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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hotel gate - couple refused to pay their Wedding Bill shamed on Social Media

251 replies

StrawberryRed · 29/09/2022 22:57

A hotel in my area 'The Townhouse Durham' was ripped off by a couple. The couple are trying to avoid paying there bill by complaining.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11257679/amp/Battle-Buffet-Town-House-Durham-shames-newlyweds-bill-dispute.html

There is a huge backlash against the couple with people sharing their own problems they've had with the couple - they seem like a pair of scammers.

HOWEVER

I'm finding the Hotel a BU now, they seem to be really enjoying the drama and stirring the pot with updates on social media in a vendetta against the couple, it looks cheap IMO. If their is a complaint in place, perhaps libelous and a breach of confidentiality?

Thoughts?

OP posts:
AiryFairyLights · 01/10/2022 22:53

Novum · 30/09/2022 00:15

But it's not at all clear that they did "try to rob" the hotel.

I must say, if were thinking of going to that hotel I'd think twice after reading that unpleasant and illiterate bit of name-calling.

Show quote history

They had at least one, and possibly another venue all booked for the same day, then cancelled two weeks before citing a death in the family 🫤
Most likely story is they tried to get away with not paying until afterwards but the other venues refused to budg

T1Dmama · 01/10/2022 23:10

How do these people not have to pay upfront? We had to have everything paid months in advance of our wedding.

Yes til the complaint is resolved the hotel shouldn’t comment.

I do hope no companies or landlords will ever touch this couple again though…. It would be karma if no one ever gave them anything without full payment in advance!

ScreamingBeans · 01/10/2022 23:19

MichonnesBBF · 01/10/2022 21:32

@ScreamingBeans "You might want to consider why there's no male equivalent of Karen".

There is: Ken, Kevin the male equivalent can also be called a Karen also...
Alot of Mumsnetters always deny the male version exists, when it really really does.

Try Googling Ken, Kevin videos...there's loads of them.

I stand corrected.

With a caveat. The very fact that you have to tell me to google it, shows that it's nowhere near as ingrained and ubiquitous as Karen.

maddening · 02/10/2022 01:07

If the couple had paid everything but the disputed amount that would be ome thing but they have behaved like dicks and it sounds like they have form so the chickens have come home to roost imo, all bought on themselves.

Pilipalapal · 02/10/2022 01:20

Even if the couple are fully in the wrong and the hotel completely in the right over the bill, I don’t think the hotel is going about this in the right way at all. I don’t think I’d ever purposefully use the services of a business that launched social media campaigns against customers it was in a dispute with.

BerriesOnTop · 02/10/2022 01:32

MichonnesBBF · 01/10/2022 21:32

@ScreamingBeans "You might want to consider why there's no male equivalent of Karen".

There is: Ken, Kevin the male equivalent can also be called a Karen also...
Alot of Mumsnetters always deny the male version exists, when it really really does.

Try Googling Ken, Kevin videos...there's loads of them.

I mean, they are trying to make a male equivalent like Ken, Neil and Kevin happen, but it really is not happening despite all the effort 😂

LilyPAnderson · 02/10/2022 02:12

Hotel said they were unable to provide mini burgers like the couple requested. If a hotel can't even manage something as simple as mini burgers, then that doesn't sound much good.

LilyPAnderson · 02/10/2022 02:16

I've only seen Karen videos. Seemed like more distasteful USA culture trickling over to us from the internet. Men and women seem to really dislike each other over there, with many misogynists who spend most of their day online doing things like making videos saying they don't want women, but instead of doing what they say by leaving women alone, they spend most of their time on the video comments trying to make women feel bad and promoting others abuse women.
People who say women nag have never noticed all the men online who spend hours doing much worse about women online. Often men who women take measures to avoid them offline.

