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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To have sent this email (edited in parts) to a train company Managing Director?

42 replies

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 19:28

For info... Ds2 is profoundly deaf and autistic. He lives independently with support going on. We have had ongoing problems ever since he has travelled without support.
Dear Mr **,
You may have already seen the email that I cced you in earlier..
I contacted you in July when platform staff left my son on the platform to get on the train on his own.
Your Contact team emailed me and arranged for your Accessibility Manager to call me.. She explained that staff had apparently while wearing a mask had told ds2 that they were going to ring Diss. I explained to Accessibility Manager that ds2 would have been unable to lipread as they were wearing a mask. He therefore didn't realise what was happening and felt he had been left alone. I was led to believe that there would be improvements on ds2 next journey. He then travelled home in September and if anything the journey was WORSE than the last one. I emailed the contact care team the Thursday before he travelled to advise he was coming home.
Ds2 has an escort when he travels with Trains from home en route to destination station . This gentleman thankfully escorted DS2 down to the platform at S and waited with him. There was no platform staff at all.. The escort helped ds2 and his luggage onto the train. Ds2 yet again had to find the guard. He was very unhappy which is not surprising. I rang your customer service team and complained. The lady said she completely understood why I was not happy. I asked for the AM to contact me again.
Because there was no one at S station
on the platform, no one rang D station to say where in the train ds2 was. I know the guard who works at D Station. She and I had to run up and down the platform. It came very close to the train leaving for N Station with ds2 still on the train.
On Monday after ds2 had gone home I received an email to say they had received Thursday's email and would look into it. I replied that it was a bit late as he was already home. I then had to wait almost a month to hear from anyone again.. Despite asking several times for the AM to contact me she has failed to do so leaving me to feel very let down.
I was contacted two weeks ago and I got ds2 to email and explain what happened.
I was contacted again today and referred to as MR ... I was asked why ds2 had not contacted them when he had..
I am beyond frustrated at the absolute shambles that your company has caused... I am fed up with platitudes and being told that things will improve.. THEY DO NOT...
I am immensely proud of my son and all that he achieves. It makes me incredibly sad and angry when he is made to feel scared and anxious because your company are unable to do their job properly.
As I said in my previous email your company has two weeks to come up with an acceptable explanation of what has happened or I will be contacting the local television news and press.
I look forward to hearing from YOU personally Mr * Please do not pass this on to someone else to deal with as has happened in the past.

*

I'm not just doing this for ds2 but all those people let down by train companies.
What makes me angry is that could have been someone in a wheelchair left there with no support and having to wait an hour for another train. It can and does happen.

OP posts:
Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 19:29

Whoops I've left ds2 name in...

OP posts:
Tempusfudgeit · 14/10/2021 19:37

I'm sorry for the difficulties your son has experienced. If he has some support to live independently, why not extend this to a carer whilst he's travelling?

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 19:41

@Tempusfudgeit

I'm sorry for the difficulties your son has experienced. If he has some support to live independently, why not extend this to a carer whilst he's travelling?
He used to have a carer for day visits.. He now stays overnight when he comes home. He is fiercely Independent and wants to travel alone. If the company pulled their finger out and gave the assistance they are meant to it should be possible...! Not meaning to be snappy at you! ♥
OP posts:
CorrBlimeyGG · 14/10/2021 19:41

If he has some support to live independently, why not extend this to a carer whilst he's travelling?

Because if the train operator did their job, it wouldn't be needed?

OP, your email is not at all unreasonable.

drspouse · 14/10/2021 19:41

I have to say I'm very confused. I think you'll need to explain a bit more simply. Maybe in date and time order.

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 19:43

@drspouse

I have to say I'm very confused. I think you'll need to explain a bit more simply. Maybe in date and time order.
The original email is more straightforward!
OP posts:
Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 19:44

@CorrBlimeyGG

If he has some support to live independently, why not extend this to a carer whilst he's travelling?

Because if the train operator did their job, it wouldn't be needed?

OP, your email is not at all unreasonable.

Thankyou.. ♥
OP posts:
FlamingVictoria · 14/10/2021 19:45

YANBU at all in relation to your upset. Your poor DS deserves better service and support from the train company.

I would say that the email is hard to make out in some parts and so could do with some editing and more precise language.

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 19:48

@FlamingVictoria

YANBU at all in relation to your upset. Your poor DS deserves better service and support from the train company.

I would say that the email is hard to make out in some parts and so could do with some editing and more precise language.

Thankyou.. I have already sent the email. I think it reads better with the bits I've left out in there if that makes sense! 🤣 🤣
OP posts:
VillanellesOrangeCoat · 14/10/2021 19:53

YADNBU! Things need to be better.

