Good and bad businesses during the crisis

[tijuana taxi]

How about naming those businesses which have acted honourably and shaming the ones that haven't.
Might be handy to look back on and vote with your wallet

My first naming goes to Radisson Blu, offered free cancellation and refund without any prompting on non refundable bookings

Shaming goes to Wetherspoons whose owner thinks its ok to ignore advice and advocate going to his pubs
(I wasn't about to spend any cash in there anyway)

"Tim Martin told the BBC there would be no pub closures despite the government's advice for people to avoid pubs. "In the early part of the current week, following the Prime Minister's advice to avoid pubs, sales have declined at a significantly higher rate," he said.
But a shutdown in the face of coronavirus would be "over the top", he said.
He said a sensible balance was for pubs to open but to implement "social distancing" measures, like no drinking at the bar."

 

[plloydie]

I'm in the "at risk category" I work in the same dept with someone who considers Wetherspoons as his second home and visits the place daily. The sooner they close all pubs etc the better to help halt the spread of the virus. I have asked and been allowed to work the back shifts alone.

 

[the black fox]

Kudos to haven holidays who have closed all sites from tonight.. not sure if private owners are affected though... and Iceland foods for bringing in at risk shopping hours

 

[MatBin]

Full marks go to my local Ford and Honda (car) dealer who are staying open and arranging videos for items they have for sale and collection/delivery for sales/repairs/MOT's. Plus advising they will valet the cars to make sure they are as possible inside.
Norton Way Honda and Gates Ford.

And to my favourite local restaurant for closing, we've booked a table for 1st May when they are showing as being open, so they know customers will be coming back and supporting them just as soon as possible.

 

[Brazo]

BA have today informed me there are no restrictions on my travel to Morocco in April and I must pay the balance of my holiday or lose my deposit.

I sent them them this taken from the government website.

COVID-19 Exceptional Travel Advisory Notice

As countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel and border restrictions, the FCO advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Any country or area may restrict travel without notice.

 

[jonbeeza]

How about naming those businesses which have acted honourably and shaming the ones that haven't.
Might be handy to look back on and vote with your wallet

My first naming goes to Radisson Blu, offered free cancellation and refund without any prompting on non refundable bookings

Shaming goes to Wetherspoons whose owner thinks its ok to ignore advice and advocate going to his pubs
(I wasn't about to spend any cash in there anyway)

"Tim Martin told the BBC there would be no pub closures despite the government's advice for people to avoid pubs. "In the early part of the current week, following the Prime Minister's advice to avoid pubs, sales have declined at a significantly higher rate," he said.
But a shutdown in the face of coronavirus would be "over the top", he said.
He said a sensible balance was for pubs to open but to implement "social distancing" measures, like no drinking at the bar."

Are staff obliged to work though, or could they simply say that their safety and others are more important?

 

[the black fox]

Got to change my view with regards to haven as it appears there shut down is only partial ,the shut down does not apply to private owners only haven owned mobile homes ..
likewise Lots of other large mobile home holiday Parks are pimping For customers on social media .this is Going to put pressure on local NHS services in seaside areas that are normally overwhelmed in the summer anyway . I do know that this matter has been raised with boris already so ?

 

[wibbly]

BA have today informed me there are no restrictions on my travel to Morocco in April and I must pay the balance of my holiday or lose my deposit.

I sent them them this taken from the government website.

COVID-19 Exceptional Travel Advisory Notice

As countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel and border restrictions, the FCO advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Any country or area may restrict travel without notice.

We were due to go to Berlin next month and had been offered a voucher rather than cancellation. My Wife spoke to them yesterday and they agreed to cancellation and a full refund.

Definitely worth a chat with them, be prepared for a wait though - think the Wife waited almost 30 minutes to get through to someone.

 

[Brazo]

We were due to go to Berlin next month and had been offered a voucher rather than cancellation. My Wife spoke to them yesterday and they agreed to cancellation and a full refund.

Definitely worth a chat with them, be prepared for a wait though - think the Wife waited almost 30 minutes to get through to someone.

Thanks, we did try and get a voucher but they refused it. I’ll see how it goes but I’m not about to chuck another £600 at them knowing full well I won’t be able to go!

 

[wibbly]

Thanks, we did try and get a voucher but they refused it. I’ll see how it goes but I’m not about to chuck another £600 at them knowing full well I won’t be able to go!

