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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Blocked by a Tourist Attraction

271 replies

MrsMomoa2 · 04/09/2023 21:33

This is a relatively small attraction in part of the UK but popular in the Summer months and been there for years. I visited as a child and for past 10 years we have stayed locally and visited every year with my children and more recently my nephew.
They used to offer return visit as many times as you wanted within 7 days but this was stopped a couple of years ago due to abuse.
As we stayed opposite it was a great place to pop in for 1/2 hour at end of the day so in conversation that first year they kindly agreed to give us the 7 day free return. Last year we spoke to one of the owners who again was lovely and agreed again
(just to confirm max of 1 child and 2 adults at a time and would not have impacted on anyone else going in)
This year I asked again and after disappearing was quite rudely told no. I have no issue with the refusal but it was the way I was made to feel and my son (SEN) was upset. We still went round the attraction that day as it is a passage of rights to us now!
My sister did ask the following morning and did not realise was the same person who was just as rude!
On return I sent a private message saying how much we loved the attraction but was disappointed by the staff member’s attitude. Although we were disappointed by not being able to pop in we did understand but we still had visited and was lovely.

I was shocked to get a very curt reply a few days later. Telling me how cheeky we had been and trying to take advantage eyc etc. It had been their Deputy Manager and we had put her in a really awkward position and we could have accepted the offer a season ticket. (Not offered!!)
It was a really rude reply and left me a bit taken a back. I tried to reply politely and say this was not offered to find I had been blocked from all their social media (I was pretty active in a positive way!This has been a place that I grew up visiting and was weirdly special, I have many photos of my kids at various stages but to behave like this. I was truly never rude! Just surprised and now feel upset over this.

I did email but never received a reply. I know third world problems but just feel upset about it all really.
AIBU (or are they!)

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 04/09/2023 23:26

I agrée with most pps, that you were a CF here, OP.

The venue very kindly extended this to you the last couple of years. They didn’t have to.

You’ve had loads of free visits over the years when they were running the scheme.

You’ve really had your money’s worth and have nothing to complain about. Asking multiple times after being told no was rude on your and your sister’s part.

You need to stop looking for special treatment. The fact is that lots of people will have an attachment to the place and/ or be regular customers. I agree you are exactly the people who should be paying.

OnAMidnightTrainToGeorgia · 04/09/2023 23:27

Why did your sister get involved?

You said you were taking your nephew... nothing as bout a sister going too

WhereYouLeftIt · 04/09/2023 23:28

"They used to offer return visit as many times as you wanted within 7 days but this was stopped a couple of years ago due to abuse."

Stopped a couple of years ago - but still you asked? @MrsMomoa2, is there a reason you feel that rules are only for other people? Because that is how you sound. You padded it out with how you've been going since childhood, your son's SEN, but stripped down to the basics - you know it's not allowed but you ask anyway, and indeed were persistent enough to follow it up in writing and trying to get the member of staff into trouble.

Also, this attraction does a season ticket - why didn't you just buy that in the first place?

You were very rude and entitled, you do know that don't you?

Doodar · 04/09/2023 23:28

You’re a CF

dooneyousmugelf · 04/09/2023 23:29

Can't have meant that much to you or you'd have paid your way and supported the attraction instead of exploiting the (misguided) kindness of the member of staff you happened upon when you first pulled your entitled stunt. How are you not embarrassed?!

NoTouch · 04/09/2023 23:33

Mirabai · 04/09/2023 22:41

I’m wondering what tourist attraction this could possibly that anyone would want to see so much.

There is one in devon we used to go to years ago with ds when he was small and it it nice and low key, a few small kids rides, maze, crazy golf, gnome village, castle museum, nice park walks type thing - watermouth castle. It used to do the 7 day return too (they took your photo for the return ticket) and it as a great place to wind down after a day out, but can see how it would be a place that would be struggling now and not able to afford to give the freebie/need more paying visitors to keep the park maintained.

RoomOfRequirement · 04/09/2023 23:34

Your sister asked AGAIN after being told no already? You are CFs.

