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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bad attitude after asking to use the loo in Costa? Pregnancy

334 replies

Mummatobe98 · 29/08/2023 21:37

I'm only about 12-13 weeks pregnant but need to wee a lot.

I went into a Costa store which I regularly buy coffee in and asked to use their loo. They declined . I said 'I'm pregnant' and the lady at the till reluctantly gave it to me, rolled her eyes and pulled a face at her colleague.

My partner felt like saying something

Am I wrong for asking to use the loo?

OP posts:
WaxhamSeals · 29/08/2023 21:38

Why didn’t you buy something?

Strictly1 · 29/08/2023 21:39

Usually it’s for customers only. They must hear lots of excuses. I’d let it go.

QueSyrahSyrah · 29/08/2023 21:39

Were you buying a coffee this time?

ShrinkingSusan · 29/08/2023 21:39

Were there no public toilets nearby?

JenWillsiam · 29/08/2023 21:40

Saying what exactly? It’s for customers. You weren’t a customer.

Invisimamma · 29/08/2023 21:40

I wouldn't have asked, they probably wouldn't have noticed if you just nipped in and used the loo.

Clymene · 29/08/2023 21:40

Shops and restaurants aren't obliged to provide toilet facilities to women who aren't customers, just because they're pregnant.

If you want to use a business's toilet, buy something

Pleaseme · 29/08/2023 21:40

I think you should of ordered a coffee (or something) then nipped to the loo. They are a business not a charity.

Mummatobe98 · 29/08/2023 21:41

JenWillsiam · 29/08/2023 21:40

Saying what exactly? It’s for customers. You weren’t a customer.

Yeah she did say that, but I'm usually in there quite regularly and had already had a coffee I was desperate

OP posts:
PurBal · 29/08/2023 21:41

No. But I probably would have led with “I’m pregnant”. Otherwise you could be seen as a chancer. Could have bought something too.

Clymene · 29/08/2023 21:41

Well maybe you should have gone for a wee in the place you bought your coffee

unvillage · 29/08/2023 21:42

Invisimamma · 29/08/2023 21:40

I wouldn't have asked, they probably wouldn't have noticed if you just nipped in and used the loo.

These places always have codes or keys that you obtain on purchase because of people popping in and not buying.

EarringsandLipstick · 29/08/2023 21:43

Clymene · 29/08/2023 21:41

Well maybe you should have gone for a wee in the place you bought your coffee

This.

I can't believe you approached it like this. There are so many easier ways to find a bathroom to use!

Toomanyemails · 29/08/2023 21:43

Yanbu. It's ridiculous how few public toilets there are and it makes life hard for lots of people. Some towns have schemes now where instead of a public loo the council gives a small bit of funding to various businesses that allow tue public to use their loo, there are usually signs up in places that do this. Perhaps those particular staff have had bad experiences of people leaving it in a mess and they have to clean it.

Mummatobe98 · 29/08/2023 21:43

Clymene · 29/08/2023 21:41

Well maybe you should have gone for a wee in the place you bought your coffee

I did but we'd been looking around the shops and I needed the loo again

OP posts:
Marchitectmummy · 29/08/2023 21:43

Being pregnant doesn't make you anymore entitled to use their toilet. Costa get excuses all day over why people should use their toilets. Buy something and use it otherwise expect no or at best the receptuon you have just got.

Hufflepods · 29/08/2023 21:43

Am I wrong for asking to use the loo?

Yes. The the toilets are for customers.

Womblegreen · 29/08/2023 21:44

TWNBU but YABU. If necessary use the loo first, but as a courtesy you buy something before you leave - they sell bottled items and prepackaged food so it wouldn’t have to be something you consumed immediately.

Pleaseme · 29/08/2023 21:45

You could still buy a cookie or even a bottle of water. I’ve worked in hospitality and the number of people who’d just like to pop in and use the loo are unbelievable. Some of them completely affronted when told you have to make a purchase. Toilets are a human right etc.

BranchGold · 29/08/2023 21:45

I’m afraid so, you should have bought something, even if it was just a biscuit to take home.

Mummatobe98 · 29/08/2023 21:45

Toomanyemails · 29/08/2023 21:43

Yanbu. It's ridiculous how few public toilets there are and it makes life hard for lots of people. Some towns have schemes now where instead of a public loo the council gives a small bit of funding to various businesses that allow tue public to use their loo, there are usually signs up in places that do this. Perhaps those particular staff have had bad experiences of people leaving it in a mess and they have to clean it.

I agree there's no public toilets in the area we were in , there's lots of shops . Thinking about it the pub would have been a better shout

OP posts:
Hufflepods · 29/08/2023 21:46

had already had a coffee I was desperate

It’s hardly their fault that you needed a wee after buying a coffee from somewhere else!

trampoline123 · 29/08/2023 21:46

Entitled much. You could have bought something.

Mummatobe98 · 29/08/2023 21:46

Mummatobe98 · 29/08/2023 21:37

I'm only about 12-13 weeks pregnant but need to wee a lot.

I went into a Costa store which I regularly buy coffee in and asked to use their loo. They declined . I said 'I'm pregnant' and the lady at the till reluctantly gave it to me, rolled her eyes and pulled a face at her colleague.

My partner felt like saying something

Am I wrong for asking to use the loo?

Also please no horrible comments

OP posts:
Bingbangbongbash · 29/08/2023 21:47

Oh come on, this isn’t a small independent cafe, it’s a chain owned by coca-cola. It’s hardly going to matter to their bottom line if a few people use the loo without buying something. They even released a statement a few months ago after a similar incident, saying that staff should use their discretion especially regarding kids and pregnant women.

Of course you should be able to go to the toilet without spending money.