I would definitely try and have a chat with them. We paid our balance about 4 weeks ago as we didn’t want to lose the deposit And the Wife said when she spoke to them they were pretty helpful.

 

[nilagin]

Full marks go to my local Ford and Honda (car) dealer who are staying open and arranging videos for items they have for sale and collection/delivery for sales/repairs/MOT's. Plus advising they will valet the cars to make sure they are as possible inside.
Norton Way Honda and Gates Ford.

And to my favourite local restaurant for closing, we've booked a table for 1st May when they are showing as being open, so they know customers will be coming back and supporting them just as soon as possible.

According to Ford UK, all their dealerships are offering to pick up and drop off customers cars.

 

[tijuana taxi]

We had a rail trip booked to Nuremberg and Munich with the first night in Paris

So far the two hotels in Germany have agreed to cancel and refund although the bookings were on a no cancellation basis.
Paris hotel is offering to exchange dates although I will try and get a refund there if possible
DBahn are no longer running cross border trains and have agreed to refund once they receive a form by post
Eurostar are offering an eVoucher although if I wait my train might be cancelled and if so they will refund

Also have travel insurance and don't see why they shouldn't cough up if I cannot get refunds
One of the reasons to cancel states action by government action preventing travel, think this might qualify

 

[keef32]

My first naming goes to Radisson Blu, offered free cancellation and refund without any prompting on non refundable bookings

Shaming goes to Wetherspoons whose owner thinks its ok to ignore advice and advocate going to his pubs

I don't really see a difference?

Hotels staying open putting staff at risk, if people want to stay then they will, I guess at a reduced rate for new bookings... But that's fine.

Spoons staying open where noone is being forced to go, and they have put measures in place for social distancing like removing tables and restrictions on standing, no cash transactions.

 

[jonbeeza]

According to Ford UK, all their dealerships are offering to pick up and drop off customers cars.

I would not use the Ford pick up and drop off service again. Ford person picked the car up the other day for a service, and dropped it off at home when done. When I got into the car the next day, I saw a chip in the windscreen, I can only assume it was done when the ford driver had it. I can't prove this, we have already had it repaired now. Never really been keen on garages driving our cars.

 

[tijuana taxi]

I don't really see a difference?

Hotels staying open putting staff at risk, if people want to stay then they will, I guess at a reduced rate for new bookings... But that's fine.

Spoons staying open where noone is being forced to go, and they have put measures in place for social distancing like removing tables and restrictions on standing, no cash transactions.

I wasn't comparing hotels and pubs, don't think my post alluded to that in any way
Just saying how impressed I was that Radisson refunded without any hassle on a no cancellation booking
Maybe they have shut altogether, no idea, I won't be going now anyway

 

[nilagin]

I would not use the Ford pick up and drop off service again. Ford person picked the car up the other day for a service, and dropped it off at home when done. When I got into the car the next day, I saw a chip in the windscreen, I can only assume it was done when the ford driver had it. I can't prove this, we have already had it repaired now. Never really been keen on garages driving our cars.

But a chip or worse could just as easily have happened if you drove it there and back. There's nothing anyone can do about a stone thrown up by another vehicle. You just have to hope it never happens.

 

[jonbeeza]

But a chip or worse could just as easily have happened if you drove it there and back. There's nothing anyone can do about a stone thrown up by another vehicle. You just have to hope it never happens.

I always worry they may have been racing the car, I know I have no proof, but just a feeling.

 

[nilagin]

I always worry they may have been racing the car, I know I have no proof, but just a feeling.

That's why they don't get to drive my car other than from where I park it, straight into the workshop and then to the pick up point outside the showroom. But as I am sure you know, you don't have to be racing to get a chipped windscreen. I always leave a big gap between me and the car in front to prevent chips in paint and the windscreen, but there is little you can do when a stone is flicked up by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

 

[Box Brownie]

The worst 'road rubbish lifted & thrown' I ever experienced with the feeling of "what if" was :-

Back in the day when I motorcycled, I was going home from work along Millbank and it was approx 8pm and dark so a bit quieter than rush hour. I suddenly felt something thump me in the chest......I pulled over under a streetlight to pause and see what had happened to find a steel heel protector (of the sort a cobbler would hammer onto the heel as wear protector) stuck on my chest!!!!!

