A disabled woman says she was left flabbergasted after staff at an Oxfordshire McDonald’s allegedly told her they "did not care" about an issue with the toilets.
Terry Boswell of Abingdon was visiting the fast food restaurant on Colwell Drive in the early afternoon on Tuesday, July 9.
The 70-year-old who has myalgic encephalomyelitis and other mobility issues visited the toilets at the branch but found bins to be blocking the way for wheelchair users.
She went to raise the issue with the McDonald’s staff but was shocked when they allegedly responded that they "did not care".
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Terry Boswell visited the McDonald's in Abingdon. (Image: Terry Boswell)
But McDonald's says it is "confident" the correct procedures were followed by staff at the Abingdon branch.
“I went to use the facilities and found that they were not accessible for wheelchair users,” said Ms Boswell.
“They had bins in the places where a wheelchair would need to access the toilet and I mentioned this to the staff
“I offered my advice to explain to the staff but the senior person I saw one to speak to someone more senior who did not come out to see me even though they said they would.
“I waited five or ten minutes but no one came and then the first person returned who was a senior member of staff at the front of house.
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“I was absolutely flabbergasted as she said 'we do not care' so I walked out.
“I am so wound up, I rarely go to McDonald’s and certainly won’t be going after this.”
Upon hearing about Ms Boswell’s experience at the eatery, the Oxford Mail approached McDonald’s for comment on the issue.
A spokesperson for the fast food restaurant said: “The health and safety of our customers is of the utmost importance to us and having investigated this incident we are confident that all procedures to allow access to the disabled toilets were followed by our Abingdon restaurant team.
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McDonald's in Abingdon. (Image: Terry Boswell)
“We would encourage any customer with a complaint to contact our customer services team to help find a resolution.”
Unlimited Oxfordshire is a local registered charity controlled by people with physical difficulties and were altered to the incident at McDonald’s.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “We are disappointed to learn of yet another case of premises not being accessible to everyone.
“We are sad that the staff did not seem to understand or even care about their disabled customers.
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The bins inside the McDonald's toilets. (Image: Terry Boswell)
“McDonald's is a multi-national company with large resources, they have no excuse not to comply with the law.
“They should provide toilets that disabled people can use without having to wait. Imagine how distressing it is to not be able to go to the loo when you need to.
“McDonald's needs to train their staff better as for Terry to have her reasonable request dismissed so rudely is unacceptable.”
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