Necati Ayhan, 22, said he was left feeling ‘degraded’ after the incident
Necati Ayhan, 22, said he was left feeling degraded by an Asda delivery driver
A man has alleged that he was questioned about his disability by an Asda delivery driver while his shopping was being delivered to his home.
Necati Ayhan had arranged for his groceries to be delivered on Friday, October 31, to his flat on Lord Street in the centre of Southport, Merseyside.
The 22 year old said that when the delivery arrived, the driver asked him to help carry the shopping up the stairs. However, Necati explained to the driver that due to his disability, he was unable to do so.
Necati, who suffers from fibromyalgia, autism, and other medical conditions, claimed he heard the delivery driver say “disabled my a**e”, before returning to the van to fetch more of the order.
In an audio recording obtained by the Liverpool Echo, Necati can be heard questioning the delivery driver about why he made the comment, to which the driver responds: “You don’t look disabled to me.”
The part-time child care student at West Lancs College then asks the driver if he believes he is in a position to judge him, to which the driver responds: “Yes.”
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As the conversation progresses, the driver explains how he “whispered it” and suggests that Necati should have clarified his disability when placing the order online, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Necati can then be heard instructing the driver to return his shopping to the supermarket before arranging a taxi to the store on Central 12 in the town centre.
Necati Ayhan, 22, said he has made an official complaint with the store(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
At this point, Necati alleges that he lodged a formal complaint before being given a £30 voucher for the store to assist with the taxi costs.
Necati said: “It was shocking. He made me feel degraded, embarrassed and terrible about the whole thing.
“I need to tackle the issue and I want the outcome of the investigation to come to light. It’s arrogance from the driver.
“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.”
Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain throughout the body, according to the NHS, and can trigger other symptoms including muscle stiffness, sleep difficulties, cognitive problems and headaches.
He also alleged that when he raised his complaint at the store, he was told it would be investigated but he would not be told of the outcome.
An Asda spokesperson said: “We’re aware of Mr Ayhan’s complaint and are looking into it as a priority.”
