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Original poster

Im absolutely livid...thinking about sending a strongly worded email...

320 replies

Twdfn123 · 11/12/2022 12:45

Hi,

So my partner and I were at our local peacocks browsing the clothes and we had our 1 year old son with us. I usually push the pram as i look at baby clothes but my partner took him to go to the mens. thank god! Because as i was browsing a bit of the roof fell down about 2 ft in front of me!

Now if I had been pushing my son, that would have caved in over his pram and he could have been injured! I just sort of stood there frozen and the woman at the till noticed and came over. She said did that just happen and said yes. All she said is they should have fixed it months ago as there is a massive leak up there. Then that was it and she turned around and went about her business.

I get its not her fault, but 1) to not even ask if i was okay (i am just a bit shocked and grateful at the same time my son was with his dad) 2) for the store to not even cordon that corner off if they knew it was dangerous because of the 'bad leak'.
After the lady said that I looked at the ceiling and there was lots of brown patches and drips down the wall as well.

I feel like contacting customer service as i find this all quite appaling to be honest.

OP posts:
NewMum0305 · 12/12/2022 19:42

This is one of the bizarrest threads I’ve seen on Mumsnet in a long time. Of course you have every right to be livid OP.

If someone drove through a red light and nearly hit me and my child, I wouldn’t be thinking “Well, they didn’t actually hit us so no harm done”.

Ignore the batshit posters, your reaction was totally reasonable and you did the right thing.

Original poster
Twdfn123 · 12/12/2022 19:44

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 19:37

I am a pedant so I have to clarify that the ceiling did not ‘cave in’, one ceiling tile file and disintegrated. A previous poster pointed out it would have weighed the same as six Cadbury’s roses. The poster compared it to a wet cotton wool ball in terms of impact. It’s this kind of overblown language (e.g. caved in, asbestos, fatal injuries, neglect) that means many people have more questions than answers.

I know it’s dangerous to make assumptions (that hasn’t stopped them being thrown around wily nily on this thread!) but am going out on a limb to assume that the council have not in fact classified this incident as dangerous currently but instead just asked the OP to send the details on to the correct dept who deal with such reports, but am happy to be corrected! Think I am now one of the baddies though because I haven’t been whipped in to the OP’s righteous frenzy.

I would not say you were a 'baddie' at all and appreciate your comment. They have indeed asked me to fill out the form to send to the environmental agency but I assumed that meant they thought this was worth doing. Never really had to do this before 😵‍💫 I'm glad it was only 2 roof so just want it fixed before it becomes something worse ya know.

I think people have seen the word livid and justcgone in on that. I was only 'livid' as a known issue has been ignored. Maybe next time I won't use a word so strong as it obviously offends a lot of people 🤔😵

OP posts:
Original poster
Twdfn123 · 12/12/2022 19:47

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 19:37

I am a pedant so I have to clarify that the ceiling did not ‘cave in’, one ceiling tile file and disintegrated. A previous poster pointed out it would have weighed the same as six Cadbury’s roses. The poster compared it to a wet cotton wool ball in terms of impact. It’s this kind of overblown language (e.g. caved in, asbestos, fatal injuries, neglect) that means many people have more questions than answers.

I know it’s dangerous to make assumptions (that hasn’t stopped them being thrown around wily nily on this thread!) but am going out on a limb to assume that the council have not in fact classified this incident as dangerous currently but instead just asked the OP to send the details on to the correct dept who deal with such reports, but am happy to be corrected! Think I am now one of the baddies though because I haven’t been whipped in to the OP’s righteous frenzy.

But I do take offence to righteous frenzy. I don't think wanting a broken ceiling fixed is righteous. Just common sense.

OP posts:
Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 19:47

So then just to be clear they haven’t said it’s dangerous!! You came on and did they have classed it as dangerous. It’s their procedure. You have reported something, they have said it actually needs to go to this dept and your need to send x, y and z. No one could judge anything without inspecting the property.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 12/12/2022 19:48

midlifecrash · 12/12/2022 19:36

This. Having a good laugh at all the responders on here who go around with things nearly falling on them all the time and just think “ooh, it must be my lucky day!”

Show quote history

I've had these tiles actually fall on me more than once.

It's more an 'Ugh. Fuck's sake. Better email the site team.' and an attempt to see the source of the drip/trickle so I can take a photo to add big red arrows to it in the report - once I've repurposed a wastepaper bin to catch any noticeable leak and looked to see whether any more tiles are bulging so they can be poked with a broomstick to bring them down.

WhoNeedsToSleepAnyway · 12/12/2022 19:49

As a customer you have a reasonable expectation that you can walk safety around a shop with harm coming to you (e.g a piece of ceiling falling on your head). The shop also has a duty of care to its customers. This is, as previously pointed out, in Health & Safety speak a 'near miss' and needs to be reported so that actions can be taken to prevent it happening again. To all those bemoaning your quite reasonable upset, I'm sure they'd all be saying how awful it was if the ceiling came down on your son. I would email thr health and safety executive . They have a duty to investigate if a company isn't fulfilling its statutory duty if Keep it's customers safe!

poefaced · 12/12/2022 19:49

I think you’ve been remarkably patient on this thread, OP. I hope your efforts save someone else from a head injury Flowers

Samanthakronda · 12/12/2022 19:49

Ceiling tiles pre-2000 do indeed potentially contain asbestos so I think my comment was valid. No scaremongering- not ‘out there’ but factual- yes i Ann one of these ‘geeks’ that does H&S as a living..

butterpuffed · 12/12/2022 19:51

OP , please stop defending yourself , it just gives those piling on for the sake of it , more ammunition for their pettiness .

changeme4this · 12/12/2022 19:51

Its a big leap for her to say because there was a leak up there, that made the building structurally unsafe.

