Little Chef.. would you complain?

Skintee

Bit of a bizarre one. My partner and his friend decided to go into our local Littel Chef last week for a coffee as their nornal cafe was closed due to the snow and ice.

A couple of minutes after sitting down, a lady driving a car lost control of it in the car park, narrowly missed our parked car and hit the restaurant wall/window right next to where my partner was sitting!!!

Fortunately everyone was okay, car was barely damaged, but the lady driving it was a bit shaken. Major damage was to the wall panel or the restaurant (allegedly it was stated that this had happened before...)

The only thing I was miffed about is that the restaurant MADE them pay for their coffee (and another couple pay for their unfinished meal)...

They obviously had to close the restaurant.

TBH my partner was in shock so just paid and left and was just thankful that nobody was hurt.

But was it right that they had to pay for something that they didn't/couldn't finish? Or am I being stupid, and I should I just be sat here thanking my lucky stars that he was okay?

voiceofreason

Might be worth writing a letter; not necessarily a complaint per se, but noting what happened and suggesting that, though you realise the goods served to OH require some sort of payment, it would be appreciated if, given he couldn't finish due to the accident, he could be given some sort of reimbursement.

Can't see how they'd have a problem in doing that for him, given the circumstances.

Valli

As I understand it, your partner and friend were asked to leave the restaurant without being allowed to finish the drinks they had paid for.
Under those circumstances I absolutely WOULD complain.
\when I worked in customer services in the leisure industry we used to replace spilled drinks, even if the customer was at fault!
I think it's called keeping 'goodwill'.
Write a letter!

Frugalista

Skintee wrote: »

Fortunately everyone was okay - TBH my partner was in shock so just paid and left and was just thankful that nobody was hurt.

Or am I being stupid, and I should I just be sat here thanking my lucky stars that he was okay?

And you're quibbling over the price of a cup of coffee

JEEZ!!!!!!!

Skintee

Frugalista wrote: »

And you're quibbling over the price of a cup of coffee

JEEZ!!!!!!!

Not really, I dont give a stuff about how much it cost. He doesn't want compensation. But a 'sorry' would be nice and maybe errect some bollards outside the restaurant to prevent a re-occurrence....

Its was more the attitude... "you were nearly in a horrible accident but we are still going to make you pay"

Maybe I'll not bother, and just avoid this chain of restaurants in the future.. I was just trying to gauge if it was worth bothering in the first instance....

mrcow

How can you be expected to pay for a meal/drink that you weren't allowed to consume?

Of course complain. Whomever is managing that place sounds like they need a large spoonful of common sense.

Valli

Frugalista wrote: »

And you're quibbling over the price of a cup of coffee

JEEZ!!!!!!!

I don't think the issue is the COST of the coffee but the way they were treated TBH.

'There's your coffee'
*sit down*
*BANG!*
'I'm sorry - we have to close the restaurant due to the collision. You'll have to leave immediately, you can't stay to finish your coffee/meals. But here's your bill - pay on the way out please!'

It could have gone - 'sorry, we have to ask you to leave immediately. We realise you HAVE BEEN DENIED the opportunity to finish your meals/drinks so we won't be expecting you to pay!'

hoyles10

It's not the same but along the same sort of thing.

We were in Frankie and Benny's in Manchester a while ago, we had just finished our meal and were pondering dessert when the fire alarm went off. The place was evacuated briefly until they found it was a false alarm, so when everyone was allowed back in we asked for the bill but were told that because we hadn't actually finished our visit when the alarm went off we didn't have to pay and if we wanted dessert we would just have to pay for that. We decided to leave but they were in the process of offering to replace everyones meal who had to leave mid-meal but the food was a gesture of good will for the customers inconvenience.

Because they did this then I would say that Little Chef should have done the same if they had to get everyone out of the restaurant because of an incident.

sagalout1954

Personally, at the time I'd have left as instructed but there wouldn't be a cat in hell's chance that I'd have paid full price for purchases I hadn't been able to finish because of an incident not of my making. I'd have paid what was fair, it's not their fault but neither was it your b/f's - they can't flog partly drunk (or eaten) grub but then you can't finish it either so at a push a shared 'loss' is all they should have been asking for.

How about just dropping an email explaining what happened and suggest that perhaps they might reconsider this unfair, poor customer service decision for the future. Add in your ideas for improving the safety of the restaurant.

This way you've made your point, haven't just written after compensation and given them an opportunity to say sorry.

Valli

sagalout1954 wrote: »

How about just dropping an email explaining what happened and suggest that perhaps they might reconsider this unfair, poor customer service decision for the future. Add in your ideas for improving the safety of the restaurant.

This way you've made your point, haven't just written after compensation and given them an opportunity to say sorry.

Well said!

Dizzy_Ditzy

If I'd paid for it, I would be finishing it, even if it meant taking it with me!!

Seriously, as others have said, its worth dropping them a quick email with a suggestion rather than a complaint, you're more likely to get a response than if you email them demanding that they do something

Good luck!