A woman claims she was kicked out of a hotel for not paying a £1.20 tax, leaving her stranded in Manchester at night
Manchester: So, there’s this woman named Margaret Jones, right? She says she got booted from a hotel because she couldn’t pay a £1.20 tourist tax. Can you believe that? She was just trying to enjoy a night out in the city.
Margaret, who’s 63 and has some mobility issues, arrived at the Britannia Hotel after a long trip from Lincolnshire. It was late, around 9 PM, and she was ready to settle in for the night.
But when she got to the front desk, they told her she needed to pay that extra £1.20 tax. Now, here’s the kicker: Margaret usually pays in cash because she struggles with her card PINs. So, she thought she could just hand over some cash, but they said no way.
She explained her situation, saying she gets anxious with cards, but the staff just wouldn’t budge. They even refused her cash offer of £1.50! Can you imagine? She felt like they didn’t care at all.
Then, they told her she had to leave if she couldn’t pay with a card. Margaret tried to use her card, but it asked for her PIN, which just made things worse. She was left outside, shaking and crying, feeling completely stranded.
After about 15 minutes, a friend tried to help by offering to pay online or over the phone, but the hotel staff said that was too late. It’s just wild how they wouldn’t accept any form of payment.
Finally, she found a card that let her tap and pay without needing a PIN. She was finally allowed to stay, but the whole ordeal left her feeling anxious and embarrassed. She couldn’t believe they wouldn’t take cash, which is legal tender!
Margaret shared her frustration, saying she had no issues at another Britannia hotel before. It’s just sad that they didn’t seem prepared to help someone with her needs. She’s worried about how they treat other disabled guests too.
It’s a tough situation, and it really makes you think about how hotels handle things like this. The Manchester Evening News has reached out to the hotel and the local accommodation group for more info.
