Taxis charging more for wheelchair users

Apr 5 2009 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

TAXIS are charging disabled wheelchair users up to a third more than normal fares, a probe has found.

The Sunday Sun launched its investigation after it was contacted by an irate reader whose disabled elderly grandmother was charged extra because she ordered a special modified car with wheelchair access.

Darren Dodds, of Walker, said: “My 72-year-old gran chose Five Star Taxis as they have wheelchair accessible vehicles.

“But when she got to her destination the driver said he was charging more expensive hackney carriage rates because it was a disabled carriage vehicle.

“Five Star advertise themselves as a wheelchair-friendly taxi firm. Even though they have bought these special vehicles to do the job why are they not willing to charge the normal rate?”

Mr Dodds’ gran, who did not want to be named, was charged £9 to go from the centre of Newcastle to Walker. When the Sunday Sun contacted the company we were quoted £8. But the price went up £2 when we requested a quote for a wheelchair user.

Dave Willumsen, officer manager for Five Star Taxis, said: “We do not charge extra because they are disabled, we are charging extra for the type of vehicle they are hiring, which is at hackney carriage rates.

“This is exactly the same if an able-bodied person phones up asking us to send one of these bigger vehicles to pick up boxes. The hackney carriage rate is set by Newcastle City Council, regardless of whether a person is disabled or not. We are not discriminating.”