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Original poster

Postmaster who refused to serve customers who couldn't speak English "left" job...........

31 replies

FAQinglovely · 21/03/2009 14:35

not sure whether he as fired or left voluntarily.

My 1st thoughts on the reading the article was blatant zenophobia/racism........

but it's not really

ermm - what do you say really??? I bet his English wasn't that great when he arrived in the UK either..........

OP posts:
donnie · 21/03/2009 17:13

well all credit to him for learning English so well and all that but to actually refuse to serve people ? what a nutter. Plus the fact he is losing the Post Office money so a poor business decision as Sralan would say.

SoupDragon · 21/03/2009 17:26

I don't agree with his "policy" but I agree wholeheartedly with what he said about coming to Britain

'"When I came to England I obeyed the British way of life, I got into the British way of life.

"That is what I ask everyone else to do - respect the country where you are working and living." '

Not to the extent that you refuse to serve those who haven't learnt to "fit in" yet but as a general ethic, that's fab.

donnie · 21/03/2009 17:28

yes but what if it is a foreigner on holiday over here ?

SoupDragon · 21/03/2009 17:33

What about if it's a foreigner on holiday??

Original poster
FAQinglovely · 21/03/2009 17:35

as I said to DH on the phone (and others have said) what about foreigners on holiday, and I bet his English wasn't that great when he first arrived here either.

OP posts:
Tillyscoutsmum · 21/03/2009 17:36

Apparently, he only did it if he knew they were residents of the UK and had been for some time (he apparently knew by what type of benefits they were picking up or other transactions they were making - not sure how ??).

I suspect POL wouldn't take too kindly to it though. It did cross my mind when he was "broadcasting" his policy on the news that he may not be in a job much longer

SoupDragon · 21/03/2009 17:40

Um... I said I didn't agree with his policy. I was applauding his attitude abut coming to live in Britain.

Alambil · 22/03/2009 00:14

what about role reversal?

We have a couple of postmasters here who can't understand simple post-office requests...

"I'd like to send this first class please... yes, FIRST class, yes thats the fast one - fast and first... yes....FIRST, yes - that stamp, yes the more expensive one... no, I only need one stamp - I don't know what size, can you check? Yes please - first class, large stamp (after checking).... you've got it, well done!"

you have to repeat it very slow and clear and somewhat loud because of the glass divide... tres annoying when you're in a hurry

themildmanneredjanitor · 22/03/2009 00:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MmeLindt · 22/03/2009 08:46

As someone who has twice moved to a country where I do not speak the language, I find it right that he was transferred. He should be happy that he still has a job.

I struggle to ask for something in the Post Office here in Switzerland. Ok, I am learning French but there are a hell of a lot of expats here in Geneva who do not.

Can you imagine the fuss that would be made if a postmaster in Chianti decided not to serve non-Italian speakers? Go to Spain, to the Costa del Sol, chat to the expats there. I am sure there are a lot of them who have been livign there for years and still cannot speak the language.

I am not saying that this is ok, but it is certainly no reason to not be served in the post office.

belgo · 22/03/2009 09:01

agree with MmmeLindt. Many thousands of british people live abroad and don't learn the language, although I think most of us do make some sort of effort.

My local postoffice are desperate to speak english to me when I go in there, I ask in flemish, they realise I'm english and respond in engliash, I carry on in flemish, and it all gets a bit confused, a bit like a competition over who can speak the other language the best.

CoteDAzur · 22/03/2009 09:05

That man has a very French attitude

Portofino · 22/03/2009 09:14

Where I live, the commune employees are ONLY allowed to converse with you in Flemish. They make it clear that if you can't speak it, then you need to bring someone with you who can. I was quite that this rule extended to the woman on the desk at the local pool, who refused to take my dh's money when he spoke to her in English. Luckily my flemish extends to "one adult, one child, please"

MmeLindt · 22/03/2009 09:18

Portofino
That is quite shocking. It is not as if Flemish is a language that is taught anywhere else in the world. The chances of a newcomer already speaking Flemish is almost non-existant.

Often folk here will pretend not to speak English or German but will help out if they realise that I really don't speak much French. I try to speak French as much as possible anyway to get the practice.

belgo · 22/03/2009 09:20

I remember when that rule came in Portofino, it's very strict, and rather unfair as flemish is a very unusual language to learn.

But I do understand why they are trying to preserve flemish in the ares just outside of Brussels.

mrsruffallo · 22/03/2009 09:28

Does anyone go to Nottingham for a holiday?

belgo · 22/03/2009 09:29

Plenty of tourists in Nottingham due to the Robin Hood link.

TotalChaos · 22/03/2009 09:31

what about people with LD/language impairment . People may not be able to communicate effectively for reasons beyond their control.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 22/03/2009 09:31

Gosh, that's interesting about them speaking only in Flemish. Is it comparable to the Welsh language - not in words but in the need to extend its use? I can imagine what would happen here if council employees were told to use only Welsh...

Sorry that's a digression. I heard the post office chap on the radio t'other day. Got himself in a bit of a knot with his own policy, because really he was just trying to make a point about people who make no effort to learn English, as opposed to people who had just arrived.

mrsruffallo · 22/03/2009 09:32

I agree with Soup Dragon for what it's worth- he has a great attitude about living in Britain which is to be applauded.

It is hard to serve people who don't speak English but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.
I think the policy of teaching people some English before they get citizenship here is going to really benefit many people and enrich their lives here.

edam · 22/03/2009 09:33

I think he has a point. Someone who has come to a new country to live rather than for a holiday should make the effort to learn the language. (And on holiday I try to learn a few phrases, it's only polite.) Never mind about British expats - it's down to France or Spain to decide how to react to them.

belgo · 22/03/2009 09:34

You could compare it to Welsh, but flemish is the same as dutch, and is very widely spoken. 6 million people (or thereabouts) in Belgium speak flemish. The language is alive and very strong, but in the ares just outside of Brussels, french is taking over, even though the ares are officially flemish.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 22/03/2009 09:37

Ah, not the same then. Thanks belgo.

LynetteScavo · 22/03/2009 09:38

Twice in my life I have moved to a country where I could hardly speak a word of the language. I very quickly learnt enough to make myself understood to be able to buy some stamps or post a letter - but thank heavens the post people and shop keepers were patient and helpfull with me!

MollieO · 22/03/2009 09:43

Not sure there are many tourists visiting Sneinton! Mostly students and no tourist attractions that I can recall.