M.E.N. Arena - couldnt care less about disabled customers

jkuelrira

I attended a concert in July at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, sat in disabled seating with my carer (Dad).

The disabled seating is probably the worst seating available as drunk people pile in from the foyer and stand behind you. Mostly this was fine, everyone was in a good mood and the stewards were moving people on anyway. Then 2 girls arrived, they were shouting abuse and standing right behind me, leaning over me. They were very intimidating and abussive and we asked the steward to move them on, as he had with everyone else. However, because they said no he just left them for his own safety - what about mine???

Dad spent the rest of the concert turned to watch me/them to check I was ok. Both of us really scared as to what could happen. Just before the end we took our chances and left quickly, which was very difficult for me to do. My camera was lost in the process

I sent a letter of complaint, then two weeks later another copy. Finally 3 weeks after the first letter I got a reply. It basically says "Being able to have a drink whilst watching a show at the MEN is very much part of the live experience". Said that we should of gone to customer services desk

Firstly, we didnt know about it and even if we did it could of been too far for me to walk, and there is no way I could have been left alone with them! Secondly, we did ask for help from a member of staff, whats to say the next would of been any more helpful? We were too worried even to leave!

I called up as I wasnt happy with the letter, actually ended up speaking to the person who sent it. She was snotty with me on the phone and actually interrupted me. She said if I wasnt happy then I needed to write again and ask them to review their reponse.

I will NEVER go there again and it has put me off attending any live event now, one of the only things I had left to enjoy.

pickpocketlocket

Who/ what were they shouting abuse at?

jkuelrira

Just in general, anyone and everything, mainly aimed at the act on stage

Face1992

jkuelrira wrote: »

Just in general, anyone and everything, mainly aimed at the act on stage

But not you?

Twopints

SevenCL wrote: »

...why should you get special privileges? Sometimes you end up next to unpleasant people in crowded settings and disability has nothing to do with it. Suck it up.

Oh look, the head of Customer Care at MEN Arena has posted...

minimoneysaver

I think the point is, she didn't feel safe and didn't have the option of moving to another place. I think that SevenCL's response demonstrates the lack of understanding in the UK for disabilities. I face a future in a chair and to be honest, it scares the heck out of me.
I would have thought the the MEN would have policies on this type of behaviour, to avoid the situation from becoming inflamed.

minimoneysaver

Twopints wrote: »

Oh look, the head of Customer Care at MEN Arena has posted...

LOL, looks like it would be that style of response! I'm very surprised at their response to the OP.

Face1992

Op, may I ask if you are saying it was too far for you to walk to the Customer Service Point, how far was it from the car to where you were watching?

kingfisherblue

Face1992 wrote: »

Op, may I ask if you are saying it was too far for you to walk to the Customer Service Point, how far was it from the car to where you were watching?

I'm not sure whether this is relevant. It is possible for a disabled person to walk from a car to their seat and then have to rest for a considerable amount of time before moving again. Also, they may have walked very slowly from the car, may have stopped frequently to rest, etc.

My child can walk, but only with pain, and we tend to use his wheelchair when we are out. However, on the occasions when he has had to walk (from a disabled parking space to the supermarket entrance where the courtesy chairs are stored, for example), he is then pretty much unable to walk any further until he has had a considerable rest.

Obviously I don't know the OP's situation, but my point is that it may have been possible to walk from the car to the seat, but then be unable to walk to the customer service desk, especially in a crowded arena.

Patronus

I think the point the OP is trying to make is that those two people weren't supposed to be there and presumably, had their own seats somewhere else. The disabled section is for disabled people and they shouldn't be allowed to stand there, disrupting the show. Unless I misread.

Either way, it does happen and we've all been behind, in front, or next to someone that is extremely annoying, like in the cinema when you get lumbered next to a chatter. Last concert I went to, there was someone waving a banner in front of my face for half the show. :eek:

Don't let this one experience put you off from future live events, chances are you just got two people that are annoying drunks and next time you won't have a problem at all. Life is unpredictable.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Its not called M.E.N arena anymore,not since the end of last year,its now just the Manchester arena