Uber driver 'refuses to pick up Halesowen wheelchair tennis star Jordanne Whiley'
Wheelchair tennis champion Jordanne Whiley was left furious after an Uber driver refused to pick her up – as he was unwilling to have her wheelchairs and luggage in his car, she claims.
The star, from Halesowen, was beginning her journey to compete in the French Open when she was left stranded on her driveway.
Jordanne, a Paralympic medallist and Wimbledon doubles winner, was shocked by what happened and took to Twitter to complain about the driver’s actions.
It meant her preparations for the grand slam tournament got off to the worst possible start.
The 24-year-old was waiting at her home in Ickenham, London, this morning with her tennis wheelchair, gear and luggage, to be taken to Uxbridge train station, from where she was heading for the Eurostar to France.
She told the Express & Star: “I was outside and the Uber turned up, I told him to come in the driveway.
“He shook his head, gave me the finger and waved it to say no. Me and my boyfriend were there with the chairs and luggage and he just drove off. Isn’t that illegal?
“I had a message saying my Uber had been cancelled. It was a massive car, he could fit everything in easy.
“My manager’s wife was there and would have helped me get everything in the car. He wouldn’t have had to do anything.”
Despite her experience with the ride-sharing giant, Jordanne ordered another Uber, which was three minutes away and did pick her up. The taxi firm is 'urgently investigating'.
Jordanne begins her quest for French Open glory on Thursday and said she was ‘annoyed’ by what happened.
She said: “I’ve read a lot of things about people not getting picked up with guide dogs and I think it’s absolutely disgusting.
“Wheelchairs and guide dogs, they come as part of the person. I don’t know what the policy or law is but discriminating someone shouldn’t be acceptable.”
An Uber spokesperson said: “We do not tolerate any form of discrimination from licensed drivers or riders who use our app and are urgently investigating.
"All licensed drivers are required to fully comply with their responsibilities under the Equality Act and we regularly remind drivers of their duties.
"This includes carrying a passenger with a foldable or collapsible wheelchair. It is our policy to prevent licensed private hire drivers from using our app while we investigate serious incidents."
