To request my complimentary stay after all these years

[ElsieandMavis]

I had a really disappointing stay at a hotel about 10 years ago. When I complained to the manager, she was really apologetic and offered me a complimentary 3 night stay as a gesture of goodwill and to give them the opportunity to show me the usual quality of their product.

For various reasons, I never went back to her to arrange the complimentary stay.

AIBU to contact her now after 10 years to redeem my freebie? If so, how should I word the email request? I’ve checked that the same manager is still in charge at the hotel.

Apologise for the tardiness of your reply and tell her that you just found the reply in your junk mail this morning. In all seriousness, id send the message you quoted from a pp saying life got in the way, could you take the stay. If she says no, i wouldn't make it my hill to die on but you have nothing to lose. Hope you get the stay! Report back!

You can ask politely, but be ready to graciously accept a 'no'.
IF it's a major chain, though, I imagine you might get away with it.

Perhaps mention that you wanted to allow enough time to pass to ensure things had improved before you stayed at that particular hotel again. 10 years should have done the trick. 😁

I found a €100 paper voucher from Boots when moving house, no idea how old it was and emailed them.

Never expected a response and was just chancing my arm but they told me to post it to them and then sent me an up to date card voucher to replace it.

I didn't think it was cheeky. I expect to be told to piss off but thought there's no harm in asking.

Top class customer service!!

I’d assume it’d be a no ,but I had a great experience recently booking accomodation that I last stayed in 2012.
After booking, the owner emailed me to say ‘so pleased you’re returning , I remember when you last came in 2012 and we had that mix up with the keycodes, I’ve applied a discount to your booking this time to compensate!’
Thought it was such a nice touch.

Just being nosey - I am desperate to know the details of your poor experience!

It is for a suite so that shouldn’t be a problem.

"Dear XXX I realise this is a bit of an ask but i still have the enclosed email and wonder if its too late to accept your generous offer..... " lay it on with a trowel and good luch

John Lewis did this for me when I found some vouchers awarded to my late husband by his company. They were tucked away in his papers and were 10 years expired when I found them.

Cheeky as fuck. You’ll give them a good laugh anyway!

There's no harm in asking! The worst they can say is no.

Classic Mumsnet

Op: Should I do 'X'
Most people: 'no'
Op: but I want to, why are you all so mean

All pretty tongue in cheek though.

😆

Or like on one episode of One Foot In The Grave, where the Meldrews met someone on holiday in the 1970s, and said 'come and see us anytime,' Then this man turned up 20 years later, 'taking them up' on the offer! 😂

You're pulling our leg aren't you?!

Anyway, don't take it all so personally. I don't think anyone is being genuinely horrible. It just seems a bit weird to ask for a freebie 10 years after it was promised. And I think people are just ribbing you.

Yes, it's amusing me how many PPs are picturing you as some kind of Edna Welthorpe.

Like another PP I am impressed by your "I don't like that answer. I want..." 🤣 and have made a mental note of it for use in my own life, going forward.

Yes, Joking, I am.

I've got a voucher for a free Sunday lunch for 2 at a posh, independently run country hotel. It's from late 2019 and then the pandemic came along. After that I didn't have the nerve to use it as I knew they were struggling with staff issues etc (like hospitality in general) but now I've heard the OP's story I might just book a table.

You’re welcome

I think if you’re insanely polite and ask without expecting, you wouldn’t come across too badly.

Although I agree with the majority of pp that this is ridiculous, it does depend a bit on the reasons you couldn't go before. Someone who's spent the past 9 years caring full-time for a disabled parent is different from someone who didn't get around to catching up with their life admin, for example.

😂😂😂

I very much doubt they would honour it, or be under any obligation to.

It's sounds very opportunistic. You'd need a lot of brass neck to carry it off; sounds CF to me.

It’s only one email though, with a potential benefit worth around £1300

Seems a ridiculous request after 10years.