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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who should keep the voucher?

62 replies

Whoswhoof · 22/05/2024 20:30

Person A books a meal for 10 people and pays £120 deposit
Person B pays for said meal to the tune of £700 minus the deposit

Person A emails the restaurant to complain about appalling service, allergy requests ignored (person A’s own allergy, given food covered in allergen) and a general poor show

restaurant offers £80 voucher

who does it belong to?

OP posts:
FUBAR77 · 22/05/2024 20:32

should be split by those who suffered as it was their meal affected…

lemonmeringueno3 · 22/05/2024 20:33

The person who could be bothered to complain.

VioletMountainHare · 22/05/2024 20:33

Might depend on the relationship between A and B and everyone else. But in the information provided, the voucher belongs to A. They were most affected and they made the booking and went to the trouble of complaining. If B wanted to complain they should have done it themselves.

Original poster
Whoswhoof · 22/05/2024 20:33

Only one person “suffered” who was the one with the allergy. Service was dismissed/not commented on by the rest of the party

OP posts:
Theredoubtableskins · 22/05/2024 20:34

Was person A the only one with a bad experience? I mean actually bad, like the only one with an allergen served to them?

I think if they had to deal with having a meal with their allergen given to them, then having to wait whilst everyone else had their food etc, then they were the one who suffered and the voucher should be for them.

Hankunamatata · 22/05/2024 20:34

Split it and go for a meal together?

Theredoubtableskins · 22/05/2024 20:35

Whoswhoof · 22/05/2024 20:33

Only one person “suffered” who was the one with the allergy. Service was dismissed/not commented on by the rest of the party

Cross-posted.

Then person A should get to keep the voucher. It’s a goodwill gesture and apology for their experience and serving them food which could have killed them/made them very unwell.

Original poster
Whoswhoof · 22/05/2024 20:35

Theredoubtableskins · 22/05/2024 20:34

Was person A the only one with a bad experience? I mean actually bad, like the only one with an allergen served to them?

I think if they had to deal with having a meal with their allergen given to them, then having to wait whilst everyone else had their food etc, then they were the one who suffered and the voucher should be for them.

Yes. Person A was the only one with an allergy at all so the only one making any requests. 1 child in the party had a dish mixed up/forgotten about (child of B) but no fuss made

OP posts:
Nottherealslimshady · 22/05/2024 20:37

Person A hasn't gained, they paid 120. So got some of their money back so they keep it. If they hadn't spent any money at all it would be a bit cheeky getting money back for it but at the end of the day they're the one who went to the effort of complaining. If both had complained then it should be split.

Sirzy · 22/05/2024 20:38

I think if person A complained about their exposure to an allergen when they had spoken to the venue in advance then any compensation should be theirs.

why they would want to go back again is a different matter though!

StormingNorman · 22/05/2024 20:39

The value should be split between A and B proportionate to how much each paid.

That said it’s a voucher so A and B should go to dinner together. It belongs to both of them.

Colombie · 22/05/2024 20:41

I think the main thing is they have a conversation about it and no one assumes it's theirs. I would expect it to run that A offers it to B and B declines.

Or they agree to both go out and spend it together.

I expect the restaurant will issue 2 vouchers split however they want, if they ask.

drusth · 22/05/2024 20:41

Person B

Pomegranatecarnage · 22/05/2024 20:44

It’s about 10% of the meal-so, Person A £10, person B £70.

olympicsrock · 22/05/2024 20:46

Share

Wakeywake · 22/05/2024 20:48

I would say it belongs to Person A, but why would Person A even want to eat there again?

Colombie · 22/05/2024 20:49

Also does person B actually want the voucher? Or are they, for example, taking mild offence at person A looking their gift horse in the mouth?

OhmygodDont · 22/05/2024 20:52

A voucher for serving someone with an allergy food with the contaminant in it is the person who should have the voucher regardless of who paid what frankly.

If was their health at risk and this is the restaurant’s apology.

123ZYX · 22/05/2024 20:54

What was the reason for the payment split? Does it roughly reflect the costs for each person/ family?

BobbyBiscuits · 22/05/2024 20:54

If person B was happy with their meal, but person A wasn't, the complaint was by person A relating to their own experience. The voucher was issued to them as they bothered to complain.
Unless I wanted to make it known how unhappy I was about the meal to person B, then I'd keep the voucher but just ask person B out for a meal another time for around half the value.

Theredoubtableskins · 22/05/2024 20:58

I’m taking the stance that airlines (and government guidance) take for delayed flights. The compensation paid out is per passenger, and specially for that passenger to keep, regardless of who paid for the flights. The compensation is an apology payment for each person having to wait around etc, so the money doesn’t go to the person who paid for the flights but to the individual passengers.
There was a thread on here last year-ish where the OP had taken their children’s friends and the flight was delayed, and she wanted to keep the compensation which would be paid to the two guests and not even tell them about it. She was handed her arse on here and told to hand it over.

Same thing. This isn’t a refund on the meal. It’s a compensation offer to the person they serviced an allergen to, after being told in advance about the allergy. Doesn’t matter who paid the bill.

CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 22/05/2024 20:59

Why did the other 8 people not pay?

PianPianPiano · 22/05/2024 21:01

Well the voucher is basically a refund of A's meal. And since A paid for their own meal plus a bit extra, I can't see any reason at all why B should get any of the voucher.

Yellowbananasarebetterthangreen · 22/05/2024 21:08

Person A
Im guessing you are Person A?

SirenGirl · 22/05/2024 21:19

If I was A I would offer the voucher to B as they had spent so much on the meal. I think splitting it 50/50 would also be ok. If A kept all the money I would think it a bit mean but not outrageously so. I suspect the restaurant only "refunded" £80 because the whole booking was for 10 people.