AsTreesWalking · 02/10/2022 07:32

Two really odd things stand out for me:
How is it that the hotel didn't have their clients' address?
And who on earth books something expensive like a wedding without having made sure they have the money?- they said they couldn't settle up until pay day, if things are tight how will they manage for the rest of the month? I would not have accepted that 'deal' from customers.

sassyclassyandsmartassy · 02/10/2022 08:19

Maverickess · 29/09/2022 23:23

People are pulling this kind of crap more and more, I work in hospitality and it's become quite common for people to refuse to pay over some over inflated issue, create one that's untrue or decide to take issue with something they've already agreed to, say they didn't agree and then claim they've been treated unfairly and therefore shouldn't have to pay.
I don't totally agree with all of the actions of the hotel over the online stuff if I'm honest, but I do think that if it's ok to name and shame a business and individuals that work in it (I've been publicly trashed on SM, by name, through my job) then it's ok to name and shame guests who behave like this.
People are encouraged and take pleasure almost in trashing businesses online to get something free, or for attention, this is the other side of the coin.
At the end of the day if they'd paid their bill there wouldn't be a situation at all.

^ exactly this! I have the same in my business. Months and months of hard work, great relationship all the way through and then some small thing doesn’t go their way because they didn’t read the copious amounts of paperwork they are sent which give them all the information, help and support they need to avoid any conflict and they take to a review platform to vent their spleen or threaten that they will when they have met the brief.

I am seriously concerned for the human race at this point to be honest, rationalism, compassion and accountability have completely been lost by a vast majority…. Along with basic common sense in a lot of cases too. My job has made me hugely cynical about people in this day and age and I now hold the firm belief the we will be our own downfall in the long run.

We now check out the reviews people leave online before we trade with them, amongst other online research, it’s a good leveller before we get started!

Devilishpyjamas · 02/10/2022 08:23

If he’s still at school check what jobs they have there. My middle son worked as a dinner assistant in years 12 & 13 (until covid closed the school - then he landed a job with track & trace). The dinner assistant job paid surprisingly well & was obviously no problem fitting around school.

Devilishpyjamas · 02/10/2022 08:24

Gah wrong thread - sorry

J0y · 02/10/2022 08:25

chancers aside, hotels need to take responsibility for when things aren't up to standard and ALLOW people to complain so that this culture for shaming on social media dies down. You should be able to say ''this is cold'' or ''this wine is terrible'' without having a waitress roll her eyes at you or expect you to just overlook it because they're busy. You should be allowed to complain and for that complaint to be HEARD. That would be the death of social media shaming.

donttellmehesalive · 02/10/2022 08:26

I'm pleased to see a business sticking up for itself. I know a dignified silence is more usual but when ghastly people rely on you keeping quiet so that they can get away with it, it's time to try something new. Customers feel that they can get something for nothing just by lying or exaggerating on sm, or threatening to. Shameful, awful behaviour that should be highlighted imo - to teach them a lesson and as a deterrent to others.

J0y · 02/10/2022 08:35

When I click on the link it's gobbledeegook but @StrawberryRed I know what you mean, so often recently I've read the ''come backs'' to bad reviews and they're quite sneery. Like ''so sorry that our staff needed a day off'' as though it's the customer's fault that they're understaffed, as though the customer is denying the staff a day off.
Any comeback from a restaurant or hotel should be limited to ''we are striving to resolve this''

There shouldn't be an attempt to sneer at the customer for having dared to complain which is something we're seeing more and more online. and then it goes viral. There is a new climate where you'd have to be brave to leave a bad review, even if the hotel room stank and there was a taxi queue right outside your room, the hotel will still find a way to shame the customer for having believed they deserved better.

It reminds me of that hotelier from gilmore girls! Can't remember his name but that's who i imagine writing the gotcha responses to the reviews.
Michel or marcel?

DadBodAlready · 02/10/2022 09:27

KikoLemons · 30/09/2022 00:01

Maverickess makes extremely valid points. It's no longer a case of making a simple complaint if you don't feel you've had what you paid for. Complaints is now a huge business and people think nothing of manufacturing reasons to make a fuss in the hope it will get them something for free. And they aren't afraid to use the full force of SM to get what they want.

