Blind woman says taxi driver "dumped" her in Downham after telling her she was in Bromley and mocking her disability

3:10pm Monday 29th October 2012 in News By Sarah Trotter

Blind woman says taxi driver "dumped" her in the wrong place after mocking disability Blind woman says taxi driver "dumped" her in the wrong place after mocking disability

A BLIND, epileptic woman says she was left lost and stranded when a taxi driver "dumped" her in the wrong place after mocking her disability.

Lisa Medgett claims she was told "it is your fault you can’t see" by the driver - from a taxi firm covering Lewisham and Greenwich - and goaded for not being able to recognise landmarks.

The 42-year-old, who lives in Burnt Ash Hill, was then left stranded in Downham despite asking to be taken to Bromley so she could run some errands .

The blind woman says she "cried her eyes out" when she realised she had been tricked. But luckily some strangers spotted her in distress and came to her rescue.

Ms Medgett said: "He was really abusive.

"He was making fun, mocking, and after a bit of extra cash.

"He said ‘you should be able to point things out. You should know where you are. It is your fault you can’t see.’"

She claims the driver - from Hither Green-based Sure Cars - wanted to charge £50 instead of the agreed £9 for her Lee to Bromley journey.

She stepped out of the vehicle after being told she had arrived in Bromley but was luckily spotted by a good Samaritan who explained she was in Downham and called the police.

Ms Medgett later caught a separate taxi to her mother's house before returning home.

She said: "He had dumped me in Downham by a petrol station - it was frightening.

"I cried my eyes out.

"They had to give me two sweet cups of tea because I went into shock."

Sure Cars manager Michael Ellis says the situation was down to miscommunication and that Ms Medgett has been fully reimbursed for her journey.

Ms Medgett, who has previously been mugged on a bus, says she has been left shaken by the ordeal.

She said: "I am afraid blind people and people with disabilities do get targeted.

"I have been out once since then, but I didn’t enjoy it.

"It really is frightening. It takes a bit of time to regain your confidence."

Mr Ellis added: "The whole situation has been resolved satisfactorily. "Miscommunication is the only conclusion that can be drawn.

"There are three sides to every story, her story, the driver’s story and the truth."

He went on to say the driver believed Ms Medgett knew where she was being dropped and was happy with it, citing possible language barrier issues.

Responding to Ms Medgett's claims that he threatened her with legal action for speaking to News Shopper, he said: "That is a lie."

Comments(30)

plasticfantastic says...
3:39pm Mon 29 Oct 12

This disgusting excuse for a human being should lose his PCO licence, be sacked and be arrested.

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j.j. says...
3:56pm Mon 29 Oct 12

i'd be interested in hearing in what language Downham can be confused with Bromley. The fact that the driver wanted to charge more money makes it clear that this was not a misunderstanding. And now every time a potential customer googles Sure Cars this story comes up - the driver's greed could end up having a high cost for the company.

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goldenbroomboy says...
4:25pm Mon 29 Oct 12

j.j. wrote:
i'd be interested in hearing in what language Downham can be confused with Bromley. The fact that the driver wanted to charge more money makes it clear that this was not a misunderstanding. And now every time a potential customer googles Sure Cars this story comes up - the driver's greed could end up having a high cost for the company.
I won't be using them.

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tumblesocs says...
4:25pm Mon 29 Oct 12

definatley needs his licence taken away, i will not be using sure cars,given her money back i would sue them they employed him,poor women glad someone helped her well done that person.

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the wall says...
4:31pm Mon 29 Oct 12

plasticfantastic wrote:
This disgusting excuse for a human being should lose his PCO licence, be sacked and be arrested.
What on the say so of a news report?

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the wall says...
4:39pm Mon 29 Oct 12

It is very sad how this woman has been treated. The driver and cab firm have a lot of questions to answer. However demanding someone loses their job over a news report before all the facts are established is stupid.

But why were the Police called ?

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plasticfantastic says...
4:43pm Mon 29 Oct 12

the wall wrote:
plasticfantastic wrote:
This disgusting excuse for a human being should lose his PCO licence, be sacked and be arrested.
What on the say so of a news report?
Obviously not, it needs to be investigated first. Cab drivers are self employed they are not employed the cab companies, so it's down to the driver.

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mouthalmighty says...
4:51pm Mon 29 Oct 12

T is a shame the lady has suffered do. From experience, there are people in this world who totally disrespect disabled people and seriously sick children which they feel should not be part of the community.

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Sue vdv says...
7:43pm Mon 29 Oct 12

If there was a language problem then this is another reason for immigrants to learn to speak the language if they are going to work here.

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toomush2drink says...
7:50pm Mon 29 Oct 12

What a complete low life.No doubt the police were called because if the allegations are true the cab driver has possibly broken the equalities act laws.

