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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:
venus7 · 05/09/2023 08:23

'Passage of rights' indeed; a Freudian slip there.

LookItsMeAgain · 05/09/2023 08:30

I think the venue might have been able to deal with your request a little better. However, this wasn't the first time that you asked and the first time you were allowed to return but that was exceptional. Not the norm. Businesses often change their policies if they realise that they are not beneficial to them, if they are losing money because of them. This was probably one of those policies.

As others have pointed out:

  1. It's rite of passage not right of passage. It makes a difference.
  2. It has absolutely nothing whatever to do with your son's SEN and to lob that in there is not showing you in the best light. In fact it makes you look grabby and even more of a CF than you probably are.
  3. It's a FIRST World problem, not a THIRD World problem, unless you happen to be logging on to MN from DRC or CAR or Nigeria.
ZadocPDederick · 05/09/2023 08:35

It really wouldn't have hurt the manager to say "Sorry, we don't offer that any more, but how about getting a season ticket?" The response seems to have lost them a potential sale.

MinnieTruck · 05/09/2023 08:40

Omg you’re so entitled it’s unbelievable😂 the fact that you messaged them is absolutely shameless on your behalf. You then come onto the internet and act like they’re in the wrong. Buy a seasonal pass or eff off

WestwardHo1 · 05/09/2023 08:44

As a small business owner really really trying to offer a good level of service at the same time as trying to make a decent living, I have every sympathy with them. Perhaps you were the latest in a long line of people thinking they were entitled to freebies just because they've been before, and they finally had enough.

MinnieTruck · 05/09/2023 08:46

It's a FIRST World problem, not a THIRD World problem, unless you happen to be logging on to MN from DRC or CAR or Nigeria.

🤣🤣🤣

PickledPurplePickle · 05/09/2023 08:48

YABU

Hankunamatata · 05/09/2023 08:50

Total Cf
They stopped doing passes years ago, yet you still ask for freebie and shocked by a no

dottiedodah · 05/09/2023 08:51

I think you were out of order there TBH. Attractions are pretty much all struggling, they may have had other people doing the same thing! Perhaps the last manager was a bit soft.New one trying to balance the books I expect. Look you dont have to go there ,many places hold memories for me ,quite a few are free! Ones that arent may go to now and then .Just enjoy your time there and dont expect special treatment ,you are not unique any more the I or others here are!I am sorry your Son was upset ,but he will learn you cant always get what you want in life .

itsmyp4rty · 05/09/2023 08:52

Wow what a complete pile on, and people saying 'I bet she wasn't even rude' like they know better than the person who was actually there! The OP even said she didn't have a problem with being told no, it was just the rude attitude.

People also saying her child having SEN means nothing are also assholes. Of course having a child with SEN makes a difference, often they can queue jump at places or get some sort of easier access or have a carer come for free. He may struggle with getting overwhelmed, so coming for a short time at the end of each day when it is quieter might be much better for him and not really impact anyone else as they are all leaving rather than arriving. It had previously been allowed so why wouldn't she ask?

Were they saying they offered you a free season ticket? To look good on SM? If so I'd get your sister to go on and say that she is your sister and that no season ticket was offered at the time but if it is a genuine offer then you would love to accept it.
If they are saying they told you that you could buy a season ticket if you wanted to come in again then I'd just leave it as it sounds like you don't live close enoug for it to be worth getting one anyway.

SoShallINever · 05/09/2023 08:53

How could you not know that they had a season ticket.

Flapjacker48 · 05/09/2023 09:07

Why were you trying to bully staff to let you in for free repeat visits, when you say the rules were changed a couple of year ago, due to "abuse" (probably by people like you!). YABU.

ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 05/09/2023 09:12

itsmyp4rty · 05/09/2023 08:52

Wow what a complete pile on, and people saying 'I bet she wasn't even rude' like they know better than the person who was actually there! The OP even said she didn't have a problem with being told no, it was just the rude attitude.

