No taxi for you cripple.

[Cynical Ninja]

A large taxi cab firm in Middleborough in the UK has adopted a new policy of refusing the custom of disabled customers.

The local authority told the company it could no longer charge disabled customers more than able bodied customers so the owner of the company then told his call takers and drivers not to provide service to disabled customers anymore.

What do you think? Is the owner being a twat? Or should he be able to decide?

[HairOfTheDog]

We have similar problems here and it's very frustrating.

It's sometimes really difficult to get a taxi for clients who are in wheelchairs or otherwise disabled. There are some services that exist specifically for that purpose, but they're expensive and often not available; booked.

As a business owner, I get it. It usually takes a lot longer to get the disabled in and out of the taxi and sometimes the drivers have to assist. It slows down the business, time is money, and there are some liability issues to consider.

BUT, it truly sucks that the disabled either have to pay more or take their chances that a cabbie will come through.

Anyway, I think the business should be able to decide, even though it sucks. We know which standard cab companies are more inclined to provide the service and they get all of our business and bigger tips (which we make clear when booking the rides) - sometimes that works.

[Duchess]

What do you think? Is the owner being a twat? Or should he be able to decide?

Both - twat & be able to decide what's best for his business.

[Maggot]

Nothing is free.

[Cynical Ninja]

Before I learned to drive and got a car we used got a lot of taxis often to do shopping and we had a policy.

If the driver gets off his arse and helps us with the shopping he gets a sizeable 20 %+ tip. If he doesn't he gets fuck all.

I am so glad we rarely get taxis now not having to listen to taxi drivers bullshit opinions and theories.

[ZEROSPHERES]

All disabled in the village should call for taxis and when asked if they are disabled and need extra assistance answer no. When the taxi arrives and its evident the rider needs extra help and the driver refuses to provide the service it will prove to have wasted the bosses time and money. The disabled should keep doing this as a war of attrition against the policy of the company as a protest and showing they have some power to express their opposition to the treatment by this company.

[Cynical Ninja]

I like it zero!

Don't fuck with the disabled or they will fuck you back.