I was wearing a thick padded leather jacket and I actually had to pull the darned thing off as the 'nails' had embedded in the jacket........................as for the 'what if'.................approx 18inches higher and it would have hit my full face polycarbonate visor

PS sorry to digress the thread but the roads are full of such small bits of debris I am surprised there are not more than 'simply' odd chips and minor scratches?

 

[jonbeeza]

That's why they don't get to drive my car other than from where I park it, straight into the workshop and then to the pick up point outside the showroom. But as I am sure you know, you don't have to be racing to get a chipped windscreen. I always leave a big gap between me and the car in front to prevent chips in paint and the windscreen, but there is little you can do when a stone is flicked up by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

The car had been valeted after the service, but the windscreen had debris and marks on it, and the chip in the glass. It looked as though it had been driven very fast for the screen to get splatter marks like it did have. I could see how it could happen. They always come with their own car to take the driver of our car back to the garage, so there is a good opportunity for a race. Possibly keeping up with the driver of their own car at speed, so that is how the chip could have happened. I know I have no proof, just a sixth sense, and knowing how your car looks after it has been driven at speed. But anyway, chip been repaired now. The glass was free of marks before they took it, because I removed personal stuff from the car, shortly before they came for it.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

The car had been valeted after the service, but the windscreen had debris and marks on it, and the chip in the glass. It looked as though it had been driven very fast for the screen to get splatter marks like it did have. I could see how it could happen. They always come with their own car to take the driver of our car back to the garage, so there is a good opportunity for a race. Possibly keeping up with the driver of their own car at speed, so that is how the chip could have happened. I know I have no proof, just a sixth sense, and knowing how your car looks after it has been driven at speed. But anyway, chip been repaired now. The glass was free of marks before they took it, because I removed personal stuff from the car, shortly before they came for it.

With all due respect I had my windscreen smashed to pieces 3 years ago by Dacia SUV driving in front of me. These crappy cars have no rear mudguards. All they had to do was accelerate from 0 to 30 and that was it. I was following perhaps 5-10 meters away at that point and the road surface wasn't very clean. No racing at all. Cost me £70 of my hard earned cash to fix.

On the other hand I've drive all across Germany at 180km/h and there is nothing to report at all.

 

[Ricardodaforce]

Sports Direct are staying open. Mike Ashley using a very nefarious reason. Top of the bad pile.


Coronavirus: Sports Direct suggests staff are key workers and says stores will stay open https://flip.it/p6bjOP

 

[tijuana taxi]

Sports Direct are NOT staying open, common sense or much more likely public and government pressure prevailed

 

[tijuana taxi]

Another not so good business to share, good old Eurostar
Rubbish at the best of times when it comes to providing nil customer support

Despite almost nobody being able to travel they will not give refunds for tickets
Insist because they are running a train that only an eVoucher can be issued for a future journey

I also had tickets for the next stage of the same journey with Deutsche Bahn, full refund no questions asked

 

[nilagin]

No idea if this is actually true of Wetherspoons, but not a very nice way to treat their staff if true.

 

[tijuana taxi]

No idea if this is actually true of Wetherspoons, but not a very nice way to treat their staff if true.
View attachment 272818

Not that surprised coming from the man who wanted to stay open when pubs were told to shut
Would say I will boycott them once they reopen, but wouldn't go in there anyway

 

[mj4456]

I worked in the motor trade for nearly 20 years until recently, we did collection and delivery service, customer cars were treated with respect and driven within speed limits, cars are road tested after a service or repair work, a chipped screen could happen then, or in fact when parked if a passing vehicle flicks up rubbish from the road.
But in short, if you don’t trust the garage to look after your car maybe it’s time to find another that you do?

 

[broc]

With all due respect I had my windscreen smashed to pieces 3 years ago by Dacia SUV driving in front of me. These crappy cars have no rear mudguards. All they had to do was accelerate from 0 to 30 and that was it. I was following perhaps 5-10 meters away at that point and the road surface wasn't very clean. No racing at all. Cost me £70 of my hard earned cash to fix.

On the other hand I've drive all across Germany at 180km/h and there is nothing to report at all.

I had a windscreen broken and bonnet damaged by a half-brick thrown up by a lorry in front of me, it had been wedged between the lorry's twin rear tyres and came out as the lorry picked up speed. The brick bounced a couple of times, flew up onto my bonnet and hit the windscreen. I don't recall if it had mudflaps........fortunately it was a company car so it didn't cost me anything