To be unbelievably angry about the revolting state of this toilet?

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

Family and I were travelling back from holiday in the half term, long drive of around 4hrs.

About half way we stop at a petrol station to fuel up and grab a sandwich for lunch. Since it was a long journey I needed to change 8yr old disabled ds' nappy.

We go to the toilet, and it is in an absolutely state. We're talking huge yellow puddles of what I presume is piss all over the floor. Fucking disgusting. Normally I have to lie ds down on the floor to change him as it's too difficult to wipe him properly standing up, and I carry a portable changing mat for this but the floor was so saturated there was no way I wanted him to even stand on the floor let alone lie on it.

In the end I had no choice but to take him outside the toilet and change him there, in front of a large queue of people who were waiting for the filthy loo. I felt so embarrassed on his behalf (fortunately he did not care in the slightest).

Aibu to have been so so angry about this? I know it may not have been the staff's fault as they may have external cleaners etc but I'm just raging because anyone else might have been able to go anyway and just avoid the puddles, it should never have been that dirty in the first place no matter what kind of toilet it was but everyone else waiting in the queue managed. But ds can't go in the normal way and I had no privacy to change him because of the ridiculous state of that toilet!!!!

[crje]

YANBU but I've never seen them any other way.
I come off the motorway to a hotel for a coffee & wee stop.

[LurkingHusband]

Photo. Facebook. Email to company ?

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

Damn I didn't think of that at the time lurking I was too bloody angry!

[x2boys]

Yanbu i too have a disabled son age six in nappies so i understand totally where you are coming from

[Imnotaslimjim]

I'm so sorry you and you're son had to go through that. I think it's disgusting how some people will treat something they don't have to deal with.

I know it doesn't help what you had to deal with but have you heard of changing places? They're bathrooms designed for those with disabilities needing extra care to toilet in privacy and with dignity. There is a list on the website of where you can find them and maybe fit your journey around them if possible

[LurkingHusband]

Damn I didn't think of that at the time lurking I was too bloody angry!

You didn't miss much. Probably an "oh dear" if anything at all.

Or a carefully crafted 5-paragraph letter which looks like a considered response to your complaint and shuts you up until you realise that it's actually a generic letter, and could be sent to anyone with a grumble.

Looking at you "Yum" (owners of KFC, amongst others).

Business who would rather spend more on dealing with PR that actually addressing the fucking issue are a real bugbear. But when the government does the same, who can blame them ?

[Sunnsoo]

Sadly, since most public toilets are closing, private toilets are going to be more used and much worse.

[Emptynestx2]

You could still email with date and time and description of the facilities, it might make them change their cleaning routine and help anyone else in a similar situation. Alternatively name and shame so people can avoid!

[snowgirl29]

YNBU! It sounds revolting. Is there a way to contact them and find out who owns the building and responsibility for the cleaning?

[Jelliedeels]

That's disgusting. Complain. I went to one when I was very pregnant it was so bad I ended up pissing in carpark.

[Lilicat1013]

Look up Changing Places on Facebook, they are trying to make sure adults and children with disabilities aren't put in this position. They may contact the company on your behalf as they frequently publish responses they have gotten regarding suitable facilities for disabled people. Usually it is a bunch of excuses unfortunately.

I am sorry you and your son had to deal with this. Things need to change, no one should be put in this position.

[Toddlerteaplease]

I was going to
Mention changing places but another pp has beat me too it. They are having a big campaign to get motorway services to install them. My city has 4 in the centre and 1 in each hospital.

[UnGoogleable]

I would tweet the company with a graphic description. Name and shame them. It's unnacceptable - 5 mins with a mop every hour or so would sort this out, it's just laziness, under resourcing or under training staff.

[ChessieFL]

Everyone here is saying the company is at fault and I agree that their cleaning needs to improve. However, surely the fault is really with the members of the public that leave it like this! Why do people think it's acceptable to leave a toilet in a state like that?

[araiba]

its not like the business pissed all over the floor

they cant check after each person has used the toilet. maybe if you had mentioned it, someone with a mop might have made it usable for you

[Boomingmarvellous]

There is a campaign to make a reasonable number of toilets physically SN friendly with adequate changing areas, and a petition to sign.

www.change.org/p/david-cameron-call-to-all-councils-to-help-get-changing-places-toilets-in-all-town-centres-with-a-bench-and-hoist-for-paralysed-severely-disabled-adults-children-instead-of-changing-them-on-the-urine-soaked-disabled-toilet-floor

[Boomingmarvellous]

Possibly people are missing the point?

Lying a child on a toilet floor to change them? Is this acceptable in the 21st century?

Would anyone do this with a baby?

community.fireflyfriends.com/blog/article/campaigning-for-better-disabled-toilets-and-changing-facilities

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

What a horrible situation, travelling is often a faff without any other considerations, but adequate toileting provisions are considered a basic human need.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Could you not have changed him on the back seat of your car rather than infront of a queue full of people?

Yanbu to be annoyed about the state of the toilet but unless a cleaner goes in after every customer, I don't see how that sort of problem can be avoided with public loos from time to time.

[RunnerOnTheRun]

Car boot all the way!

[Floggingmolly]

Of course you weren't compelled to change him "in front of a large queue of people", nobody actually forced you to do that

[Olddear]

Whilst I'm very sympathetic, was it really necessary to change him in front of a large queue of people?

[chickensaresafehere]

Same here with my disabled dd (9).
If you wouldn't walk barefoot on a public toilet floor how can you expect to lie a disabled child down on it to change them.And if I change her outside the cubicle where the sinks are,I get stared at like we're a sideshow at the circus.Fucks me right off & puts me off going to public venues.
And to all those who are questioning the op,pass your opinion when you have walked in our (disabled parents) shoes.

[honkinghaddock]

On the back seat of a car or in a boot? This is a 8 year old we are talking about. My 9 year old also still in nappies and wouldn't fit in either of those places. I've had to change him with toilet doors open because he doesn't fit in the toilet with the door shut. Some of you have no idea.

[honkinghaddock]

How many hours do you expect our children to sit in shit?