SlippySarah · 04/09/2023 23:44

This reply has been deleted

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NewLifter · 04/09/2023 23:45

NoTouch · 04/09/2023 23:33

There is one in devon we used to go to years ago with ds when he was small and it it nice and low key, a few small kids rides, maze, crazy golf, gnome village, castle museum, nice park walks type thing - watermouth castle. It used to do the 7 day return too (they took your photo for the return ticket) and it as a great place to wind down after a day out, but can see how it would be a place that would be struggling now and not able to afford to give the freebie/need more paying visitors to keep the park maintained.

Show quote history

Funny, I was thinking maybe Alnwyk Castle (not sure of spelling!) In Northumberland

Pinkpots · 04/09/2023 23:52

You and your sister are not special beings worthy of extra consideration you are just regular free loading CF’s. Or rather that’s what you aspired to be and are annoyed to be told no.

ObjectionSustained · 04/09/2023 23:53

Just to get this right: you were very kindly offered the free pass not once, but twice - that's more than most. You weren't offered this time so you approached a member of staff to ask for another free pass, and when you were told no your sister then pushed more; and you can't see that you're in the wrong?!

Seems to me that you've been the CFs here. They haven't barred you from coming back, you just have to pay for the pass.

NoTouch · 04/09/2023 23:57

NewLifter · 04/09/2023 23:45

Funny, I was thinking maybe Alnwyk Castle (not sure of spelling!) In Northumberland

Show quote history

Is that the one with all the water fountains? Been there too!. I remember they had lots of peddle tractors at the bottom of the big waterfall fountain back when we went (probably 15 years ago) and ds loved them.

7eleven · 04/09/2023 23:58

Good example of ‘give an inch and they’ll take a mile.’

BodegaSushi · 05/09/2023 00:00

Anniegetyourgun · 04/09/2023 22:52

It's not a right of passage, it's a rite of passage. Not wanting to be pedantic, but it makes all the difference in this context. A right would imply you were actually entitled to do it - which you weren't. Sad, but times change.

It was clearly understood what was meant by 'right of passage'. Tedious.

oakleaffy · 05/09/2023 00:01

Having a 'Special needs' child doesn't entitle anyone to a free pass. Pay up like everyone else has to.

BiancaBlank · 05/09/2023 00:03

Jeez, there’s nothing particularly cheeky about politely (presumably!) asking for a deal you used to be able to get for years and in fact were given last year without any trouble. They could simply say no!

OP says it was the rudeness of the staff that upset her rather than not being able to get the 7-day ticket. Of course it’s hard to judge that without knowing what was said. The staff reaction does sound a bit over the top, but they may have blocked her in case she started leaving bad reviews on their social media.

FeigningConcern · 05/09/2023 00:08

Unfortunately OP many places seem to have lost the art of good customer service. You can say no without being rude. I worked in customer services for many years and there is never any need to be rude to a customer. In fact all it does is escalate situations. And to block you is very unprofessional! Unless someone is spamming your page there's absolutely no need for it.

OnAMidnightTrainToGeorgia · 05/09/2023 00:15

Op WAS spamming them....

JudgeRudy · 05/09/2023 00:30

YABU and sound rather entitled. Did they call you a cheeky fucker? That would have been rude but also pretty accurate.
Of course we don't know exactly what was said but I doubt very much they were rude, most likely assertive. Whilst you say they didn't explicitly offer you a season ticket, I bet they pointed out all the different ticket options (inc the season ticket) available to those who wanted to make multiple visits....the issue for you though would be that you had to pay!

Erdinger · 05/09/2023 02:53

Says it all really , being blocked.

WiddlinDiddlin · 05/09/2023 03:06

This reply has been deleted

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verdantverdure · 05/09/2023 03:17

It was clearly understood what was meant by 'right of passage'.

It wasn't.

It still isn't given that the OP says "passage of rights" and a rite of passage as far as I understand it is stuff like having a baby, getting married etc.

The entitlement muddies the waters too.

Blowyourowntrumpet · 05/09/2023 04:54

You sound like a bunch of entitled CFs. Just wind your neck in and follow the rules like most other people

CeeceeBloomingdale · 05/09/2023 05:33

You are the reason they changed the deal, you were taking advantage and persist to do so. Your family tradition (not a rite of passage) requires a fee and you are not exempt from this as you have been before or because your child is SEN. It's a first world problem of your own making, you were rude to persist in asking, I can't see the company are at fault.

PollyThePixie · 05/09/2023 05:33

Don’t you qualify for free entry for your SEN child as well one caregiver?