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neonis says...
8:12pm Mon 29 Oct 12

What an evil scumbag, i hope he gets exactly what he deserves!! I hope this poor woman is ok now, and well done to those people who helped her. I won't be using that firm!

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longshanks2 says...
8:48am Tue 30 Oct 12

Any one who cant speak English should not be working where they are dealing with the public, simple as that.

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the wall says...
9:59am Tue 30 Oct 12

toomush2drink wrote:
What a complete low life.No doubt the police were called because if the allegations are true the cab driver has possibly broken the equalities act laws.
What utter rubbish !

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PaulErith says...
12:43pm Tue 30 Oct 12

the wall wrote:
toomush2drink wrote: What a complete low life.No doubt the police were called because if the allegations are true the cab driver has possibly broken the equalities act laws.
What utter rubbish !
I guess she was found in a really distressed state. The passer by that helped her may not have been able to get any sense out of her. They couldn't just leave her, so calling the police was the only other option they could think of.

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Outandabout says...
12:46pm Tue 30 Oct 12

toomush2drink wrote:
What a complete low life.No doubt the police were called because if the allegations are true the cab driver has possibly broken the equalities act laws.
Even if the Equality Act 2010 did cover an incident like this it isn't a criminal, and therefore not a Police, matter

Report this post »

PaulErith says...
12:57pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Certainly should have been a proper investigation. Mr Ellis says, "The whole situation has been resolved satisfactorily". Well, no it hasn't really has it? If the facts as told are totally true, then the driver should be sacked. However, if not, the cab firm's name has been damaged as this article paints it in a bad light and that would be wrong too. There should be an open investigation into this incident.

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the wall says...
2:03pm Tue 30 Oct 12

There should be an open investigation into this incident.”


By whom ?

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PaulErith says...
2:54pm Tue 30 Oct 12

the wall wrote:
There should be an open investigation into this incident.” By whom ?
Maybe the taxi licensing body? Correct me if wrong but I thought this fell to the council. I would have thought they have the power to revoke so should investigate the incident. Agree it's not easy as it's his word against hers but it just doesn't really feel like a very good outcome at the moment.

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plasticfantastic says...
3:37pm Tue 30 Oct 12

PaulErith wrote:
the wall wrote:
There should be an open investigation into this incident.” By whom ?
Maybe the taxi licensing body? Correct me if wrong but I thought this fell to the council. I would have thought they have the power to revoke so should investigate the incident. Agree it's not easy as it's his word against hers but it just doesn't really feel like a very good outcome at the moment.
No, licences are issued and controlled by the Public Carriage Office, as such they are responsible for taking away private hire licences. Without a licence an individual cannot work as a mini cab driver. Any company caught using non-licenced drivers would lose their operators licence. It's down to the lady involved to make a complaint. It's nothing to do with the council.

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PaulErith says...
3:51pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Thanks. I wasn't sure exactly who controlled it. However, it doesn't change the fact that they should conduct an investigation then. Obviously she'd have to complain as you said. I hope she does as if the guy did do this, he's scum who should lose his job.

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plasticfantastic says...
3:53pm Tue 30 Oct 12

PaulErith wrote:
Thanks. I wasn't sure exactly who controlled it. However, it doesn't change the fact that they should conduct an investigation then. Obviously she'd have to complain as you said. I hope she does as if the guy did do this, he's scum who should lose his job.
I agree. If anyone reads this who knows this lady, get her to complain to the Public Carriage Office. This is totally unacceptable. I wonder what other rules he breaks.

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the wall says...
5:08pm Tue 30 Oct 12

London minicabs are now licensed by London Taxis and Private Hire, or LTPH, formerly known as the Public Carriage Office. This is the same body that regulates London's licensed taxicabs, but the minicab drivers do not have to complete The Knowledge, though they must undergo a topographical test in order to obtain a Private Hire Drivers' Licence. All vehicles available for hire by London minicab drivers must hold a LTPH licence showing that they are fit for purpose; this is updated twice a year after an inspection at a licensed garage. In London new applicants must send their Topographical Skill Certificate along with their application to the PHV Driver Licensing Section of the LTPH .

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Brook says...
6:43pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Poor driver probably thought she meant Bromley-by-Bow

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toomush2drink says...
9:38pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Outandabout wrote:
toomush2drink wrote:
What a complete low life.No doubt the police were called because if the allegations are true the cab driver has possibly broken the equalities act laws.
Even if the Equality Act 2010 did cover an incident like this it isn't a criminal, and therefore not a Police, matter
Really ?

http://www.legislati
on.gov.uk/ukpga/2010
/15/section/15

How about section 4.1.1

http://www.lawsociet
y.org.uk/advice/prac
tice-notes/equality-
act-2010/#ea7

Every employer and service provider has to comply with the act.

