Taxi driver slams ferry companies
A taxi driver has accused Island ferry companies of ‘profiteering’ and showing ‘no compassion’ after paying around £90 more than usual to take a cancer patient to the mainland for an operation.
Graham Pearce, of Chale, owns South Wight Taxis and makes regular trips to the mainland with Red Funnel for a discounted return fare of £61.30.
But his plans to take his patient to the Churchill Hospital, in Oxford, on Monday was beset by problems with Red Funnel technical issues over the last week.
Graham explained: “I took her over on Thursday for her pre-op, and went to book my return ferry on Friday for her operation on Monday. However, Red Funnel bookings were all ‘locked’ and they weren’t taking new bookings. I contacted them on Saturday and explained everything, but I was told by the member of staff that ‘it wasn’t his problem’.
“There was no compassion and not even an apology. I couldn’t believe they wouldn’t make some sort of effort.
“I was starting to panic, so I had to book on-line with Wightlink to ensure I would get her to hospital and was quoted £154 for a day return. I couldn’t speak to anyone to try and explain my predicament to them.
“I could only get on a 4am ferry from Fishbourne to Portsmouth which was full. It just seemed that Wightlink were profiteering from all the problems Red Funnel were experiencing.
“I have had to take the extra cost on the chin, because my customer has enough going on in her life without worrying about this extra expense. Her husband came over, and they have been funding their travel and accommodation themselves. He was expecting to stay over with her for two weeks while she recuperated and had booked an Air BnB.
“It scandalous the way we are treated by the companies.”
A Wightlink spokesman said: “We are disappointed the taxi driver did not call Wightlink’s Contact Centre, instead of booking on-line. He would have been entitled to our 50 per cent discount on fares for customers travelling to a mainland NHS appointment, with a cap of £35 per crossing.
“As Mondays in July and August are very busy, it can be difficult for staff at the ports to move bookings at short notice.”
Red Funnel said: “We’re more than happy to investigate this further, so please encourage Mr Pearce to get in touch with our Customer Services team at CustomerServices@redfunnel.co.uk.
“If he can confirm his attempted booking method, including the phone number or the email address he used to contact us, we’ll be able to support from there. If this was undertaken in person, it would be good to have the time and location where he attempted the booking, and the team will be able to use that information to look into this further.”
