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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:
ClaraMumsnet · 14/10/2021 22:01

Hi OP, just letting you know we've edited your DS's name out of your opening post.

Elderflower14 · 14/10/2021 22:05

Thankyou x

OP posts:
Elderflower14 · 25/10/2021 14:41

UPDATE!!
Well folks actual real progress with the train company.... Not only did I get an email this morning perilously close to the end of my deadline from the Managing Director but also from a Senor Customer Service member. Amazing what happens when I totally lose my rag and threaten a media storm... Due to my continued pestering there is going to be a designated area at the station for people who have assistance booked to go. Also there is going to be telephone contact between the two train companies whenever ds2 travels so they know where he is... We have been invited to the Station too so we can see what is being put in place... Mumma Bear strikes again!!!

OP posts:
IamaBluebird · 25/10/2021 15:08

So pleased you’ve sorted it out. Independence is so important Flowers

Elderflower14 · 25/10/2021 15:21

@IamaBluebird

So pleased you’ve sorted it out. Independence is so important Flowers
It really is... He's travelled all over the place... He went to Crufts on his own with assistance from SE and Virgin.. Virgin rang me up after and asked if they could ring Ds2 and ask how the journey went.. I explained he was deaf... "Can we ask you?" "No because I didn't take the journey" I then asked if they could email him? They apparently don't offer that service... Virgin are clearly still in the dark ages!! 🙊 🙊 🙊 🤔 🤔 🤔 South Eastern didn't until I badgered them into doing it!
OP posts:
HomeSliceKnowsBest · 25/10/2021 15:40

@SnackSizeRaisin Has written a very good email. I could not fathom yours OP and threats and excessive wordings cloud things.

Elderflower14 · 25/10/2021 15:50

[quote HomeSliceKnowsBest]@SnackSizeRaisin Has written a very good email. I could not fathom yours OP and threats and excessive wordings cloud things.[/quote]
Thanks but I've had a response and my "threats and excessive wording" have had the desired effect!! 😉 😉

OP posts:
gogohm · 25/10/2021 15:57

That's good news. There's very patchy services for those with autism partly because needs vary so much. My dd can board fine by herself but struggles terribly if something goes wrong eg cancellations, and the noise is a real problem, a quiet area at major stations with assistance if needed would be do helpful for those with disabilities, children traveling alone (many travel between mum and dads house) and older people.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 25/10/2021 16:01

Well done op.
Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is a fierce advocate for independent train travel. You two could be a formidable force for change. Have a look at her on Twitter @Tanni_GT

MatildaJayne · 25/10/2021 16:04

Completely irrelevant but lovely to hear from you about your wonderful DS2. I’m glad he’s continuing to be as independent as possible.

ittakes2 · 25/10/2021 16:22

I am sorry your son has had troubles. Do you want honest feedback or are you just getting things off your chest? If you want honest feedback - please think about what you want to achieve and what you want them to do differently and put this up high in the letter. I get you are feeling ranty but it shows and the letter has confused me. You have someone’s attention when they first read something which is why it’s important you put what you want them to do differently up too.

ittakes2 · 25/10/2021 16:22

Sorry up top!

Elderflower14 · 25/10/2021 16:46

@ittakes2 Thanks but I've achieved what I set out to do! ☺

OP posts:
Elderflower14 · 25/10/2021 16:49

@Muchtoomuchtodo I follow TGT on Twitter.. The other great advocate is the Para showjumper Sophie Christiansen... She's fab about shouting out when her journeys go wrong. She had to have commuters lift her wheelchair off the train once when no one came to help her... 😔 😔 😡 😡

OP posts:
Elderflower14 · 25/10/2021 16:52

@MatildaJayne

Completely irrelevant but lovely to hear from you about your wonderful DS2. I’m glad he’s continuing to be as independent as possible.
Thankyou... I am with him as we speak. I have been through his flat like a whirling dirvish. His freezer which could have had a role as an extra in Ice Age is defrosted. Two loads of washing done. Bath mats washed. Flat hoovered. Also met his upstairs neighbour who isn't worried about noise... (Either brave, foolhardy or both!! 🤣 🤣) Have given him my number if he has any concerns!!
OP posts:
berlinbabylon · 25/10/2021 16:56

It is outrageous that rail companies are so rubbish about provision for disabled people.

I remember being on a train a couple of years ago where they needed to get the ramp out and there weren't any station staff so the guard had to do it. He apologised a million times for holding up the train to do it and I thought "no you shouldn't be apologising for helping a disabled person!"

ChristmasPlanning · 25/10/2021 19:55

Great update StarWineCakeGinStar

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