Regular readers might remember the drama I had in the summer when I was refused a short taxi fare.
A throwaway line in a blog post about The Teenager and a potentially dead cat was picked up by the BBC.
I guess it’s a sad indictment that I’m so inured to being treated shabbily now I have MS that I didn’t make more of a song and dance about it at the time and I will always regret walking away from the taxi line, embarrassed and upset.
Thankfully, Carmarthenshire County Council took up the case, tracked the driver through CCTV cameras and pulled him in for a chat.
So far so good. The lovely peep at the Council has been keeping me up to date and I fully expected the driver to put his hands up, give some kind of excuse – the economy, stress, a bad day, whatever – and we’d all be on our way, with the him perhaps being a bit more mindful in the future.
So I really wasn’t prepared for the phone-call I received yesterday; The Licensing Committee had met, the driver was there to put his case forward and a statement I had prepared was read out to the fifteen members.
The driver has denied everything.
Apparently I only asked him for directions.
Because of course, that’s what someone with MS would do, after an extremely uncomfortable train journey, searing heat and facing a long trek up a hill with a suitcase to somewhere I had never been before.
The CCTV shows me speaking to him for over a minute – rather long for the directions of ‘up the hill and take a right’. In reality, I had been arguing my case, pulling out my ‘I have MS’ card, paperwork relating to the MS Society Cymru Council meeting I was there for and basically pleading for him to take me to the hotel, a large tip guaranteed.
The Committee will be meeting again in December to hear more evidence and I have now decided to appear in person. If there is one thing I cannot stand above all, it is to be called a liar.
I’ll be driving there.
The case continues …
All taxis use cameras to record everything now so that driver should have it unless he deletes that particular night. And why delete it if it supports his version?
I asked that. Apparently he is self-employed and writes everything down.He has no camera.
According to his handwritten notes, he took someone to the same hotel, on the same day.
Jus’ saying …
x
Cheering for you!!
Thank you!
Roll on December …
x
It’s unbelievable that people can do something and then eat their words and backtrack to make you out as liar. Of course it makes sense that you’d walk up the hill probably skipping as you went(!) Just to confirm my sarcasm drive has kicked in there! you stick to your guns hon. He was completely in the wrong and his reaction to you goes against decent humanity. Look forward to seeing how it ends up and hope he is squirming and losing sleep over this! Take care x
It really is! It now feels like I’m the one on trial and I’m not happy about it.
I would have had far more respect for him if he had just said he’d messed up!
x
You go for it. How dare he. Or as my mum would say, he’s face won’t be in heaven/or what ever his belief is. Don’t let the —— —– get you down. Hope they are paying for your petrol. Xx
The council have been absolutely lovely and said they would reimburse petrol costs 🙂
x
Wow. The thought of that uphill walk, with luggage, while tired, makes me want to cry. I’m so glad you’ll be following up on this. That taxi driver needs to understand what he did wrong.
I get tired just remembering how awful it was 🙁 Just sad it’s got to this stage!
x
Good for you! You go get ’em girl. I hope when his lies are uncovered, the punishment will be appropriate – make him walk up the hill with a heavy suitcase while at the same time being pulled backwards by heavy elastic!
Can’t wait to hear the outcome 🙂
Love that!!
x
Well that’s interesting. Why deny it. Man up that it happened and learn from it. You may have been the first person he met with MS or he thought MS was only when you’re in a wheelchair.
Being called a liar is a big deal and I think you are right to go in person to the next meeting.
Keep us up to date. Xx
Thank you!
I’m really angry about it now. I was prepared to let it go, as I said, but now, it just seems so unfair. I almost feel like I’m the one on trial!
x
We see the world in a different way, and steps like this opens that spectrum a little more. One day, it’ll allow people enter and experience life with MS – it’s a watershed moment. Good luck.
Had a hard day, so being a bit philosophical 🙂
Thanks Mike! A lovely philosophical comment!!
x
What an awful situation for you to be in, so unfair and very stressful I imagine. Hope you can shame this taxi driver and get a full apology but it’s quite disgraceful that you are being put through this. Some people really need their eyes opening to the needs of others.
It truly is, and the last thing I needed right now. Or ever I guess! Makes me wonder how many times this happens, every day 🙁
x
What a waste of YOUR energy, when an apology would have sufficed. x
Absolutely – to spin it out like this is just horrendous. Big thanks to everyone in the MS Society Cymru Council for being so supportive, as well as everyone in the blogosphere. Would be horrendous to go through this alone!
x