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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this Indian restaurant manager was unreasonable? Or was I?

179 replies

StarlightRobbery · 10/10/2022 13:02

Last night I ordered an Indian takeaway as a treat. When it arrived it was mostly ok, although the rice was cold and the sauce in one particular dish tasted slightly sour as if it was off. I didn’t eat that part of the meal.

I tried calling the restaurant three times but they only have a mobile number, no landline and it kept saying busy with beeps- I guess people ordering.

Anyways later on, I got a request/notification on the app to review my food, I gave it 3 stars and the app prompted me to select a few reasons why. I selected rice was cold. I didn’t type anything just clicked it and that was that.

This morning very loud knock on the door, go to the door and a very abrupt man says “is that Starlightrobbery?” And I said yes. And he preceded to tell me that he was the manager of the restaurant and that I’d tried to scam him for a refund. That there was no way that the rice was cold as it’s last bagged and I’m a fraud. That I basically were trying to just get a refund and he was sick of people pulling this sort of scam. I told him I was under no illusion I was even getting a refund and that indeed the rice was cold.

He asked why I didn’t call the restaurant and I said I tried. He then said I should’ve drove down there and I said I couldn’t, because I had small children in bed. He then proceeded again to call me a fraud before saying he was off to two other houses who had request refunds through “Deliveroo”! I didn’t even order from Deliveroo!

I stewed it over and friends I’ve told think it’s quite amusing but I actually think he’s being slightly unreasonable to come to my house and kick off like that. I now feel like leaving a proper review saying this is what he does- but then he might come back. Ugh!

OP posts:
SudocremOnEverything · 10/10/2022 13:19

ICanHideButICantRun · 10/10/2022 13:07

Tbh I would've just microwaved the rice for a minute and not left a review at all. Low ratings really affect restaurants.

But low ratings for a takeaway that arrived cold and part of it seemed off are fair, surely.

If they don’t want poor reviews, they need to package their food in such a way and ensure prompt delivery so it arrives hot and fresh. Don’t you think?

Tbh, I have absolutely decided never to use Deliveroo again. No matter where I order from, the food arrives cold (and after a wait 2-3 times the app’s delivery estimate). It’s ridiculous. I could go to a restaurant, eat in and come back home quicker than ordering using Deliveroo. Often I can see the driver has taken another delivery to a different town in the other direction (you can see where they are on the app), ‘on their way’ to do my delivery.

Just eat is not much better either. And getting less and less reliable.

I’ve actually reached the point where I simply won’t order a takeaway any longer. There is no point. Actually - no. I’ll order from dominos. They are quick and it arrives hot. Presumably because they aren’t using the crap apps (which all share the same pool of delivery people as far as I can tell) and still have their own system.

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 10/10/2022 13:20

nightfairy · 10/10/2022 13:16

'Well, don't use them then". Lovely. As if he has a choice, trying to stay afloat, with all his bills going up - power, food supplies, rent. So sorry your rice was cold.

Come off it. Are you really telling me that you'd go back to a takeaway that sold you off-tasting, cold food and intimidated you for complaining about it, because the poor lamb's bills have gone up?

Ihatethenewlook · 10/10/2022 13:22

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 10/10/2022 13:05

I don't think he should have come to your house! And weird when you weren't asking for a refund

However i wouldn't have written about rice being cold, i never expect a takeaway to arrive hot unless i know we are first delivery on the drivers run. I always put the oven on low and pop any indian takeaways in there for 10mins to heat up again, only thing that arrives hot is pizza

What a weird comment. I expect ALL my takeaways to arrive hot, and very rarely have a problem with the temperature. That’s why I order a takeaway. If I wanted to have to heat food up in the oven then I’d have cooked something at home. A restaurant shouldn’t be taking so many orders on a single run that the school arrives stone cold.

Pinkbonbon · 10/10/2022 13:22

I'd be inclined to let the police know tbh.
It's not ok to use your private details for anything other than delivery. Let alone to come out and harass you.

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 10/10/2022 13:23

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 10/10/2022 13:20

Come off it. Are you really telling me that you'd go back to a takeaway that sold you off-tasting, cold food and intimidated you for complaining about it, because the poor lamb's bills have gone up?

Hang on, I've misunderstood you because my brain's not working yet today. You were talking about not using the delivery services. Never mind.

SudocremOnEverything · 10/10/2022 13:23

nightfairy · 10/10/2022 13:16

'Well, don't use them then". Lovely. As if he has a choice, trying to stay afloat, with all his bills going up - power, food supplies, rent. So sorry your rice was cold.

It’s a business. one supposedly offering hot, takeaway food. Customers have a right to expect a reasonable level of service.

It’s not a charity. Or some voluntary thing where it would be nasty or churlish to complain that your rice was cold. It’s an actual business selling hot Indian food to customers.

If people want to heat up their own food, there are far cheaper (and quicker!) ways of doing that. They order takeaway so
that it’ll arrive and they can just eat it. If an Indian restaurant can’t manage that, then it’s not the customer’s fault.

nightfairy · 10/10/2022 13:24

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 10/10/2022 13:20

Come off it. Are you really telling me that you'd go back to a takeaway that sold you off-tasting, cold food and intimidated you for complaining about it, because the poor lamb's bills have gone up?

Where did I mention going back?

"Well, don't use them then" is a spiteful rejoinder. He has no choice but to use Deliveroo etc. My friends in the business tell me about meals they make arriving cold, or mashed up, and they get the blame, but they can't operate without them.

