Not to pay the taxi driver?

[BuggarMeGently]

Right, so I called a taxi to work. It's really sunny today- I'm struggling to see, it's that bright. We live in flats beside a really busy road.

Do I get the 'callback', go outside...no taxi to be seen (pardon the pun). A passer by tells me its parked on the OTHER side of the road. (can see there's a car but cannot make out logo etc.) I wave at the car, fully expecting him to pull up on my side of the road. Nope. He shouts over "I'm over here duck!". I try to brave the road, eventually walking to the middle, and hoping against hope that someone will let me cross the other half. At which point the driver starts honking his horn and shouts "I'm going to have to charge you waiting time". Eventually someone lets me through, and I get into the cab.

Which is where I am now. Trying not to cry as he tells me there were at least two chances to cross. AIBU to refuse to pay? Or am I just a snivelling, unreasonable horsenugget?

To be honest I wouldn't have associated a pink stick with a particular disability in the way I would a white one. Does it indicate restricted visibility rather than having total sightloss?

"you should have made it clear when you booked the taxi that he needed to pick you up right outside if you're disabled."

Not sure if I agree like that tbh.

Seems pretty obvious to me that a taxi shouldn't be parking the other side of the road.

But he was being a twat disability or no disability.

Never mind your stick, he should have picked you up at your side of the road. It sounds like the road is difficult to cross. You're paying for a service, he's getting paid to pick you up, he should be the one making allowances.

When DD1 was 18 months she had a hospital check up. Normally I'd take the bus, but I would have to travel during morning rush hour. No way I'd get a buggy on the bus and couldn't carry her at 7 months pregnant. Ordered a taxi the day before. Confirmed my address that time, then they rang to confirm the next morning, then driver rang to ask again. He went to completely the wrong place several miles away and then expected me to walk ten minutes out to the main road and meet him there. Not a chance.

To top it all off he was going to drop me at the wrong hospital, had already taken the wrong turn before I realised. I was late for the appointment (despite allowing plenty of extra time) and was still expected to pay full price. I complained to the taxi company but didn't really get anywhere with that.

Our taxis know DS is disabled and to be honest we have never had an issue. They turn up 10 minutes before I ask and come to the door to help with DCs bags, buggy etc. They try to use the same few drivers as DD2 has SN. They also park right by where we need, help unload etc and don't charge the extra time it takes us compared to someone hopping in and out. Often they ask now long we will be and turn up and wait for us.

If they know, they can help. I know this is no help to you now but just wanted to let you know that they can be very helpful and aren't all the same.

If that was the direction you were heading, it may have made sense to him to stop there. And he obviously didn't realise the issue, I struggle to imagine he did that to be an arse. (Hopefully, anyway)!!

What I'm also incredulous about though is that you were crossing the road with a white stick & no one stopped!

Is the colour confusing them??

Also you cancomplain to your local council. They give out the taxi numbers and can penalise the companyif they get enough complaints. I've done that twice and my council has always phoned me back and given me feedback

I would have paid him for the journey, but not the waiting time. As SixImpossible said, if I call a taxi to an address, that's where I expect to be picked up from. If the driver is expecting you to meet him elsewhere, it's not on trying to charge you for the time taken to get there. All of that applies even without the disability. With it, it makes him a real dick. Hope your day improves (should have done with a subway! )