A supermarket giant has paid a four-figure settlement to a customer who was left feeling 'degraded' by comments made by one of its delivery drivers.
The Confrontation on Lord Street
Necati Ayhan, a 22-year-old from Southport, had ordered a grocery delivery to his home on Lord Street in the town centre on October 31. When the Asda driver arrived, he asked for Necati's help carrying the shopping upstairs.
Necati, who lives with fibromyalgia, autism, and other medical conditions, explained he was unable to assist due to his disability. It was then, he claims, he heard the driver mutter 'disabled my a**e' before returning to the van.
In a voice recording obtained by the Liverpool Echo, Necati is heard challenging the remark. The driver allegedly responded, 'You don't look disabled to me.' Following a continued disagreement, Necati instructed the driver to return all the shopping to the store.
Feeling 'Degraded and Embarrassed'
Necati described the encounter as shocking. He said it made him feel 'degraded, embarrassed, and terrible.' He highlighted the prejudice faced by people with non-visible disabilities, telling the Echo: 'It would have been completely different if I had been in a wheelchair. I actually have a wheelchair, I need it when I go out, but not when I'm at home.'
Determined to pursue the matter, Necati took a taxi to the Asda store at Central Twelve Shopping Park to lodge a formal complaint. He was initially offered a £30 voucher for his travel costs and told he would not be informed of the complaint's outcome.
Driver Steps Down and Settlement Reached
Days later, Necati received an email from Asda stating the driver had been through a disciplinary process and had 'stepped down from the role' and would no longer work as a delivery driver for the company. The email thanked him for raising the issue, noting that customer service is important.
Subsequently, Asda paid Necati a four-figure financial settlement in relation to the incident, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. The supermarket has been approached for further comment on the case.
This case underscores the challenges individuals with non-visible disabilities can face in having their conditions recognised and treated with respect by service providers.