If you think by mocking her for not being able to see is treating her fairly and did not discriminate then i have got it wrong and i apologise.

As far as i was aware discrimination is a criminal offence.

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the wall says...
9:53am Wed 31 Oct 12

toomush2drink wrote:
Outandabout wrote:
toomush2drink wrote: What a complete low life.No doubt the police were called because if the allegations are true the cab driver has possibly broken the equalities act laws.
Even if the Equality Act 2010 did cover an incident like this it isn't a criminal, and therefore not a Police, matter
Really ? http://www.legislati on.gov.uk/ukpga/2010 /15/section/15 How about section 4.1.1 http://www.lawsociet y.org.uk/advice/prac tice-notes/equality- act-2010/#ea7 Every employer and service provider has to comply with the act. If you think by mocking her for not being able to see is treating her fairly and did not discriminate then i have got it wrong and i apologise. As far as i was aware discrimination is a criminal offence.
"Every employer and service provider has to comply with the act".

Within reason.

Ringing 999 and saying " I've been the victim of discrimination" is not an emergency.

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bible scoffer says...
9:58am Wed 31 Oct 12

...shocking story - standards have dropped i'm afraid in this country, one bad driver should not tarnish the whole mini-cab company though... but we only use the traditional london taxi service, fully insured, good quality drivers who speak perfect english, know their trade and do not have to rely on the 'tom-tom' navigation-aid to get from a-to-b ...pay a tad more, but hey, you want good service, use a pre-booked traditional london taxi... makes sense.

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toomush2drink says...
8:49pm Wed 31 Oct 12

the wall wrote:
toomush2drink wrote:
Outandabout wrote:
toomush2drink wrote: What a complete low life.No doubt the police were called because if the allegations are true the cab driver has possibly broken the equalities act laws.
Even if the Equality Act 2010 did cover an incident like this it isn't a criminal, and therefore not a Police, matter
Really ? http://www.legislati on.gov.uk/ukpga/2010 /15/section/15 How about section 4.1.1 http://www.lawsociet y.org.uk/advice/prac tice-notes/equality- act-2010/#ea7 Every employer and service provider has to comply with the act. If you think by mocking her for not being able to see is treating her fairly and did not discriminate then i have got it wrong and i apologise. As far as i was aware discrimination is a criminal offence.
"Every employer and service provider has to comply with the act".

Within reason.

Ringing 999 and saying " I've been the victim of discrimination" is not an emergency.
Where does it say someone rang 999 and it was an emergency ?

So every service provider including minicab firms has to comply with the act but only within reason in your eyes ?
So mocking someone for being visually impaired doesnt qualify ?

Report this post »

the wall says...
9:38am Thu 1 Nov 12

toomush2drink wrote:
the wall wrote:
toomush2drink wrote:
Outandabout wrote:
toomush2drink wrote: What a complete low life.No doubt the police were called because if the allegations are true the cab driver has possibly broken the equalities act laws.
Even if the Equality Act 2010 did cover an incident like this it isn't a criminal, and therefore not a Police, matter
Really ? http://www.legislati on.gov.uk/ukpga/2010 /15/section/15 How about section 4.1.1 http://www.lawsociet y.org.uk/advice/prac tice-notes/equality- act-2010/#ea7 Every employer and service provider has to comply with the act. If you think by mocking her for not being able to see is treating her fairly and did not discriminate then i have got it wrong and i apologise. As far as i was aware discrimination is a criminal offence.
"Every employer and service provider has to comply with the act". Within reason. Ringing 999 and saying " I've been the victim of discrimination" is not an emergency.
Where does it say someone rang 999 and it was an emergency ? So every service provider including minicab firms has to comply with the act but only within reason in your eyes ? So mocking someone for being visually impaired doesnt qualify ?
Nothing to do within my eyes.

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Miss Middleton says...
11:03am Thu 1 Nov 12

I have used Sure Cars for many years, am in business myself and our many clients use them too. We have never had a problem with them and have always found their drivers, courteous and the company's fares are very reasonable. This type of article can ruin otherwise untarnished reputations and the Newsshopper should be ashamed of itself by making it front page news when there are far more serious things going on out there. Furthermore, one womans account of what happened, does not make this article FACT! It was probably a genuine miscommunication problem.

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mini-man says...
11:38pm Sat 10 Nov 12

I know Surecars very well, and I know Mick Ellis is a decent bloke and would not take this incident lightly. I would say it's debatable whether the driver still works for Surecars, and he would most definately had the riot act read out to him in no uncertain terms. Surecars have worked with vulnerable passengers ( from newborn babies to the old and infirm) for many years and built up a good reputation along the way. Don't let one incident cloud your judgement, the chances are you will only damage the innocent drivers livelihoods.

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