offered to reimburse the customer for the melted ice cream he claimed to have lost
Image: Ian Scammell/KentLive
A Folkestone dad claims he had to chuck out half of his Asda shopping after his taxi's "one hour" delay caused his food to defrost in sweltering heat.
Melvin Lee, 40, who lives in Manor Road, says he was waylaid with eight bags of groceries, which included ice cream and frozen vegetables, from the Bouverie Place shopping centre store on Bank Holiday Monday (August 26).
He dialled for Folkestone Taxis to come and get him, his girlfriend Clare Rogers, 43, and eight month old baby Edward in a pushchair on a day when temperatures were around 27 degrees.
But Mr Lee said the cab "drove around the car park", where they were waiting, and "straight past them".
He said: "One taxi pulled up and took another couple.
"My baby was stressed while waiting.
"I would like some compensation and for them to pay for the shopping I have lost.
"They said 20 minutes, then an hour, they left me outside Asda losing all my ice cream because it melted."
The dad said he ended up throwing out half of his shop, which in total cost him £45.
Image: Ian Scammell/KentLive
Driver shortage
A spokesman for Folkestone Taxis told KentLive that there was a shortage of drivers on the Bank Holiday.
He also said complaints made to the company are taken very seriously.
The spokesman said: “All our drivers are self-employed, so they can choose their own hours.
"We can’t dictate what hours they work.
“Mr Lee was told the taxi would be a minimum of 20 minutes – however it was 31 minutes, not an hour.
"Send him round with his receipt and I’ll reimburse him myself.
"I did tell Mr Lee, he shops in Asda, I don’t think they really do any expensive ice cream."
Image: Ian Scammell/KentLive
