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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be mad that this Eurostar staff member punched my arm

87 replies

Bunnyhipsdontliegrl · 01/06/2017 14:27

Last week, I was taking the Eurostar at St-Pancras. I was going to the machine where you put your passport for a check (sorry, no idea how you call it it. The automatic doors that open after your passport is scanned). There was barely anyone so no chaos. A lane was empty and I walked towards it with my passport and started to put it to be scanned when the agent working there punched me in the arm, saying I have to wait. I was a bit shocked and half asleep so I didn't say anything and took a step back. He then grabbed my passport and put it in the machine for me. I might have tried to put it too early, it was the first time I used those doors, but still not a reason to hit me.
I walked away and after some minutes, my arm still aching. I went to complain at the desk. The Eutostar employees told me he shouldn't have done that and gave me an email to complain to. I did send an email soon after.

In the evening I realised I had a little bruise.

I haven't heard back from Eurostar yet

AIBU to be so upset that he did this to me? Eurostar staff are always a bit aggressive but I always put up with it as it must be a stressful job. But I really think punching my arm, from behind with no reason (np interaction before or argument -not that it would excuse anything) is unacceptable. Or am I being a precious snowflake and I should just leave it at tha (I wasn't dragged out of the train after all, wink wink)?

OP posts:
Empireoftheclouds · 01/06/2017 14:29

I would have contacted the police and had him charged.

No doubt their cctv will not be available now

carefreeeee · 01/06/2017 14:32

Make a complaint - sounds totally unreasonable! The incident may well be on CCTV. If they don't respond within a couple of weeks take the complaint higher. Take a photo of the bruise as well.

In the meantime though don't let it upset you - it was not personal - the staff member's problem not yours. I often think airport staff are unnecessarily aggressive and rude but not had any trouble with Eurostar!

Bunnyhipsdontliegrl · 01/06/2017 15:06

I've just received this answered (funnily enough less than an hour after posting here, total luck I guess).

" First of all, I’m very sorry for not responding to you sooner and thank you for emailing us with your feedback.
It’s always really helpful to hear from our travellers about their experiences, so thank you for taking the time to send us your thoughts.

I’ve passed your feedback on to the station staff and managers and it’ll be used to help us keep improving how we do things.

If there’s anything else I can do, please do get in touch"

It actually makes me more upset ... they are not actually aknowledging what happened...

OP posts:
Chickenagain · 01/06/2017 15:20

Cheek -1 It wasn't feedback - it was a complaint!
Assaulted by a member of their staff!

TheFaerieQueene · 01/06/2017 15:23

You were assaulted. I would advise Eurostar you will be contacting the police and immediately ring the non emergency number for advice/make a complaint.

Vroomster · 01/06/2017 15:23

Feedback? It's not like you were given a cold cup of tea. Hmm

missyB1 · 01/06/2017 15:23

Please contact them again insisting that you are not happy with their response. Tell them you want an investigation and for you to be told the result of that.

kissmethere · 01/06/2017 15:25

That's not sufficient. Email them back and tell them that.

Bunnyhipsdontliegrl · 01/06/2017 15:33

I emailed back and tweeted them. I am at work at the moment so can't really do much now but. I was a bit worried that calling the police for that would be a bit much and they would tell me to f* off

OP posts:
SapphireStrange · 01/06/2017 15:34

No, call the police. Tell Eurostar you're doing so.

Ceto · 01/06/2017 15:36

Are you sure it was a deliberate punch? Could he have been intending to put his arm out to stop you going through?

aginghippy · 01/06/2017 15:36

If he punched you hard enough to bruise you, that is serious. I would call the police on 101 and report it.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 01/06/2017 15:37

He punched you in the arm for no reason?! Good grief. You should take this further.

BuckinghamLass · 01/06/2017 15:41

WTF? What an arsehole.

Waltermittythesequel · 01/06/2017 15:52

He punched you??

I would email back and say: "you've obviously had trouble understanding the severity of the incident, since your employee assaulted me. Hopefully the police will have more luck."

Chloe84 · 01/06/2017 15:57

That email is infuriating Angry

A sorry and lots of thank yous to distract you but not apologising for the actual issue (assault) and passing your complaint off as 'feedback'. Obvious avoidance tactic.

I think you need to write back strongly, and say you're not interested in a template apology and want an investigation and action.

WorldsacpeLove · 01/06/2017 15:57

Punched with close fist?

Or put his arm and hand out outstretched?

Bunnyhipsdontliegrl · 01/06/2017 16:09

They are just taking the piss now aren't they?

To be mad that this Eurostar staff member punched my arm
OP posts:
Coddiwomple · 01/06/2017 16:09

take a photo of the bruise.

Don't let that go, Eurostar is famous for being rude and to not give a damn about their customers. (Never heard of an assault by the staff before to be fair!). The problem is that they have no competition at all, so they are very smug and forgot that passengers are paid customers, not people who are getting a favour. In theory, you can fly, but in practice it's not really a choice. They are not worried about losing clients, so they genuinely do not care.

Insist on a proper action. at the very least an apology is in order, instead of a template reply that someone had copied and pasted.
Good luck, it might take you awhile but it's not acceptable. They have CCTV everywhere btw, but if it takes too long, they will turn round telling you the film has now been deleted, so better acting fast.

Coddiwomple · 01/06/2017 16:11

just saw your update, well they don't even bother reading the complaints do they.

the CEO was Director of Customer Service, you'd think things might have improved, but clearly not

www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/eurostar-management-team

WorldsacpeLove · 01/06/2017 16:12

I saw that reply and was pretty angry on your behalf.

Was it a closed-fist punch though?

DeadGood · 01/06/2017 16:12

Good lord, what is wrong with them?? Those replies are a disgrace - it's almost as if they are trying to make things worse!

WorldsacpeLove · 01/06/2017 16:13

CCTV at the station I think will be kept due to terrorism etc. I doubt they would be allowed to just re-record over it every 24 hours.

Coddiwomple · 01/06/2017 16:15

I doubt they would be allowed to just re-record over it every 24 hours.

true, but it take them so long to bother replying to anything properly, they might not have the footage in 6 months or so (or pretend they don't!)

WorldsacpeLove · 01/06/2017 16:17

Ah, this is true - police is probably best whatever action they then decide just to get the CCTV footage now.