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AIBU?

CF asking for key worker discount

352 replies

rumblingtumtum · 14/08/2020 23:15

Tonight I was in a small independent restaurant when a police officer (inspector rank) came in to collect a takeaway order. He was wearing full police uniform, as he was paying he asked if they did key worker discount "because some places do".

This really pissed me off. Firstly, he was in full uniform, if they did a discount they would have offered it.

Secondly, he has been on full pay for the whole of this pandemic, the restaurant has been closed for months.

Thirdly, him asking puts the staff in an awkward position, police are supposed to represent authority.

I would like to point out that I am also a police officer and I would never ask for discount like that. I think it pissed me off so much because I feel his actions have a negative impact on the representation of 'The Police'.

AIBU to be so pissed off or was him asking ok and I'm being irrational?

I'm away for the weekend so not in my own force area. I know in my force area there has been a lot on the intranet about not taking advantage of free goods and discounts as we have to be impartial, so maybe that's why I was so annoyed seeing someone of rank blatantly ask.

OP posts:

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dwiz8 · 14/08/2020 23:19

Yabu

Many places offer discount to key workers and or blue light discount for certain roles. It's not unreasonable for him to ask if there was any discount he could be eligible for

Also it's extremely unrealistic to think staff in a shop would offer a discount after seeing someone in uniform. Many will wait until it's asked or mentioned

rumblingtumtum · 14/08/2020 23:20

In the force where I work PSD would be on you if you openly asked for discount like he did

OP posts:

Kochicoo · 14/08/2020 23:21

YANBU

dwiz8 · 14/08/2020 23:23

@rumblingtumtum

In the force where I work PSD would be on you if you openly asked for discount like he did

Maybe, just maybe different forces have different rules

It's not unreasonable to ask, my husband spends most of the time in shops asking if they accept blue light discount. It's there for people to use. And he is not wrong for asking if that shop offered a keyworker discount, or any other discount he might be eligible for.

TitianaTitsling · 14/08/2020 23:24

Yabu- am assuming you've heard of the blue light card? Whats wrong with asking? Just like to give a thanks to h&m for the 20% I recently got!

BananaPop2020 · 14/08/2020 23:24

My husband is an Officer of the same rank, and would not dream of doing this.

TitianaTitsling · 14/08/2020 23:24

Xpost with @dwiz8!

googybob · 14/08/2020 23:25

YANBU

june2007 · 14/08/2020 23:26

YANBU as you say a lot of eateries have struggled whilst he has probably been on full wge,.

rumblingtumtum · 14/08/2020 23:27

Blue light card has an app that you can search for discounts on , and you pay a fee to subscribe to the blue light card, it's not an automatic thing for all officers.

I think it's different to clearly being on duty and asking for favour. I worked in psd for a few years and can guarantee it is national policy that you should not ask for discount while on duty.

OP posts:

AllsortsofAwkward · 14/08/2020 23:28

Surely its the same as nhs discount plenty of places offer it just the perks of the job and I wouldn't begrudge someone in the public services get a small discount.

BananaPop2020 · 14/08/2020 23:29

I think part of the issue is that the Officer the OP referred to was in uniform, which could make some businesses feel compelled to offer a discount.

rumblingtumtum · 14/08/2020 23:29

Using your warrant card and using your blue light card to request discount are very different things.

OP posts:

Pinkbunny2811 · 14/08/2020 23:29

Yabu, it's the same as students asking or using a voucher.

dwiz8 · 14/08/2020 23:29

@rumblingtumtum

Blue light card has an app that you can search for discounts on , and you pay a fee to subscribe to the blue light card, it's not an automatic thing for all officers.

I think it's different to clearly being on duty and asking for favour. I worked in psd for a few years and can guarantee it is national policy that you should not ask for discount while on duty.

It's not asking for a favour

It's asking if they have a discount he would be eligible

Very different

Also it's not automatic but it's used by every officer I know and everyone my husband works with. Yes there is an app but often for smaller companies they will offer something if asked and you show the card. Not all want to pay to be on the app.

rumblingtumtum · 14/08/2020 23:29

Exactly @BananaPop2020

OP posts:

dwiz8 · 14/08/2020 23:31

@rumblingtumtum

Using your warrant card and using your blue light card to request discount are very different things.

But he didn't

He simply asked if the offered a keyworker discount

Many shops offer this and he is not cheeky for asking if this shop also offered such discount.

googybob · 14/08/2020 23:31

Did he get the discount? Because of the current climate the small business might feel they had no choice but to agree which feels unfair.

IBelieveInPink · 14/08/2020 23:33

Also police force, this would be an absolute no in our force too.
It obviously isn’t job paying for it because that doesn’t happen, so is personal gain, and using influence as in uniform.

googybob · 14/08/2020 23:33

Surely its the same as nhs discount plenty of places offer it just the perks of the job and I wouldn't begrudge someone in the public services get a small discount.

It's not a question of begrudging it's the fact a small business could easily be on small margins & struggle to afford 10-20%

googybob · 14/08/2020 23:34

Yabu, it's the same as students asking or using a voucher.

So the uniform makes zero difference?

dwiz8 · 14/08/2020 23:36

@googybob

Surely its the same as nhs discount plenty of places offer it just the perks of the job and I wouldn't begrudge someone in the public services get a small discount.

It's not a question of begrudging it's the fact a small business could easily be on small margins & struggle to afford 10-20%

Then they simply say no

Many, many businesses offer key worker and blue light discount. It's not unreasonable to ask

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BanginChoons · 14/08/2020 23:36

I work for the NHS and I sometimes ask if places do a blue light discount.

I'm also a single mum, my wages aren't particularly high and I spend a lot on childcare. Places don't have to offer a discount but if they do Im thankful for it.

TyneTeas · 14/08/2020 23:36

This caught my eye recently - restaurant can't afford to keep giving discounts

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-53514524

TitianaTitsling · 14/08/2020 23:37

So what tone did he use when he asked OP?
Enquiring or demanding?

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