Or was Pizza Hut?

[Scarlett555]

Took my DD (4) to the park after school. She suddenly announces she's desperate for a wee - no toilets in the park and it's a 15 minute walk home.

Park is packed with kids from her school and near a busy road with lots of cars going past - no opportunity for a quick wee behind a bush.

There is a Pizza Hut near the park and so I take her in there and ask nicely if we could use the toilet.

The waitress states toilets are for customers only.

I explain it's for my DD, she's only 4 and isn't going to make it home.

Waitress repeats toilets are for customers only and we would have to stay and buy a meal if we use the toilets.

Restaurant was practically empty, only one table occupied.

We left and of course DD wet herself on the way home, poor thing was really embarrassed.

WIBU to think a big chain like Pizza Hut could let a 4 year old use the toilet?

JacksonPillock

I do understand that but couldn't she just have told management she's been hoodwinked? That the little girl had been Ill and had to go home?

That's what I would have done

Basically, the reduction in public toilets has put pressure on businesses.

I run a public venue and non customer toilet use creates a lot of mess, traffic past customers, queues for customers, and security issues.

A 4 year old isn’t a problem but 20 a day, opposite a busy park with no toilets, does create a problem.

It’s hard. But I am sorry you had such an upsetting experience, OP.

It's just made me never want to go back to that Pizza Hut. And as we live nearby they could potentially have had lots of custom from us.

How often have you been a customer prior to this incident?

Re: posting on social media - this is the type of society we have become - not happy? Post on sm! Don't agree with a companies policy? Post on sm. I wouldn't be surprised if you did tweet Pizza Hut about it and got an apology and explanation that it isn't company policy. But I bet staff are told to say it is and I don't imagine in the face of public outcry they would support said staff member.

I get the issue OP, I'd probably be annoyed myself. I get that the refusal led to you dd weeing herself, which isn't nice. But you have no right to use a business premises when not a paying customer. Your directing your anger at a company because it is a household name.

We went to primark they had no public toilets none near by they let my son use the staff toilets admittedly we were customers but there were no toilets for customers! Same thing happened in Asda no customer toilets so we used the staff toilet

There is not a company on earth that would rob me of that. And yeah, I would risk a blocking from any manager to uphold this

Sure. How easy it is to have these bold principles when you’re sat behind a computer screen....

Yes I have eaten at that Pizza Hut before. Not for ages though as I must have the only 4 year old in the world who doesn't like pizza.

We used to get this all the time when I worked in n Pizza Hut. Unless you're a paying customer you can't use the facilities. Just order a take out coffee and let dd use the loo. Waitress was completely fair and most companies have that rule. With a 4yo you just do a quick wild wee using your adult body to help be discreet.

churchandstate. Apology accepted. I know what the words mean, but to me they are just so overused that they have lost any meaning.

ChurchAndState

Glad to hear your still with us!! The CEO of Pizza Hut nonetheless!

Sorry if I missed this but couldn’t she have gone behind a bush??

GPatz

Right... Well, they still actually have meaning, and I believe they are appropriate in this case.

Very harsh. I'd email them and voice your complaint. Any decent person would let a little kid use their toilet, surely.

JacquesHammer

I think it's more than ''bold'' to undermine them through a computer screen.

YABU - Pizza Hut is not a public convenience

I think it's more than ''bold'' to undermine them through a computer screen

Sure. Don’t you think your implied “I wouldn’t let money get in the way” smacks an awful lot of privilege?

churchandstate. Yes, I can see you made that clear.

I don't see harm in you asking OP. It's a shame the policy doesn't allow them to make an exception in this case, but that's life I guess.

Not for ages though as I must have the only 4 year old in the world who doesn't like pizza

Well, they haven't lost much potential custom then :)

Look, I understand that it was unfortunate that your child had an accident. These things happen, sounds like she wasn't that far from home, hope she's OK now. But the problem is a lack of public toilets, not one business's (wholly justified) policy about facilities being for customers only.

Waitress is a knob of course you should’ve been allowed to use the toilet

I always used to offer to buy a drink, and most of the time the staff would wave me away and say no need - perhaps the offer is enough to know you're not being cheeky.

I think they're being harsh though on a 4 year old, I used to work in M&S with only staff toilets, but we let kids and pregnant women use them.

It's a shame the policy doesn't allow them to make an exception in this case, but that's life I guess

But why only in this case? Should they let every kid from the park nearby in, or just the OPs?

Next time, pretend you're staying for food, but after you've used the toilet, say your DD had changed her mind and wanted fish and chips instead. The waitress was probably trying not yo get in trouble, but as a company, they can afford to let desperate 4 year olds use the toilet.
YANBU

Waitress is a knob

Why? Because she adhered to the rules of her job? Because she didn't want to get a bollocking (or worse) from her superior?

Even if you disagree with the policy, it won't be the waitress who devised it.

YABU. Bet everyone from the park goes in there. And a lot of people are real pigs, including some with kids. Then the staff are there cleaning up after people who aren't even customers.

It's just made me never want to go back to that Pizza Hut. And as we live nearby they could potentially have had lots of custom from us.

I doubt they give a toss. You don't sound like you were a regular customer, anyhow.

Surely you walked past two parked cars and could have quickly let her wee in the road? Or gone back to the park?
Letting her wet herself wasn't really necessary was it?

but as a company, they can afford to let desperate 4 year olds use the toilet

Actually, pizza huts operate as franchises - the parent company may make loads of money, but individual stores need to make a profit.