A BLIND woman and her guide dog were left in the “freezing cold” after a driver from a Wirral taxi firm refused to take them.
Monica Price, who is registered blind and in her 80s, was attending a meeting a few miles away from her home in Wallasey and had booked two taxis with Argyle Taxis in Birkenhead to get to and from her location.
However, when her taxi pulled up she describes how she was “screamed” at by the driver.
She told the Globe: “I went outside just after making the call but there was a large van outside my gate and I could not see beyond it but then I heard someone shout that the cab was further down the road.
“The driver was most unfriendly and announced he had been waiting for at least five minutes.
“He must have seen I had a Guide Dog but it was only when I got to the car with my dog’s harness in my hand that he screamed at me, ‘I can’t take you. I’m allergic. Get that dog away from me’.”
Monica said the driver then jumped out his car "still screaming" and ran down the street leaving her stranded on the street.
She said: “Eventually another taxi was called and I might have just put this episode down to experience but the man who came to collect me from my meeting was rude and belligerent, shouting he was allergic to dogs.
“He drove off and left me in the freezing cold. I had to get someone from the meeting to bring me home.”
Following the ordeal, Monica is hoping to raise awareness around the issues of illegal access refusals for guide dog owners.
She said: “I am in my 80s, registered blind and I have a Guide Dog, therefore I meet the criteria of the 2010 Equality Act as a disabled person.
“I have a small amount of sight in my right eye and I am dependent upon my dog who enables me to live a normal life.
“I live alone now and I need to hire taxis fairly frequently since I don’t live near a station and the designated areas in buses are often full.
“The Equality Act is very specific about taxi drivers, whether they work for black cabs or for one of the many private hire companies.
“Drivers must, by law, accept guide dogs and other assistance dogs unless they are allergic to dogs in which case they must provide a medical certificate to verify this.
“Hire companies will have a list of those who are medically exempt and obviously should not send these drivers to passengers with assistance dogs.
“Refusals on the grounds of allergy are common now throughout the UK. Taxi firms are saying they cannot force their drivers to take assistance dogs because if they try that the drivers will leave and go to other firms.
“It is also quite usual to suffer distressing remarks all the way to one’s destination.
“One driver said to me, ‘I have the right to say who comes into my car, not you’, When one driver taking me rang his company to complain about taking a guide dog the response which I heard was, ‘Sorry, mate. It won’t happen again’.
“The odd thing is that all assistance dogs are well trained, beautifully behaved and sit quietly throughout the journey.
“These are working dogs, not pet dogs and they do their jobs extremely well.
“By refusing those of us who have them drivers are refusing disabled people and are insisting on treating us differently. It is discrimination all the way.
“We should not have to feel distressed or apprehensive when we call a taxi.
“We should not have to worry whether the drivers will cause a scene or make us uncomfortable. Surely it is difficult enough to cope with our disabilities without that.”
An Argyle Satellite spokesperson said: “We are deeply disappointed to hear of the alleged incident and strongly condemn any breach of the Disability Discrimination Act or the Equality Act.
“Argyle Satellite will work with the authorities to ensure all passengers are treated equally.
“We expect all our drivers to adhere to the Equality Act 2010, and uphold their duty to carry passengers with guide, hearing, and other assistance dogs without additional charge, except for those who have successfully applied to the council for exemption on medical grounds.
“We have now begun an internal investigation, and will be fully compliant with Wirral Licensing, providing all details required including call recordings, and booking details, to assist them with their own investigations.
“Since being made aware of the complaint, our team have been in in contact with Monica Price to offer further support.”