Quite obviously it was unsafe, but I would be sending an email to the Council's building team to go and inspect the building as clearly there is more going on with that structure than a leak....

Original poster
Twdfn123 · 12/12/2022 19:51

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 19:47

So then just to be clear they haven’t said it’s dangerous!! You came on and did they have classed it as dangerous. It’s their procedure. You have reported something, they have said it actually needs to go to this dept and your need to send x, y and z. No one could judge anything without inspecting the property.

Okay, like I said I assumed this meant it was classed as dangerous I don't know the procedures of this. People like you make people feel like shit for trying to do the right thing. Hope the view is nice from your high horse.

OP posts:
Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 19:52

@poefaced the chance of sustaining a head injury from one of these tiles is extremely low. Please see post two or three above you!
@NewMum0305 but that would actually be dangerous because a speeding car in several tons of metal. A roof tile is one step up from cardboard! It would need to fall from the international space station to cause injury!!!!

rosemarysalter · 12/12/2022 19:53

Write to management but
Dont dirext your anger at a retail assistant fgs

Original poster
Twdfn123 · 12/12/2022 19:53

butterpuffed · 12/12/2022 19:51

OP , please stop defending yourself , it just gives those piling on for the sake of it , more ammunition for their pettiness .

I know it's taken me aback but hey ho, I think I've done the right thing so can't go back now. Shame some people would just leave the ceiling to fall down on the next person by the sounds of it. But thank you 🙂

OP posts:
rosemarysalter · 12/12/2022 19:55

Have you contacted your local paper yet?

Ill look out for you on the FB feed

Original poster
Twdfn123 · 12/12/2022 19:55

rosemarysalter · 12/12/2022 19:53

Write to management but
Dont dirext your anger at a retail assistant fgs

No anger directed at all to her. She was just as shocked as I was in hindsight and rightly so!

OP posts:
Original poster
Twdfn123 · 12/12/2022 19:56

rosemarysalter · 12/12/2022 19:55

Have you contacted your local paper yet?

Ill look out for you on the FB feed

Nope. I don't want to be in the paper!😅😳😳

OP posts:
VK456 · 12/12/2022 19:56

Yes. Do report it.

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 19:56

I’ve not been trying to make you feel like shit at all. You came back on to say it was dangerous which is not what was said at all. That’s why people have quite rightly been questioning the veracity of what you say. Also myself and many others who have experience in this and adjacent fields have attempted to actually give you a lot of factual information and guidance. You have refused all of it from people who have this experience.

Original poster
Twdfn123 · 12/12/2022 20:00

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 19:56

I’ve not been trying to make you feel like shit at all. You came back on to say it was dangerous which is not what was said at all. That’s why people have quite rightly been questioning the veracity of what you say. Also myself and many others who have experience in this and adjacent fields have attempted to actually give you a lot of factual information and guidance. You have refused all of it from people who have this experience.

Actually no I've thanked the people who have said about the weight of the tiles and it made me feel better, as from the previous poster who mentioned that's why they're built that way to be soft in schools etc. I didnt know this at the time. And I've followed the advice to report it to my local council. I've taken issues with people saying I should have just ignored it and gone on with my day without reporting it. An issue is there and that's my main point here. I know it wasn't a near miss to my son but it was to me. Even if they're light, I'd still rather not have them falling on my head thanks.

OP posts:
pinkpotatoez · 12/12/2022 20:02

Why would she ask if you're okay ffs she saw it drop and it was 2 foot away from you

poefaced · 12/12/2022 20:02

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 19:52

@poefaced the chance of sustaining a head injury from one of these tiles is extremely low. Please see post two or three above you!
@NewMum0305 but that would actually be dangerous because a speeding car in several tons of metal. A roof tile is one step up from cardboard! It would need to fall from the international space station to cause injury!!!!

If it’s dry maybe not. But with water damage, it can be dangerous.

Original poster
Twdfn123 · 12/12/2022 20:06

pinkpotatoez · 12/12/2022 20:02

Why would she ask if you're okay ffs she saw it drop and it was 2 foot away from you

I would've asked but that's just me. I've already said later on she was probably just as shocked as me so in hindsight I wish I hasn't posted that bit. Don't have to be so rude though. Manners don't cost anything 🙄

OP posts:
Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 20:11

@poefaced please see @NeverDropYourMooncup’s posts

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 20:15

Well you have reported it now so we’ll see how long it takes environmental to get back to you. I would be surprised if it’s before Christmas to be honest. I’d imagine peacocks will have a bit more urgency about getting the matter dealt with by their landlord because the actual risk here is to their stock which, if there is a leak could be ruined in the middle of their busiest time of year. That’s another reason why the quickest way to get it dealt with is through the shop, who are aware of the issue.