A Mandurah mum whose disabled son was left waiting at Mandurah Train Station for a booked taxi has vented her frustration at the taxi industry.
Le-Anne Whiffler said she booked the wheelchair taxi just before 10am Friday to arrive to pick up her son Darcy Hamdorf at 12.30pm.
But when it didn’t arrive, she called his dad who came to collect Mr Hamdorf and his electric wheelchair with a trailer.
“I’m very disappointed, because he’s got a disability as well,” Ms Whiffler said.
“It’s hot today, it’s 31 degrees and he’s sitting out in the heat, there’s lots of flies and they could have called and let us know.
”I’m very frustrated because I’m meant to be at work.”
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Mr Hamdorf, who lives in Perth at a rehabilitation centre and planned to visit his Mandurah family for the afternoon, said he was angry and frustrated.
“I was just coming down to spend time with the family and instead I’m sitting here in the heat,” he said.
Mandurah Taxis managing director Julie Murray said she was sorry Mr Hamdorf had to wait, but the company promised to send the nearest vacant vehicle and Ms Whiffler called to cancel the taxi after waiting only 30 minutes.
She said the competitive pressure put on the taxi industry by ride sharing apps meant service had suffered and she pointed to a shortage of drivers.
“As we explained, we get the next nearest vacant vehicle, but unfortunately, you know what the government’s done to the taxi industry, it’s ripped the guts out of it,” Ms Murray said.
“We do our absolute best and we ring passengers and we tell them, ‘Apologies, we’ve been delayed’.
“We’ve had no fare increases since 2012, so luckily as a business we’re able to support our drivers as best we can and make sure they can earn a reasonable income.”
Ms Murray said she could employ 15 full time drivers tomorrow if she could find people willing to do the job.
“What we do is put our heads down and keep working as hard we possibly can and we do our best to try and pick everyone up as best we can.”