AIBU to use an unoccupied pool changing cubicle left full of belongings?

[Noddyslittleredcar]

Local authority pool, exclusively used for kids swimming lessons between 4 and 7. All lessons are 30 minutes, all starting and ending at the same time. 5 lessons with about 10 kids FS in each, so 50 kids. No idea how many cubicles, I'd estimate 50 but haven't counted.

Family changing rooms, so all cubicles. There are lockers and parents viewing area with chairs.

The pool periodically sends out emails telling people not to "reserve" changing room cubicles by leaving their clothes in for the duration of the lesson. Idea is the child changes and the adult takes their stuff to the viewing area. And yet, every week, almost all changing rooms have clothes, towels, bags and school book bags in them for the duration of the lesson. This means if you have to get your child changed before the lesson (like we do), there are no free spaces.

This week I went in a cubicle with stuff in it, because there were no free ones. Waiting would mean my child missed part of her lesson.

The parent shouted at me - actually shouted. "That's my changing room and you've taken it" and banging on the door. Her child was still in the water. I continued to get my child dressed, and came out - before the lesson got the children out the water. I explained she wasn't supposed to "reserve" cubicles like that. She said "it had my stuff in it".

So was I being unreasonable?

This is a weekly occurrence. They don't man the changing area so no employee to speak with, just reception and then the swim teachers who obviously can't come and police the changing rooms.

I have complained to the pool before now and an email goes out, but nothing changes.

You should suggest to the pool manager that they get a big bin for Lost Property. Then any clothes, bags, etc that people leave in the changing room "by accident" can be thrown into the Lost Property bin!

I'd have made note of what her belongings looked like and found 'her' cubicle to use next week. And the week after.

But I'm just petty 😂

we have this at our pool - I actually put the stuff outside on the floor of the cubicle. I did this once and I got screamed at by the parent. But why should my child stand freezing cold waiting for a cubicle to be free post lesson when there are free cubicles? He was almost dressed once they came back.

The problem is that there is little incentive for them to change their behaviour because at the moment, it relies on people like you being quite brave. I would make a formal complaint about it and suggest the next round of emails or better still, signs on the door, says what will happen if people do leave their kit in the cubicles i.e. ANY UNATTENDED ITEMS SHOULD BE PLACED (suitable place) BEFORE USING THIS CUBICLE. Then the risk is on the selfish cubicle hogger not on you.

Honestly parents can be the most selfish group of people ever. Obviously yanbu

Slightly off topic but you need a turbie twist towel thing for your super drippy hair. Game changer when swimming 😁

I’m still waiting for a parent to come on and admit they do that/try and defend it (person who reserved during a shower and admitted wrongdoing aside).

More people like you are needed

We just used it, juts because other peoples items are in there doesnt mean to me they are or think they are reserving the whole thing, sure we never left our stuff in there but it doesnt need to be be complicated

No one is on there we used it then left

cheering for you. @Noddyslittleredcar It’s something I would love to do myself but not always feeling brave enough. She was the one in the wrong

You will likely get banned yourself if you do this. For obvious reasons, filming in a changing room is strictly prohibited.

Surely you squeeze the water out of your hair while still in the shower area? Mine's wet, but not going to drip all over my clothes.

This.

She's ignorant and selfish. You need somewhere to change. She cd easily keep her child's bag with her.

I've done the same, used cubicles with things in. Enough notices saying dont leave items unattended, use the lockers and dont reserve.

Great idea

🤣

Towel or hair wrap on hair isn't difficult. Its an easy thing to learn. Give it a try.

Imo you can put your stuff in a cubicle once you're out the pool so you can go straight from the shower to the cubicle. You do not reserve the cubicle before you get in the pool.

Like you can put your stuff down on a table while you're waiting for your coffee to be made, not while you're waiting to order your coffee.

People reserving a cubicle the entire time their kids are in the pool is a dick move and makes it harder for everyone.

The pool manager needs to go round the changing rooms periodically, leaving a warning note in every cubicle that’s got clothes but no people in it.

This is a good idea. A sign as you enter, and on every single cubicle door would do the trick!

If there are loads of cubicles and you can see nobody is going to need that one while you're showering then I guess it's not an issue especially if you're a quick showerer. But if there's any possibility of other people needing it then you really shouldn't be reserving it when not using it. I just make sure my towel is on top of my bag in the locker so thats the first thing I grab. Plus if everything else is inside the bag, it's not going to be getting wet.

Don't get me started on this! The number of times I've been in the process of placing my order in a cafe with one free table left, only for someone to walk in off the street, dump their stuff at that table and then join the queue!

Most cubicles can be unlocked from the outside since the locking mechanism is attached to the red/green / engaged/vacant sticker, so you just push the sticker around/along

You both are quite brass-necked. I admire the OP’s balls though. I’d be too fearty. 😂

Yes, I'm not going to film it, that would be wrong.

I now dump whoever’s stuff is in there into the nearest locker and let them play locker roulette. I don’t lock it, just leave it open, but it’s not my fault if someone comes along and closes it.
change my children and just crack on. Never had an altercation presumably because they realise they are dicks.

Well done OP, you are my hero! I would have loved to have had the nerve to do that. Do it every week! YADDDNBU