How often do you see it on here? People being urged to put in a complaint over almost nothing. The hours of wasted time that follows because everything, including why Mx XXX "felt uncomfortable", "was inconvenienced" or "disappointed". Personal attacks about staff who were "rude" or "aggressive" or simply "wrong" - often named or easily identified. It's horrible. And businesses are seen as fair game and have to remain neutral and professional. Maybe if you are HSBC or Unilver - but Seaview Hotel or LovelyThings Boutiques - they are barely making ends meet as it is. So I can see why they may want to hit back.

You're right the best one I saw was a 1 star rating for a sushi restaurant, where the poster complained that the fish was raw!!!

EvilRingahBitch · 02/10/2022 10:07

I think it's fair enough for the proprietor to give their side of the story where there's a serious and misleading allegation made that needs defending:
"This restaurant nearly killed me by giving me food containing dairy without labelling it as such"
"We remember this event. The customer did not inform us of his allergy and the product on question was clearly named as a halloumi sandwich, if you'd asked us what halloumi was, we would have informed you. We hope that you are now recovered from this distressing incident."

Replies that go on and on about the customers' bad behaviour and people who feel the need to defend themselves against every tiny complaint without ever putting their hands up and apologising would put me off.

mam0918 · 02/10/2022 10:14

ScreamingBeans · 01/10/2022 20:25

Karen is not a slur and it is the most Karen thing to think it belongs in the the same category as the n-word and the like.

a) Karen is not a slur? Really? What is it then, a compliment?
b) It doesn't have the same history as the n-word "and the like".Of course not. But let's not pretend it isn't a sexist put-down. Calling a woman a Karen, is a quick way to make clear that any refusal to accept shoddy service will be characterised as entitled, bitchy and high maintenance. It serves the same purpose as "angry black woman" or "got a chip on his/ her shoulder". It is a way of telling people in certain groups, that they have no right to demand anything and no right to complain about anything. You might want to consider why there's no male equivalent of Karen.

That's a bit of a diversion from the main issue of this wedding, but why not.

Is it sexist?

It started in America where they have the male equivilant 'a Kyle' just because you dont use that one doesnt mean its sexist.

I was a result of the 'bro' & 'bro hoe' movement.

Whammyyammy · 02/10/2022 10:16

People pull this kind of stunt all the time. My BIL is a builder and regularly sees it, scamming twats.

mam0918 · 02/10/2022 10:17

J0y · 02/10/2022 08:25

chancers aside, hotels need to take responsibility for when things aren't up to standard and ALLOW people to complain so that this culture for shaming on social media dies down. You should be able to say ''this is cold'' or ''this wine is terrible'' without having a waitress roll her eyes at you or expect you to just overlook it because they're busy. You should be allowed to complain and for that complaint to be HEARD. That would be the death of social media shaming.

eh?

The hotel was the victim, the people didnt complain until after the hotel tried to get their payment which they where scammed out of.

You cant eat a meal (or in this case 50) then just decide not to pay, thats not how the law works.

BerriesOnTop · 02/10/2022 10:18

It started in America where they have the male equivilant 'a Kyle' just because you dont use that one doesnt mean its sexist

People upthread claiming its male equivalent is Ken or Kevin. Come on, there’s no real male equivalent but yeah, people are trying very hard to make it happen (it’s not happening).

Doingprettywellthanks · 02/10/2022 10:19

What a sordid little mess. No one comes out looking rosy, not even close.

jewishmum · 02/10/2022 10:49

mia778 · 01/10/2022 19:17

The state of them !

I don't see them in any bad state?

ellyeth · 02/10/2022 11:25

I understand the business wanting to get some redress. However, their actions seem unprofessional and undignified to me, and the sort of violent comments on social media should have been foreseen.

BoxcarMilly · 02/10/2022 12:33

I may have been asleep at the wheel here but the simplest course of action would be for the hotel to take them to the Small Claims Court.

However, I have read that the hotel didn't have an address for this couple, which, if true is absolutely ridiculous. If the hotel can't create a paper-trail for each customer and follow it through then maybe they deserve all they get?