Ponoka7 · 10/10/2022 13:25

ICanHideButICantRun · 10/10/2022 13:07

Tbh I would've just microwaved the rice for a minute and not left a review at all. Low ratings really affect restaurants.

I don't have a microwave. The point of a takeaway is to get food that doesn't take any effort.

SudocremOnEverything · 10/10/2022 13:26

They can manage their own deliveries though. Just use the app for orders. Several takeaways do.

Strugglingtodomybest · 10/10/2022 13:29

I think that he was beyond unreasonable and I would be leaving a 1 star review saying exactly what he'd done, because there's no way I'd order from somewhere if there was a risk that the manager was going to come and have a go at me for leaving an honest review.

Jmaho · 10/10/2022 13:29

This forum is bonkers. I swear it gets worse
The OP posts that she received a below par quality take away which she tries to complain about. Didn't ask for refund then indimidating bloke turns up at her house. Then according to some she is unreasonable and one person suggested, racist! Wtaf?
I would be furious if they'd have come to my door and I'd take it further. Completely and utterly unacceptable

Butchyrestingface · 10/10/2022 13:31

@BecauseICan22

Don't see what relevance his ethnicity has to your issue though.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Anyway, you are not BU, OP. Sooner or later, he'll chap at the wrong door and wind up in A&E with a sore face.

BingoLingFucker · 10/10/2022 13:31

Are they really being scammed, or taking umbrage at poor reviews?

If there’s a problem with the food they should be putting more effort into cooking and packaging it, rather than blaming customers.

As for the part that was off, that shouldn’t happen at all in a restaurant.

lifeturnsonadime · 10/10/2022 13:32

I wonder whether this is something that trading standards and / or the Information Commissioner might be interested in?

It is totally inappropriate for the business owner to use customer's information in this way.

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 10/10/2022 13:32

nightfairy · 10/10/2022 13:24

Where did I mention going back?

"Well, don't use them then" is a spiteful rejoinder. He has no choice but to use Deliveroo etc. My friends in the business tell me about meals they make arriving cold, or mashed up, and they get the blame, but they can't operate without them.

Yeah sorry I misinterpreted your post, I posted again to explain that.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 10/10/2022 13:38

Tbh I would've just microwaved the rice for a minute and not left a review at all. Low ratings really affect restaurants

But I want to know if the food is shit. That’s the whole point of reviews!

SirenSays · 10/10/2022 13:40

Its so creepy he turned up just to yell at you.
I almost hoped this would be a friends situation. You'd show him how the meal was supposed to taste and end up with a brand new job

cushioncovers · 10/10/2022 13:42

I would log it with the police op. He turned up at your property and intimated you because you left an honest review, that's completely unacceptable. Get angry about it.

CosyDarkNights · 10/10/2022 13:43

I'd be leaving review about him coming to your house, no doubt to intimidate you. We have a local food reviews website this would 100% be something I'd want to know about so I can avoid. Share away. If he does it again report to the police.

StressedToTheMaxxx · 10/10/2022 13:43

Report it to the App and put up another review outlining what happened. Add at the end of the review that you have CCTV and if he does return, you will be calling the police.

Emotionalsupportviper · 10/10/2022 13:43

Also, the restaurant are breaking GDPR. They cannot use your information like that. You're address is given for the delivery only. He cant turn up at your door. That is so intimidating. Fill out the police online form as he is harassing customers. They may not do anything and it dont usually say "go to the police" but I would let them know about this via the online form.

I was going to suggest this, too - it is very intimidating for an angry man to turn up on your doorstep. It would be unpleasant for anyone, but a woman alone. with children in the house, is very vulnerable.

You didn't give a spiteful review, nor did you demand a refund - at most he should have responded (online) with an apology. How would he like it if his wife was similarly accosted on the doorstep by a stranger?

Having said that, I do know that one of our local takeaways has stopped doing deliveries for exactly this reason - people were outright lying to get free meals etc He just couldn't afford to continue the delivery service, so if he's had problems I totally sympathise with him, but as you say, that's not your responsibility and there's nothing you can do about it.

Parmesam · 10/10/2022 13:44

I'd file a non-emergency report online to the police about this man. He can't go round to customers houses having a go like that.

Also leave a review on Google.

There is a scam on Deliveroo etc where people ask for refunds etc but you didn't use them. I know costs are rising for restaurants but they shouldn't be using delivery companies if they leave themselves open to all that. Dealing directly with the customer is far better. Deliveroo/Just Eat/Uber cost a fortune to use and they always side with the customer. So he either dumps Deliveroo or keeps having these problems. I know what I'd do.

CheezePleeze · 10/10/2022 13:44

nightfairy · 10/10/2022 13:16

'Well, don't use them then". Lovely. As if he has a choice, trying to stay afloat, with all his bills going up - power, food supplies, rent. So sorry your rice was cold.

Not being an intimidating prick is an actual choice.

TheGreatATuin · 10/10/2022 13:45

YetAnotherSpartacus · 10/10/2022 13:38

Tbh I would've just microwaved the rice for a minute and not left a review at all. Low ratings really affect restaurants

But I want to know if the food is shit. That’s the whole point of reviews!

I'd not be put off by the occasional bad review about food (as long as the majority were fine) but I'd definitely want to know if an order might end up in a strange man turning up at my house to have a go at me. That's incredibly intimidating and, as others have said, almost certainly illegal to use your data to find you in person at home and shout at you.
I'd complain to the app and also update your review.

SleeplessInEngland · 10/10/2022 13:46

Write another 1 star review saying he came over to intimidate you.