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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think some people are entitled arseholes?

70 replies

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 03/06/2015 18:41

Just been reading the Alton Towers FB page (it came up on my newsfeed). Loads of people asking whether the park is open tomorrow/ Friday - fine. Lots asking about exchanging tickets - also fine (although the answer was there all along).

But there are some people getting really pissy about 'needing to know' now about Saturday because they have booked hotels or have long drives. Others asking why they can't go to random places like Drayton Manor on their tickets (because it isn't Merlin?). Some wanting to know whether their school trip can go on Monday next week or some such...

fFS - the poor buggers in customer service must be snowed under and are responding really quickly. Surely it is obvious that they can't give a definite decision on Friday til it is made by someone else? Bollocks to your Travelodge booking...

OP posts:
LazyLouLou · 03/06/2015 19:00

But they can't. That's the point! They won't be the ones to make the final decision. H+S investigators override any internal investigation.

As soon as they are told anything different their website will be updated. Until then you just have to assume they will be open on Friday.

NRomanoff · 03/06/2015 19:00

Yabu its expensive, for some people it maybe a long awaited break that they saved long and hard for. They aren't saying 'fuck the people who got injured and peoples safety and open the park' are they?

EmeraldThief · 03/06/2015 19:01

Gosh some people on here are a bit slow.

A major incident happened yesterday that left one person with life changing injuries and three others badly hurt. There will need to be an investigation into the cause, this is the LAW. They cannot conduct that investigation with members of the public wandering around and they will genuinely have no idea how long this will take or how long the park will be closed for.

Quite frankly those moaning need a fucking reality check. It reminds me of those selfish fuckers who whinge when there is a serious road accident or fatality in the railways.

LaurieFairyCake · 03/06/2015 19:05

I can't understand why anyone would want to go there now Confused

Surely they shouldn't need to ask the question? It should just be - best call the travel insurance company as there's no way on earth I'm going there after someone lost their leg Hmm

imwithspud · 03/06/2015 19:07

Totally agree with Emerald.

YANBU.

TheWintersmith · 03/06/2015 19:12

I'm guessing it isn't the parks decision as to whether they can reopen, it will be in the hands of the HSE investigators.

And they will take as much time as they need to investigate

So park management will not know when or if they will be allowed to reopen.

tiggytape · 03/06/2015 19:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whatyouseeiswhatyouget · 03/06/2015 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoneyBackJefferson · 03/06/2015 19:29

BabyMurloc
"It's in the best interests of the local hotels to be flexible with rescheduling bookings"

The hotels may not be able to be flexible and may refuse refunds.

Aermingers · 03/06/2015 20:04

So how about they say 'we do not know if we will be open so we will refund tickets to people who decide not to travel as a result'.

Because basically what they are doing now is forcing customers into a loss. If you are driving down Friday night you have to take a chance in wheter they will be open or not. If you go and they are not open you will have gone and used your hotel booking, won't be able to claim that back on your insurance and also wasted the price of your fuel and will only get back the price of your tickets.If you don't go and they do open you won't be able to claim on your insurance because they did open plus you won't get your tickets back either.

What Alton Towers are doing is delaying saying whether or not they will open until the last minute, so that as many losses as possible will be absorbed by the customer, not them.

Nobody is asking them to reopen the park when it's not safe. But customers do have a right to reasonable notice of cancellation where possible. If they can't tell people that they will be open on a specific day they should refund the tickets with at least a couple of days to go.

This has nothing to do with the tragedy, it has to do with Alton Towers trying to reduce the amount of refunds they have to make at the expense of customers so they can continue making as much money as possible despite the tragedy.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 03/06/2015 20:12

If I'd booked tickets which as we all know are definitely not cheap. I would be phoning up enquiring whether it was going to be open or not.

singlemumoftwins · 03/06/2015 20:18

You are spot on Aer

singlemumoftwins · 04/06/2015 14:46

Was just reminded of Alton towers. Their website exactly the same as it was yesterday. Nothing about tomorrow, nothing about the weekend

Roseforarose · 04/06/2015 15:39

I'd be more annoyed with Alton Towers than the people keen to know what's going on after having paid for tickets. It's all about limiting their losses as much as possible with Alton Towers. It wasn't other people's fault that the accident happened.

CitrineRaindropPhoenix · 04/06/2015 15:47

Precisely Aer

WanderWomble · 04/06/2015 15:53

I did Alton Towers a few years ago, and it was pretty expensive when you factored in my time off work, ticket prices, the hotel stay and the drive down. I'm not surprised that people want to know what's going on so they can make plans. Not all hotels will refund or let you change the date of your stay either.

ghostyslovesheep · 04/06/2015 15:53

people have a right to information if they are facing a 4 hour drive with kids and money for a hotel only to find it's closed

I don't think that's entitled

you seem a little over invested in the drama - too much outrage on behalf of others

bilbodog · 04/06/2015 16:02

just don't go then - put it all down to a 'life experience' and hope that whilst Alton Towers pays out everyone who is making a fuss they will go into administration and then you wont ever be able to go ever again...........

DragonWithAGirlTattoo · 04/06/2015 16:06

I agree, if you're planning to go to AT and you have a 4 hours drive with hotel bookings, and time off work booked etc, it would be good to know if they are closer to opening or not

I dont agree that worrying about people that have been hurt automatically means you cannot worry about whether your trip will happen or not - the 2 are not mutally exclusive

BolshierAyraStark · 04/06/2015 16:12

They will want to open asap, read somewhere that they're losing approx £500,000 every day the park is closed.
As soon as they get the all clear from HSE they will open-that could be tomorrow for a Saturday opening.
As for the why would you still want to go? It's a great theme park with an up to now excellent safety record,will be visiting in October & yes, I'd ride the Smiler.
Have the reports of a leg loss been confirmed as I haven't seen that...?

Yarp · 04/06/2015 19:26

Emaerald

There's not reason to be insulting

Organisations should communicate clearly with their paying customers.

Yarp · 04/06/2015 19:26

no reason

tobysmum77 · 04/06/2015 19:32

I think yabu. You only get a hotel refund if it's an official one. If you cancel the hotel and its open you won't then get a refund.

The Drayton manor comment is bizarre though - they can get a refund and therefore spend the money where they like.

SistersofPercy · 04/06/2015 19:38

There are other things to do in these parts but tbh none really compare with the attraction of AT so I can understand those who have booked accommodation here wanting to know what is going on.

From what I understand they are currently trying to ascertain whether this was computer error, human error or a combination of both. If human error factors in any way then it's unsafe to open the park as staff will need retraining, human error could feasibly mean other rides in the park are at risk.

AT brings in a lot of money in Staffordshire. They wont want it closed unless absolutely necessary as they know this has a knock on effect on local businesses.

If anyone is reading this with room reservations in these parts then can I direct you to this website

www.enjoystaffordshire.com/see-do/

There are other things to do in the area, admittedly none really compare with AT but we have some rather cute baby monkeys in a forest, lots of pots, places to swim and some beautiful countryside.
If anyone is visiting and wants some local advice please feel free to PM me and I'll try and help.

BillyBigchin · 04/06/2015 19:38

Well....I would pretty upset if my only summer holiday for me and my children was cancelled. Particularly as I would more than likely have paid for a hire car and hotel. I suspect I would be unlikely to get my money back on a hotel that is not an Alton Towers one.

I wouldn't bleat about it on FB though or complain. Ok, I might have a moan to my mum. I am able to be simultaneously annoyed on my own behalf and upset on those that have been injured.