Discrimination at the local Burger King restaurant
 

Due to foot drop, my MS has me wearing an AFO full-time if I want to walk/gimp. Thanks to the two big lesions on my cervical spine, my left side of my body is weak, including little dexterity in my left hand along with a weak left arm and leg. When I ‘walk’ I kind of swing my left leg around. It supports my weight it just doesn’t propel me forward much. Basically my right side of my body drags my left side around  a.k.a. – “Igor shuffle” :D
On my bad days or when it’s very hot out and my mobility is even more compromised, I ride a GOPED electric scooter with the seat attachment.
I transferred all of the controls to the right side or else I wouldn’t be able to operate the brakes with my left hand. :eek:
I pulled up to the drive thru lane at the local BK and after waiting for several minutes and saying Hello to the speaker and getting no response, I decided to pull up to the window. I was told by the individual at the window that they do not serve ‘walk-ups or people on bicycles’ in the drive thru. I told them that I was disabled with MS and that I was not riding a bicycle but that I was riding an electric powered vehicle that I used because I was disabled. The individual repeated the statement, no walk ups or bicycles.
I asked to speak to the manager. Ms Rios, at BK store number 896, repeated the company policy. No walk-ups or bicycles. I told her that I wasn’t on a bicycle and that I was disabled with MS and riding an electrically powered vehicle for mobility. No service was the response. I asked for her card, she wrote down her name and the BK store # on a napkin.
I told them that I thought that they were discriminating against a disabled individual, and that I would be writing an email to BK HQ reporting the incident.
I motor scooted up the street to the local Carl Jr. drive thru, where they happily served me. I did not need to tell them that I was disabled. They apparently don’t mind serving people riding electric powered vehicles let alone individuals that are disabled and riding electric powered vehicles for mobility assistance.
Needless to say that I won’t be patronizing Burger King Restaurants ever again.
:rolleyes:

Mrs
 

That is horrible!!!!!!!!

I am so sorry that happened to you!
I must say that it must of taken restraint not to go ballistic. I dont think I would of been that calm.
I hope you wrote to the headquarters.
You can always contact the local tv station or newspaper...it would be a "human interest" story.

i dont go to burger King anyway. But I want to pass your experience along. If you dont mind.

Take care!!!

this is a disgrace, the tv idea or local papers sounds great, and contact the main headquarters, inform them of what happened and how you were not served

Not to defend the BK, but I do know that the sensors that would pick up that there is a car or some sort of vehicle in the drive thru back at the speakers are usually not strong enough to detect the metal in the vehicle unless it's directly above the sensor. I dont think your scooter would be large enough to trip the sensors.

So, even if you were back there talking to the speaker, they wouldnt have heard you. The sensor is what turns on the 2way communication between the box and the microphones/speakers inside.

I worked for BK for about 2 1/2 yrs when I was in high school. Not the greatest job in the world...and if I remember right, we didnt take walk-ups either.

They should have at least taken your order at the window. Money is money. Doesnt matter what kind of vehicle you're in.

I also worked for a McD's for 8yrs in my 20s. There we'd take walk-ups and people on bicycles orders. Even had a guy on a horse once. Of course, he had to order at the window.

In my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions, you were better off going to Carl's Junior. I think they have better burgers than BK anyway. I wish a Carl's would open in the little town where I live.

I'd absolutely call the local TV station. They can outfit you with a hidden camera and microphone. You'd probably help change the policies of many fast-food establishments if this was exposed on television.

CAlling the local TV station is a GREAT idea! get your mug on Tv!

Be all teary eyed, and give um hell girlfriend! make that woman feel like a jerk for turning you away.

I want to call her the B word. :grouphug:

You want to call her a "burger"???? :eek: :eek: :p

I think "biscuit" is more appropriate!! :o

Write your letter to the following:
Mr. John W. Chidsey, CEO
Burger King Corporation
5505 Blue Lagoon Drive
Miami, FL 33126

CC:
Mr. Ben Wells, CFO
Mr. Chuck Fallon Jr.,Pres of North America Region

Note that you are a stockholder in Burger King Corporation (BKC) when you write your complaint. It WILL get their attention and they WILL take action to correct the problem.

-Vic

Besides the reasons Erin provided, it may be that they are justifiably concerned for the safety of their patrons (and personal liability ;)).

I can see the headlines now:


Wheelchairs are not licensed and/or permitted on the streets either . . . for good reason. It is not because of discrimination, it is because they are no contest for a large 4X4, rig, or even small car. Many don't have running lights, and they certainly could not get out of the way in a hurry.

Dusk and dawn could be treacherous. :eek:

All the restaurants (here) have electric doors for wheelchair customers. I think it would just be safer to go to the inside order counter, like everyone else who is not in a licenced road vehicle.

Cherie