People also saying her child having SEN means nothing are also assholes. Of course having a child with SEN makes a difference, often they can queue jump at places or get some sort of easier access or have a carer come for free. He may struggle with getting overwhelmed, so coming for a short time at the end of each day when it is quieter might be much better for him and not really impact anyone else as they are all leaving rather than arriving. It had previously been allowed so why wouldn't she ask?

Were they saying they offered you a free season ticket? To look good on SM? If so I'd get your sister to go on and say that she is your sister and that no season ticket was offered at the time but if it is a genuine offer then you would love to accept it.
If they are saying they told you that you could buy a season ticket if you wanted to come in again then I'd just leave it as it sounds like you don't live close enoug for it to be worth getting one anyway.

I have a child with SEN. The way it was brought up on this thread had absolutely nothing to do with it whatsoever. It is people trying to use it as a free ticket that causes the stigma people suffer in situations when it actually does matter. How on Earth does her starting a heated conversation with staff with her son present relate to it? I wouldn't start heated conversations near my own child with SEN to begin with.

Flapjacker48 · 05/09/2023 09:14

Also, why mention your child's SEN? Hmm

IamnotSethRogan · 05/09/2023 09:15

I think they blocked you because they thought you'd leave a bad review/comment.

I do agree asking to essentially come back to a business for free is cheeky.

Ohthatsabitshit · 05/09/2023 09:19

I think they’ve been kind and welcoming for years and they can’t help you with the free entry you want anymore. You can either pay them for access now or not go anymore. I think they were probably running out of ways to say “no” and blocked you because they didn’t want to get into a long drawn out discussion.

serendipitea · 05/09/2023 09:30

There is also something odd about saying "one child and two adults <at a time>" but also "my children".

bruffin · 05/09/2023 09:32

Testina · 04/09/2023 22:45

There’s a farm park near me with soft play. Loads of people have a season ticket and just pop in for a short amount of time in there. Lots of attractions have little outdoor parks. My guess is something like that.

Show quote history

We have an art attraction near us that offers unlimited return in the season. It has a nice cafe which is amoung the statues so we have already gone twice and planning to go back before it closes for the season

Proudgypsy · 05/09/2023 09:33

Why is everyone so bloody entitled these days.

Chippy4me · 05/09/2023 09:36

I have no issue with the refusal but it was the way I was made to feel and my son (SEN) was upset.

Using your child’s ND to guilt trip them into letting you in for free is vile and very entitled.

If you want to go, pay like everyone else does FFS.

MandyFriend · 05/09/2023 09:36

You were very cheeky to keep asking for free visits, but there is no excuse for rudeness! Their attitude towards you was quite aggressive and defensive, which suggests to me they get asked this frequently and having worked in customer services, lots of people get quite nasty when they don't get their own way. It could be that they confused you with someone else...?

(Also, I think you mean first world problem!)

Kellogg1 · 05/09/2023 09:41

So they’ve changed their policy to stop abuse of the system and probably due to costs, the need to make more money.

You’ve then asked 3 years in a row for free access and then become upset they’ve had to rudely (more than likely sternly) tell you no … It seems this is the only way you will follow the rules.

Have you always pushed your luck and been so entitled?

Laiste · 05/09/2023 09:41

Is it the roundabout zoo?

Dramatico · 05/09/2023 09:45

Yeah it's gonna be a castle somewhere that has grounds and stuff for kids - a lot of them used to offer the 7 day pass (some still do).

It's fine for them not to let you break the rules, you really should have just bought the annual pass.

I can't help but think though that them blocking you on all their social media is quite a dramatic move....was all of your activity as positive as you claim?

floribunda18 · 05/09/2023 09:46

Going against other posters it was worth asking politely and there was no need for them to be rude, they could have politely said no. You pay so much to go in these places. Also fair to comment on social media of their change in attitude and terms and conditions.

Swipe left for the next trending thread