Woman not allowed to use the toilet in Costa

durhamjaide2001
durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 13,809 Championing
in Everyday life
This is unfair and needs changed https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-refused-entry-costa-coffee-29578710?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mirror_main&fbclid=IwAR1eBNskHCS_agD-4OLOahZvoNmO0mi3KtbV7ARcTuxkyeK-0px8IUYR8yI

Comments

  • Sandy_123
    Sandy_123 Scope Member Posts: 63,038 Championing
    Last time I was in Costa getting served, a lady asked the staff if she could use the facilities without buying a drink, they said yes, then a bus driver did the same, he was allowed too, ours don't have codes on.

    This lady in the article says she didn't buy the drink, because she didn't want to take her drink in the loo. But it normally takes 10 minutes to be made, so she could of had time to go. 




  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Some costa's i've been too have locked doors where a key is kept behind the counter. It's not the only place i've known where you need to purchase something before using the toilet.
  • WelshBlue
    WelshBlue Online Community Member Posts: 770 Championing
    edited March 2023
    Welsh councils are closing so many public toilets, that they're asking businesses to let people use their facilities

     - I'm on the border of 2 different County Councils and they've both voted an 8.5% pay increase for their councilors ... yet still stopping public services, this extra money would go a long way to keeping toilets open.  Personally I don't think businesses should have to pick up the slack ... especially with their energy guarantee ending soon.

    It costs money to run a toilet, water, electric, sundries.

    I have bladder incontinence and when I got to go, I got to go and if I've got to spend a pound to spare embaressment  ... it's worth it
  • BoredBoredBored
    BoredBoredBored Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener
    One of the reasons I rarely go shopping, complete and utter lack of toilets.

    I have to use a catheter and often get bladder infections when using public toilets. I think all food establishments should have toilets available.

    Councils should make it compulsory for all new food establishments.


  • Cartini
    Cartini Online Community Member Posts: 1,107 Trailblazing
    A fraction of whatever Costa sells (never been to one) will go towards cleaning the toilet therefore I think it right to keep the toilets for paying customers with a couple of exceptions.
  • Fernie
    Fernie Online Community Member Posts: 5 Connected
    edited May 2023
    I know organisations like Crohns and Colitis UK have the 'Can't Wait' card, you can get one from them,https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/become-a-member/cant-wait-card 

    I have used it in Decathlon and Boots, at first when I have asked for a toilet, I have been told there isn't one, when I have showed the card, they have escorted me to the staff toilets. 

    Bladder and Bowel Community have a digital download https://www.bladderandbowel.org/help-information/just-cant-wait-card/ 

    All eating premises with over 5 seats should have a toilet and shouldn't exclude use but many do, including my local starbucks. 
  • rustledjimm
    rustledjimm Online Community Member Posts: 91 Empowering
    edited May 2023
    Having Crohn's I know this situation. When I was flaring and outside it was a constant anxious feeling of when I'd need to go and if I went somewhere would they let me in the toilet with or without buying something?

    I'd often buy something I didn't need just to hide from asking, at a time when I was in quite some financial trouble. Luckily I ended up getting a RADAR key but even then not everywhere has RADAR toilets.

    People should be allowed free use of a toilet in most locations I believe. There are many conditions other than crohn's where people may need quick access to a toilet and people with those conditions shouldn't have to be required to have a specific card or key or badge on them. We should just let people use toilets, that's what they exist for.

     I'd rather we erred towards freedom of use with some exceptions rather than closed off behind paying with some exceptions.
  • Gypagirl1
    Gypagirl1 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    I don't believe toilets should be locked, it is a natural bodily fiction. Whether you have a disability or not if you need to go you need to go. I have a can't wait card as I have Crohns. I was refused access to the toilet in a garage even with showing the card.
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    Having ulcerative colitis and now having a stoma bag, I rarely go anywhere where there isn't a bathroom near by.

    I also have a can't wait card and radar key, but have been refused before whilst having them. I tried using my radar key in a Starbucks once and it didn't work. They said they changed the lock because so many people were using other people's radar keys and didn't have disabilities because they were "walking in and out".

    Let's say I managed to put them straight and their head office reverted the lock back to the radar one. 
  • rustledjimm
    rustledjimm Online Community Member Posts: 91 Empowering
    When I was flaring with my Crohn's I was so anxious about going outside I essentially developed agoraphobia. I'd only go out if I knew the journey would take 10 minutes or less.
    I think it's getting better though. My local town has a public toilet campaign, they still maintain public toilets by the town centre park but 3-4 pubs have signed up to the scheme that anyone is free to use their toilets and I think that's fantastic. I don't think places should be forced to make their toilets public but it should be the norm.
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    @rustledjimm

    I was the same, housebound for 3 years. It's great to hear about the campaign and more businesses being so helpful. I think curtesy is often forgotten. I worked for a small shop when at University and when we'd overhear someone say they needed the bathroom or their child did, we always said they could use the shop one.  

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