Taxi Driver Online

Disabled Sue Wall kicks up stink over ban by Ashford Taxis for odour caused by illness


nidge really fancies this lass

A disabled woman claims she has been the victim of "embarrassing" discrimination after a cab firm questioned her personal hygiene and banned her from using their vehicles.

Sue Wall, 63, suffers from a condition called weeping cellulitis - a painful infection of the legs that can emit an unpleasant odour.

The condition can be life-threatening if left untreated, so Miss Wall (pictured right) takes medication and receives regular assistance from medical professionals.

Miss Wall, of Beechholme Drive, Kennington, Ashford, is reliant on public transport to get around and regularly uses Ashford Taxis.

On one occasion when her illness was particularly bad, she advised her driver about what was happening - and explained the odour.

But the next time she attempted to book a car through the company to take her shopping, she was refused on the grounds of "poor personal hygiene".

Miss Wall said: "I felt devastated by the reaction of Ashford Taxis and the incident has knocked my confidence severely.

"I am appalled by their rudeness and feel that a well placed apology could have alleviated a lot of mental suffering on my part."

Miss Wall contacted her borough councillor Michael Claughton, who took the matter up on her behalf.

Cllr Claughton said: "I have met with the council's licensing officer Jack Godley and we contacted Ashford Taxis.

"I am very displeased to learn that the matter has not been addressed and an apology made by the company, given what must have been very personal and distressful circumstances for Miss Wall."


Ashford taxi sign

Sue Wall has been banned by Ashford Taxis

A spokesman for Ashford Taxis said other cab firms in the town had either banned Sue Wall or refused to pick her up.

In a statement, the company said: "Miss Wall would leave a terrible odour behind in the taxis, so much so that it was embarrassing to pick up other customers until the stench cleared away.

"We have had to have the cars valeted at a cost to us and meaning that the driver concerned has been off the road, unable to work and not earning money.

"We do, of course, sympathise with Miss Wall's condition but have to consider other members of the public and our staff’s health and wellbeing."


source: http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_exp ... _case.aspx

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

Wot...no charity/volunteer drivers around there?

If one was "devastated" and had their "confidence" knocked, along with "Mental suffering", then the last thing in the world you would want is publicity........another one it would seem to want the sympathy card being brought out.

With that kind of problem we have a medical service who should help her through it - we are NOT social services.It is not me being hard nosed - if it is not stopped at basic problems, we will be expected to pick up passengers leaking from every orifice.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

i back firm if lady has leaks then she leave trace that someone else could get infection from posiby tell council to sit in seat i poo on 5 minute early an maybe they understand after

Well best you go around and take her out in your car.

Nothing worse than smelly or leaky punters.

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IDFIMH

Hey Cassey leave me out of this one, I've had older and bigger.

Anyway back to the serious stuff, if she's leaking bodily fluids then the firm is well within their rights not to take her, it's akin to someone being covered in sick walking towards your car while on trap one, tell them to do one.

I have had to stop taking a customer because the cab stank for ages afterwards,it's not fair on the next customers.

I bet the driver was fascinated to the point of being sick with excitement..or something.

Well, it's an equality act.
That gives everyone an equal right to be refused for being smelly.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

So true, It's Equality for all and not just for some.

We've had a driver who's been dragged over the coals this last week because she wouldn't take a smelly passenger, believe me she does smell to high heaven and the car smells for ages after. I've never smelt anything like it, the first time I picked her up I was heaving all the way back to the rank. Industrial odour kill didn't get rid of the smell.

No they only take the ones that don't smell

This goes back to the same arguments as were voiced on my recent thread and that is that we provide a service to the public but that does not give the public a right to that service under any and all circumstances

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector