A Nebraska Amtrak station is under scrutiny for kicking a disabled woman off a train after attempting to charge extra for her wheelchair and service animal, according to a report.
Iowa woman Tiffany Allen, who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, alleges she was unfairly treated by Amtrak when they tried taxing on additional charges for her wheelchair and missed train. Allen claims the staff made her miss a train two days in a row, according to KETV NewsWatch 7.
In May, Allen was on her way to New York from Omaha for a funeral, which she claims to have missed due to the ordeal. Despite arriving 30 minutes early, Allen was hit with several obstacles.
Amtrak staff informed Allen that she had not arrived early enough to check any bags. According to Omaha Amtrak, Allen had to be on site at least 45 minutes before departure to check any bags.
The back and forth caused Allen to miss the train and transfer her ticket to the next day. When Allen arrived for the new departure, she was hit with more hurdles.
Allen was asked to pay extra for her wheelchair, service dog, and for a required additional seat.
"They said, well, you have to pay extra for him, and you have to pay extra for your powerchair, and you have to pay for an extra seat as well to be able to get on to the train," Allen said, according to the ABC affiliate.
After missing the train for a second time, Allen filed a complaint, prompting a federal investigation involving the Federal Railroad Administration.
Amtrak apologized for the confusion and claimed to have fully refunded Allen, according to the outlet.
"It's not okay to treat other people like that. You never know what somebody's going through," Allen told the outlet. "My disability is something that, it's a progressive disease. So, it's something that, time isn't something I have, really. And that's something she took from me. Was time."
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
