Complain at the appropriate time

It is amazing what stunts some cheapskates will pull to bag a free meal. I worked in a very nice restaurant (not a chain) a few years ago and the complaints we had were ridiculous.

The best we had was a man who loudly began complaining that he'd found a 3 inch nail in his meal. He was vocal, obnoxious and rude. Anyway - obviously we were going to refund him, despite the fact that we could not understand how this nail had got into his food. Until the lady sitting at the table next to him obviously got fed up of listening to his bleating and, equally loudly, stated that the nail 'appeared to have fallen out of his pocket, into his hand and onto the plate towards the end of his meal'.

He went bright red, paid the full bill and left. Cheap b***ard. It was hilarious.

I work in a "chain restaurant" and we do not give a poor service!! It is wrong to Tar all with the same brush. Complaining has become an art form and you can spot a customer likely to complain and expect a free meal from the moment they walk in the door and sadly they are becoming more and more frequent. Try doing what we do every day and smiling at people that enjoy tring to belittle and humiliate you, just so they dont have to pay for their meals.

Every one has the right to complain. Even if it is just for a small thing. Anything to get an apology and perhaps a free meal. Most chain restuarants give a very poor service, the food is of poor quality and served badly. Food hygiene is sadly lacking.
And before you ask, yes I have been employed with large catering companies all my life. I am now retired and complaining all of the time.

Mobile catering = grub that fell off the back of a lorry. Salmonella in motion. I can just see the next Surf an' Turf wars taking place at the next gymkhana/swimming diatholon, as the rival caravans vie for the best pitch. What do mobile caterers serve at funerals? Six-feet-under burgers? Dracula nibbles? Cremated chips? Lemonade eulogies? Dust to dust, ashes to ashes that's your burger bun! Do they re-hearse their delivery schedules? Complaints? Dial VAT 69.

When doing long journeys, I always take sandwiches and a flask of coffee.That way, I only need the use of motorway toilets.

Rip-off Britain, I'll say.For example, pay rises, you get 2%,fuel, utilities,etc ALWAYS go up way above inflation rate.

One day, NOBODY exept the rich will be able to afford to live.

Having been on the Counter side dealing with the public. I myself now complain if what I receive is not what I ordered or paid for. I also tip to express my pleasure at the service I receive, and I write and compliment a service provider.

But one thing I have learnt is that motorway services are designed to rip you off. The only services I use on the motorway are the toilets and Costa Coffee. All the rest is designed to take your money. Before you ask I would pay for the toilet as well. They tend to be cleaner.