Necati Ayhan said he felt “degraded” by what the driver allegedly said to him at his home
Necati Ayhan from Southport(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A man who was “degraded” after what an Asda delivery driver is claimed to have said to him has been given a four figure pay-out. Necati Ayhan ordered his shopping to be delivered at his home on Lord Street in Southport town centre on October 31.
The 22-year-old said when the delivery arrived, the driver asked for his help in carrying the shopping up the stairs. However, Necati explained to the driver that due to being disabled, he was unable to do so.
Necati, who has fibromyalgia, autism, and other medical conditions, said he heard the delivery driver say “disabled my a**e”, before returning to the van to get more of the order. In a voice recording heard by the ECHO, Necati questions the delivery driver on why he said the comment, to which the driver replies: “You don’t look disabled to me.”
The disagreement continues before Necati tells the driver to return the shopping to the store.
Following the incident, he got a taxi to the store on Central 12 where he made a complaint before being offered a £30 voucher to cover travel costs.
However, he also claimed he was told at the time he would not be notified of the outcome of the complaint.
Asda store in Southport(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Following the original story published by the ECHO, Necati was told in the days that followed that the delivery driver who allegedly made the comments left the company.
The email sent to Necati said: “I have been advised that the driver has been in a disciplinary and has now stepped down from the role.
“He will no longer be working as a delivery driver. We appreciate you letting us know about this because customer service is important. I have asked Stephen to remind his drivers of the need to be as helpful as possible and to be courteous at all time.”
In another update, the ECHO understands Asda has since paid Necati a four-figure settlement in relation to the incident.
When approached for comment, a spokesperson for the supermarket chain declined to comment.
At the time Necati told the ECHO: “It was shocking. He made me feel degraded, embarrassed and terrible about the whole thing.
“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.”