SnackSizeRaisin · 14/10/2021 19:54

The letter doesn't make sense. Remove the emotional bits and stick to the facts. Also I wouldn't threaten them with the press. That will just annoy them.
To be effective the letter needs to state clearly what the problem is and what you want them to do about it. Currently it doesn't really do either of those. I mean how would the staff know he was deaf for example?
I would state something like "my son needs [this particular assistance] because of [his needs or condition] but this has failed to happen on X dates at x stations, leading to him not being able to get off the train (or whatever). As previously agreed xx needs to be done to ensure he is able to travel. This assistance is his right under the law. As this is the 4th time I have had to contact you about this, I would appreciate a direct reply to let me know how this will be rectified. Yours etc

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 19:55

@VillanellesOrangeCoat

YADNBU! Things need to be better.
Thankyou... I'm on tenterhooks everytime he travels. The other train company used to be almost as bad. I turned ds2 MP onto them and things vastly improved.. 😉
OP posts:
Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 19:58

@SnackSizeRaisin

The letter doesn't make sense. Remove the emotional bits and stick to the facts. Also I wouldn't threaten them with the press. That will just annoy them. To be effective the letter needs to state clearly what the problem is and what you want them to do about it. Currently it doesn't really do either of those. I mean how would the staff know he was deaf for example? I would state something like "my son needs [this particular assistance] because of [his needs or condition] but this has failed to happen on X dates at x stations, leading to him not being able to get off the train (or whatever). As previously agreed xx needs to be done to ensure he is able to travel. This assistance is his right under the law. As this is the 4th time I have had to contact you about this, I would appreciate a direct reply to let me know how this will be rectified. Yours etc
They know that he is deaf as it is all laid out in the disabled assistance booking which the company fails to.
OP posts:
cansu · 14/10/2021 20:00

What assistance does he need? What didn't they do?
This isn't clear from your email.

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 20:02

Fails to adhere too. They know what they are meant to do as they have been told many times before and have done nothing!

OP posts:
thinkfast · 14/10/2021 20:02

Sorry to hear this OP. You might want to read-work the email a little before sending. I can't quite follow everything the train company should have done, but didn't. Also I'd finish with a clear outline of what you want to achieve going forwards.

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 20:04

@cansu

What assistance does he need? What didn't they do? This isn't clear from your email.
The assistance he needs is outlined in the booking I made. I have said in the email that they failed to put him on the train...
OP posts:
Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 20:06

@thinkfast

Sorry to hear this OP. You might want to read-work the email a little before sending. I can't quite follow everything the train company should have done, but didn't. Also I'd finish with a clear outline of what you want to achieve going forwards.
Thankyou... I've already sent it. He can access the emails that I've already sent outlining the problems.
OP posts:
DysmalRadius · 14/10/2021 20:21

I understood it - they failed to accommodate his hearing impairment so he had no idea what that were doing for him, then abandoned him on a train without sufficient platform staff to help him on/off. It sounds utterly shit and should be dealt with as a priority considering you have highlighted significant problems with the support offered and the systems in place.

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 20:27

@DysmalRadius

I understood it - they failed to accommodate his hearing impairment so he had no idea what that were doing for him, then abandoned him on a train without sufficient platform staff to help him on/off. It sounds utterly shit and should be dealt with as a priority considering you have highlighted significant problems with the support offered and the systems in place.
Thankyou 💕 💕 💕 💕
OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 14/10/2021 20:32

Ah elderflower, so sorry to read this, poor Wilf. Is he ok? Flowers

I do agree with the posters upthread, it’s a little hard to follow with no specific resolution laid out. I get that it’s too late for this one but if you want to take this further, come back and ask for more help here as posters could help you lay it out a little more clearly. I get how frustrating / upsetting this must be but the emotion has made it a bit difficult to read.

Hope they reply and with a resolution you’re happy with

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 20:37

@ShirleyPhallus

Ah elderflower, so sorry to read this, poor Wilf. Is he ok? Flowers

I do agree with the posters upthread, it’s a little hard to follow with no specific resolution laid out. I get that it’s too late for this one but if you want to take this further, come back and ask for more help here as posters could help you lay it out a little more clearly. I get how frustrating / upsetting this must be but the emotion has made it a bit difficult to read.

Hope they reply and with a resolution you’re happy with

He's very upset and has emailed the train boss too... Thanks for that...
OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/10/2021 20:41

@Tempusfudgeit

I'm sorry for the difficulties your son has experienced. If he has some support to live independently, why not extend this to a carer whilst he's travelling?
Because that would cost and he's legally entitled to this provision from the train company for free.
Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 20:55

@NeverDropYourMooncup
Exactly..!

OP posts:
Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 21:47

Thankyou everyone... 💙

OP posts: