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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think Premier Inn should’ve let homeless in.

407 replies

Oddish · 06/03/2018 13:03

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/premier-inn-homeless-people-turned-away-customer-paying-westonsupermare-a8240171.html

A woman who couldn’t make her mass booking of 19 rooms due to the weather last week offered the rooms to the homeless in the area via a charity’s Facebook.
A couple who had a flooded home were also given a room.
Flood couple let in no problem, homeless people who attended with charity rep were turned away.
Now Premier are saying they needed the lead room booker to be there and ID to be presented which is obviously bollocks because the flooded home couple were allowed in with no problem.

AIBU to think they should’ve let them in, it was bitterly cold and I think they acted heartlessly. Then the backtracking that followed. AIBU to boycott them? Would you?

OP posts:
CadyHeron · 07/03/2018 18:10

I haven't commented so far,but have read the full thread.
OP, you sound kind and well meaning but incredibly,incredibly naive.
Your last posts sound as though you're just out for being goady and obtuse though.
In an ideal world, yes, it would be lovely if the hotel rooms were taken up by desperate homeless people in need of shelter.
They get a nice warm bed, everybody happy, right?
Anyone can surely see that it really isn't that simple though.Unless you have the mindset of a 5 year old just wanting to see the good in everything. Which isn't a bad way to be,I'm like that myself with most things.
This, though? Surely you can see that a hotel are going to want to safeguard their guests, and how can they do that if they have rooms full of people who could have complex needs, problems,and no healthcare professionals on hand?
What if one decided to trash a room? (NOT saying because they're homeless they're automatically yobbos who have no respect before you start)
I just mean they'd have no comeback,would they?
Could hardly charge the damage to their card.Would the well meaning kind lady pay for any thousands of damage done on her card if they had gone ahead and took them in? Doubt it.
Just so much scope to go wrong,and you'd have to be incredibly naive to think otherwise.
The hotel did the right thing.

expatinscotland · 07/03/2018 18:11

' I didn’t see that thread but is it really such sport to laugh at peoples first instincts, however naive?'

Oh, come on! It's ridiculous to expect an elderly lady to encourage someone who broke into her shed.

CadyHeron · 07/03/2018 18:14

welcome to the pile on flouncy
Oh jeez,just seen this one. You're one of those. Wish I hadn't bothered engaging now.
"Waaaah, waaaah, nobody agrees with me, you're all mean and it's a pile on." Hmm
FFS.

expatinscotland · 07/03/2018 18:17

'Would the well meaning kind lady pay for any thousands of damage done on her card if they had gone ahead and took them in? Doubt it.'

Especially because they were booked for a group, doubt their indemnity insurance would cover that.

Original poster
Oddish · 07/03/2018 18:18

Yet here you are still engaging cady. What would you prefer I say? Try reading what I have actually responded with than making it up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oddish · 07/03/2018 18:19

Fair enough expat but my first reaction wouldn’t be to laugh at them.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 07/03/2018 18:20

Well, here's your Halo.

Original poster
Oddish · 07/03/2018 18:22

Thank you I’ll be sure to spend the evening polishing it.

OP posts:
CadyHeron · 07/03/2018 18:27

Try reading what I have actually responded with than making it up.

Yeah, I have read your responses.
You won't take homeless people in yourself because you have children. Why is that? Have a think.
"Welcome to the pile on." I mean, what? I'll never understand why people ask for opinions and then say "it's a pile on/you're all picking on me" when they get ones they don't agree with! I mean,why ask in the first place?
Glad you finally have realised why it really couldn't have worked and that you agree, yes, YWBU.

TheNailClippersAreBlunt · 07/03/2018 18:28

OP is just looking for people to point out the obvious now so she can feel all virtuous and persecuted. Just stop engaging with the madness and the thread will die.

Butterymuffin · 07/03/2018 19:22

Totally understand why PI made this decision.

roses2 · 07/03/2018 20:35

Didn't premier inn respond to this news article. They said they checked the cctv but no one actually turned up ie whilst their policy is to ask for id, the homeless people did not go:

A spokeswoman said: "Reports that 19 homeless people were turned away from one of our hotels in Weston super-Mare are simply untrue and extensive checking of CCTV footage bears this out.

www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/premier-inn-branded-disgraceful-after-14377920

TerfsUp · 07/03/2018 20:43

A bit disappointing that the relevant part of the article was at the very bottom:

"Premier Inn has since explained that they are unable to offer rooms to people without proper identification checks.

A spokeswoman said: "Reports that 19 homeless people were turned away from one of our hotels in Weston super-Mare are simply untrue and extensive checking of CCTV footage bears this out.

"For legal, as well as obvious guest safety and security reasons, we need the names of everybody staying in our hotels and the lead booker must be accountable for all guests.

"We spoke to the guest involved and informed her of this both on Friday morning, and again that evening but she failed to supply any guest names or details as we requested.

"We are a business that works extensively with all disadvantaged groups with a track record of getting homeless people off the streets and back into work so we’re very disappointed that vulnerable people feel let down through absolutely no fault of their own.

"We will be reaching out to the two homelessness organisations involved.""

NearlyThirtyDad · 07/03/2018 21:01

I don't think your being unreasonable you are a paying customer and should use the rooms as you see fit, on the other hand they are a business and they also have the right to refuse service. Personally I think they should've let the homeless stay and only evict if they caused trouble as you had paid. I think if you feel aggrieved what you are doing is right boycott the business and spread your story this is the free market after all.

cinderellawantstogototheball · 07/03/2018 21:05

How do you expect the skeleton untrained staff to evict troublecausers, Nearly? There would have been nothing like 19 staff there.

How do you propose to identify "trouble"? When other guests complain? When rooms are being trashed? When illegal drugs are being taken?

What about the duty of care that PI owes its staff and customers, to take reasonable steps to ensure their safety? Do you think letting in 19 people whose IDs were not known would comply with that?

NearlyThirtyDad · 07/03/2018 21:08

Call the police if they're was widespread trouble, quite troubling that your initial thought is all 18 would cause trouble. Identifying trouble ? Yes all those thing you just suggested would be a good answer. I wasn't aware they didn't have ID.

EdnaAverage · 07/03/2018 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Laurel543 · 07/03/2018 21:25

Has no one noticed that the OP has acknowledged, more than once today, that she has taken comments onboard, now agrees that she was being naive and has duly changed her POV? Surely she deserves some kudos for sticking around, being open minded and admitting her initial knee jerk reaction was wrong?

Even though people will have heard the story elsewhere, I agree with her that this thread has probably been useful overall in improving some people's understanding of the issues. Drop in the ocean though it may be.

It's the posters continuing to goad her that are being the arses now imo.

Laurel543 · 07/03/2018 21:27

Oh dear, just read some of the new replies supporting her original view :(
Maybe this thread isn't as educational as I'd hoped!

Kangar00 · 07/03/2018 21:28

It's Weston super mare. It's quite a dodgy area. The rooms could have been trashed. Who would have taken responsibility.

cinderellawantstogototheball · 07/03/2018 21:28

I didn't say I thought they would all be trouble.

But surely you can see that someone running a hotel has to be prepared for that, to keep everyone else safe? That's why lots of places won't take big stag or hen dos, for a different example - they see it as a risk!

FlouncyDoves · 07/03/2018 21:28

edna a rude awakening would’ve greeted the other guests if all the homeless had been allowed to stay over

EdnaAverage · 07/03/2018 21:36

The op is a decent human being. There but for the grace of God go each one of you. The PEOPLE that were denied a shower and bed had no reason to trash anything.

You judgemental, cruel bunch of middle class, pampered heathens. Pompous in your warm houses, sneering at charity in winter towards those who need it most.

cinderellawantstogototheball · 07/03/2018 21:37

Presumably Edna opens up her own home to homeless people....!

BakedBeans47 · 07/03/2018 21:42

You judgemental, cruel bunch of middle class, pampered heathens. Pompous in your warm houses, sneering at charity in winter towards those who need it most.

LOLZ

Biscuit
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