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AIBU?

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Original poster

Anyone work in a Premier Inn?

162 replies

fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:28

Our teen slept heavily and wasn't responding to us knocking loudly on his hotel room door and calling his phone. The receptionist had a look but couldn't open it with her key card because he had locked the door from the inside.
She said the only way to open it was the police. Surely there is a way to open the door in these circumstances, without damaging the door ?
(Next time I'm booking a connecting room)

Anyone work in a Premier Inn?
Anyone work in a Premier Inn?
OP posts:
Original poster
fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:54

PeachRose1986 · 22/09/2024 20:53

Not the same hotel chain but I have worked in hotels with these kinds of locks, we had master key cards and a manual key to open doors. I suspect the receptionist may have needed to ask a manager or housekeeper for a master key. I’m glad your son is okay, that must’ve been worrying for a while.

A sensible answer, thank you

OP posts:
kenidorm · 22/09/2024 20:54

We had to leave for a flight and I couldn't leave him there !

Right, but it absolutely wasn’t an emergency where the police would have facilitated the opening of the door, was it? It was a case of 'shit happens' your DS slept in.

You don't need to know how it's done in an emergency, you didn't have an emergency.

Choochoo21 · 22/09/2024 20:54

There is a lock for a reason.

If staff could get in easily then not only could it be dangerous but they could also be accused of all sorts including SA or stealing.

In an emergency they would ring the police, just like you would do if you needed to get into a strangers home (e.g. a welfare check on an elderly neighbour).

Original poster
fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:53

TheArtfulScreamer1 · 22/09/2024 20:52

Is it right that hotel staff can't gain entry to a room that the occupant has chosen to lock to safeguard themselves without the police.
Yes absolutely it is.
Wasn't it Lucy Spraggan who dropped out of X Factor and years later it was revealed she'd been raped by a hotel staff member who used his key card to gain entry.
YABU

There was a member of staff and 4 members of family stood outside his room !

OP posts:
PeachRose1986 · 22/09/2024 20:53

Not the same hotel chain but I have worked in hotels with these kinds of locks, we had master key cards and a manual key to open doors. I suspect the receptionist may have needed to ask a manager or housekeeper for a master key. I’m glad your son is okay, that must’ve been worrying for a while.

Original poster
fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:52

FawnFrenchieMum · 22/09/2024 20:51

I think a lesson in responsibility for you all.

Show quote history

Responsibility?! I did tell him to set an alarm . What more could I do. He didn't answer

OP posts:
TheArtfulScreamer1 · 22/09/2024 20:52

Is it right that hotel staff can't gain entry to a room that the occupant has chosen to lock to safeguard themselves without the police.
Yes absolutely it is.
Wasn't it Lucy Spraggan who dropped out of X Factor and years later it was revealed she'd been raped by a hotel staff member who used his key card to gain entry.
YABU

Original poster
fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:51

kenidorm · 22/09/2024 20:50

Surely there is a way to open the door in these circumstances, without damaging the door ?

It's neither your problem nor your business.

Your son wasn't in a situation where the door needed to be opened from the outside.

We had to leave for a flight and I couldn't leave him there !

OP posts:
BridgetJonesBigPants · 22/09/2024 20:51

If he's 18 you can't demand access to his room.

FawnFrenchieMum · 22/09/2024 20:51

fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:48

I think the embarrassment of us all standing there when he finally emerged was enough to stop it happening again. Plus my brother shouting at him 🤦

I think a lesson in responsibility for you all.

Wantsalotofattentio · 22/09/2024 20:50

Well if he's 18 he's an adult isn't it so you can't be asking staff to go in

kenidorm · 22/09/2024 20:50

Surely there is a way to open the door in these circumstances, without damaging the door ?

It's neither your problem nor your business.

Your son wasn't in a situation where the door needed to be opened from the outside.

Original poster
fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:49

MocktailMe · 22/09/2024 20:47

The booking name isn't proof of anything.

Big problems in cheap hotel chains with teens especially being accompanied by adults for drug trafficking reasons. We had to have safeguarding training on this sort of thing all the time.

Also, you can't book a child into their own room in a premier inn and you aren't allowed to leave a child alone in the room. So, if he's over 18, he's an adult and you have no right to enter. If he's a child, then you broke the t&c by letting him be alone in there, and policy will be police have to be present to break door down.

Show quote history

He's 18 so needed a room of his own but I never thought he's sleep so heavily

OP posts:
Nomorecoconutboosts · 22/09/2024 20:49

If teen ds is under 18 (especially if a young teen 13/14) then this could put you in a tricky position as he is technically a child and if he’s locked himself in you’re not available to
supervise him which may well be in the booking t&c
if he’s 18 or 19 then he’s an adult in his own right so staff may be reluctant to over ride the lock even if they can.
was there a specific emergency or time pressured event meaning you needed him out immediately? Hope you and he are all ok.
if it was just a frustration/inconvenience then not much you can do other than plan against a future occurrence

futureplanner · 22/09/2024 20:49

I'm really pleased that the doors can't be opened if locked from the inside!!

Surely the only reason to open it would be in case of emergency which is why they need the police.

BridgetJonesBigPants · 22/09/2024 20:49

fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:44

Why would this be an issue when the booking shows I am his mother ?

I get your point and weirdly had this conversation with my son recently because we are booked into a premier inn before an early flight. Slightly concerned he sleeps in because once he's asleep he's comatose.

Devils advocate though... how old is he? Too old to have his mother having rights to his room?

Original poster
fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:48

I think the embarrassment of us all standing there when he finally emerged was enough to stop it happening again. Plus my brother shouting at him 🤦

OP posts:
MocktailMe · 22/09/2024 20:47

fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:44

Why would this be an issue when the booking shows I am his mother ?

The booking name isn't proof of anything.

Big problems in cheap hotel chains with teens especially being accompanied by adults for drug trafficking reasons. We had to have safeguarding training on this sort of thing all the time.

Also, you can't book a child into their own room in a premier inn and you aren't allowed to leave a child alone in the room. So, if he's over 18, he's an adult and you have no right to enter. If he's a child, then you broke the t&c by letting him be alone in there, and policy will be police have to be present to break door down.

lkddp · 22/09/2024 20:47

Have you got in yet?
Is the room on the ground floor ? If so bang on window.
Bang on the door and shout police.

FawnFrenchieMum · 22/09/2024 20:47

fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:44

Why would this be an issue when the booking shows I am his mother ?

Im guessing you didn’t name only your teen on the booking on the room (as they don’t allow under 18s to stay in a room alone). If over 18 then presumably they have the same right as any other adult to not open the door.

amicissimma · 22/09/2024 20:46

As someone who quite frequently stays alone in Premier Inns and similar, I'm very glad that it's not possible for someone who gets hold of a master key, on any pretext at all, to enter my locked room.

Wantsalotofattentio · 22/09/2024 20:45

fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:44

Why would this be an issue when the booking shows I am his mother ?

It's not about YOU having access, it's about random members of staff in poorly paid jobs then also having access.

Original poster
fizzypop100 · 22/09/2024 20:44

Why would this be an issue when the booking shows I am his mother ?

OP posts:
Wantsalotofattentio · 22/09/2024 20:44

This reply has been deleted

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MocktailMe · 22/09/2024 20:44

froggybiby · 22/09/2024 20:39

Well normally when we both work in hotels there used to be a master key held in a safe by the management which would enable the door to be opened.

Edited

Even though we could of got in where I worked, it would have been against policy to do this, even if the bookings were linked etc. if the guest in the room complained staff member would be in big trouble.