Shock at coffee shop treatment of deaf man

Claims he was told he shouldn’t be ordering drinks

A DEAF and partially blind man was left humiliated after a worker at Costa coffee in Uxbridge allegedly said “if he’s deaf, he shouldn’t be ordering drinks”.

Sandeep Bhinder, from Uxbridge, visited the High Street in December where he ordered drinks by writing his order on a piece of paper.

However, after being mistakenly charged for six drinks, rather than three, his sister Simran asked the staff for a refund.

She said: “When I asked if we were allowed a refund, the man refused – and there was no manager in on the day.

“He was very confrontational and intimidating and when I asked if there was a complaints procedure, he acted as if I was invisible.”

Sandeep and Simran, along with Sandeep’s wife and their mum left the branch, but Simran returned a few days later.

“There was an acting manager there this time who was sweet, but not helpful,” she said.

“When she called the man over in question, he said ‘well if he’s deaf, he shouldn’t be ordering drinks’. She didn’t do much about it and was just a bystander watching.”

The family told the Gazette they were appalled by the remarks.

“I think it’s outrageous, there was such a lack of understanding and my brother deserves to order his own drinks,” added Ms Bhinder.

“It has left his confidence shattered and now he won’t go out without his wife or me present.”

Costa’s head of communications, Kerry Parkin, said: “Costa take all matters relating to customer experience very seriously.

“We have launched an investigation into this matter and would like to assure customers that this is an isolated incident and does not reflect our high standards of customer service.

“Costa is unable to comment further at this stage until the investigations have been fully completed.”