AIBU To not follow through with a complaint because I felt I overreacted a tad in the first place

[shinyshoes]

My DS1 and his cousin went swimming yesturday, they had them 'swim for free' Kellogs swim vouchers but when they went to the counter they were told to write their names and addresses on the back. His cousin asked 'why' and was told by the receptionist 'you don't need to know that'

I was absolutely gobsmacked when he came back and told me. 2 bugbears of mine, arrogance and rudeness. I can't abide either and I get so cross. I found her to have been very rude and straight away It got my back up.

Me going for the jugular like I do, phoned my cousin and asked her about the confidentiality and data protection act, what was going to happen to this information, who will have access to it, was it to be stored correctly. (We both work in schools and know that childrens information need to be stored correctly with restricted access to only the right people.)

She was livid, rung the pool demanding to know exactly what i had said, 'why the info was neeeded' etc, and would the receptionist have said what she said to an adult had they asked the same question. i doubt it.

The duty manager is going to give her a call today.

Apparently they want the information to to send information out about splash courses and fun swims and things, which is fair enough I suppose.

But she's absolutely adament I should compain too, that they shouldnt have asked unaccompanied children their private information, but to be honest I only flipped because of the rudenss shown to them.

Shall i follow through with the complaint. She can be quite persuasive and pushy when she wants to be my cousin.

I wouldn't, you could get someone into a lot of trouble if you don't really feel as passionate about it as you did.

Absolutely. I'd be livid about this too. I bet they aren't obliged to give addresses for marketing purposes either, but a child wouldn't know that they could say know. Outrageous.

I wouldn't bother.

It was a very silly comment but she doesn't need to be raked over the coals for it imo. It is being dealt with by your cousin why on earth does she need you to call too? Just think it may get someone fired for a silly moment or a bad mood.

Maybe she was joking? Or maybe she didn't know? To me, as a receptionist, it sounds like quite a minor incident, complaining to someone's manager is pretty serious and can result in a lot of sleepless nights...I have been there!

I would. I work at a swimming pool and we would never ask children to provide this info. It is not nec and not fair to expect it. I think it is exploiting the naiveity of children to generate more profit. Complain and make sure it is to the highest person. Above the duty manager. You want the general manager at least. Try and find out name of the receptionist too.

I think you completely over-reacted, tbh. I can't believe this is even an issue.

Perhaps he said "why?" is quite a rude way himself, and got the receptionists back up.

It's not what you say that matters, it's the manner in which you say it.

This is just my opinion obviously, but I wouldn't complain about this. I'd save the fire in your belly for something that matters more. I just can't imagine getting so worked up about this...

Maybe she has been told to ask for the information and hates doing it. My boss insists I ask for people's card details on the back of their cheques when the pay and so many people get offended by me asking this for some reason, as if it means we don't trust them, so I hate doing it, and possibly would end up making some comment which could be misconstrued as rude, just because I am embarrassed!!

I dont think I would be so concerned about the receptionists rudness as the fact they expect personal details.

It isn't the leisure centre that wants the details, it's Kellogs - so that they can send you literature.

Did you not check the form prior to sending them down with it. Personally, I would have just filled it in and lied about my address.

This seems to be standard when using any "free" vouchers though, you usually have to give your name and address.

Like I said I was more worked up over the rudeness of the receptionist. My cousin on the other hand is more concerned over the pool knowing 'her childs identity and why the need that information, why it was asked fro int eh first place'

I am not going to follow through with the complaint about the receptionist, but she did piss me off when he told me, The main issue now is about being asked their information, like I said I'm satisfied they want it for fun swims etc, the receptionist should have said this. But she wants to go further with the data protection thing, and like the title said I am backing down with the complaint as I felt I overreacted somewhat

nametaken, no where on the back does it ask for or have a form for personal details its just plain cardboard, surely they'd be a form to fill in the back.

You should check first whether the Kellogg's packs have anything about this in the terms and conditions relating to the offer.

If they did, then they could claim you should have read them, and if you felt so strongly about protecting your data, maybe you should not have used the vouchers?

oh I thought you meant on the back of the free voucher, sorry.

I agree then, the leisure centre shouldn't be asking children for their personal details. Why can't they just wait till they come in with their parents and ask then?

FWIW, our receptionist is a nasty cow too. It wasn't in a place beginning with E was it

They do say in the terms that you are only allowed one free swim, so perhaps this is why they take details, so people don't use them repeatedly?

No it wasn't Nametaken .

Surely you have to hand the voucher in, thus stopping you using it again, herecomethegirls.

yes but I meant they could get MORE vouchers and then use them to get another free swim, I understood it was one free SWIM per person

As I said. I work in a leisure centre where we accept these vouchers. It is one voucher per person per visit. You can use one every day if you want to. Your swimming pool want details purely for publicity. You are not required to give them your details at all and I would be furious about being asked, let alone a child being asked. The most they need is you childs age to make sure they are old enough to swim without an adult.

ok, I bow to your superior knowledge then I didn't realise you knew about the Ts and Cs

(serves me right for reading too quickly )

Sorry. I didnt mean to sound rude or abrupt. I just feel quite strongly about this especially knowing how the system works!