A 13Cabs spokesperson said it was unacceptable and the company would hold a full investigation.
Revesby’s Kenneth Freeman first booked the cab – through 13Cabs Wheelchair Accessible Taxis – at 7.14pm and a cab had still not turned up at 10.30pm.
Son Mark rang the service at least eight times to be told a cab was on its way but eventually giving up, he rang Legions Cabs to see if there was a way they could get them and the wheelchair home.
“Three people helped Dad into the Legions cab and the driver strapped the chair to the boot, we were so grateful,” Mark said.
“The 13Cabs call centre said many drivers looked at the job but declined it as it was only a $10 to $15 trip and not worth their effort.
“They told me to phone customer complaints in the morning which I did but only got a rude woman saying the drivers can do what they want as they are sub-contractors.
“The company should be ashamed of themselves; my father was ill the next day because of the cold and the stress.”
A 13Cabs spokesperson said this was far below the service they expected as a company and “it’s fair to say the drivers failed in their basic duty”.
The spokesman said the incident underlined why it was necessary the NSW Government quickly moved forward with its plan to deregulate the taxi industry.
“Once the industry is deregulated, more cars will be on the road creating more competition,” she said.
Cab firm sorry for leaving man, 96, in cold for hours
A CAB company is appalled that some of its drivers refused to pick up a 96-year-old man from Bankstown Hospital on Sunday night, leaving him out in the cold for over three hours despite the job being listed as a medical priority.