Advice on customer rights?

Question

I went to a pub last night with some friends. When it was closing time, the staff asked everyone to leave. As we made our way to the doors, the bouncers started pushing us out of the doors. There were alot of people in front of us and no-where for us to move too. When we asked bouncers to stop pushing, they didn’t and said we were pushing them (we wasn’t). They refused to give us there numbers or get management. Pushing there gate into me and one of my female friends.
Do i have legal rights to complain on how i was treated.
Do you think i should get the police involved?

ps i wasnt drunk. i had only 2 drinks all night.

Answer 1

Ok, i take it you are in the UK?
If so, it is not legal for Stewards to use physical force to remove you at the end of the night, although you have no right to remain in the licenced premices after being told to leave (Its a criminal offence to remain, but this should be dealt with by Police, not Stewards)
The club/pub's licence dictates that you have a maximum of 15 minutes after pub closing time, this means that stewards have to remove drinks after this point as it can jeapordise the licence of the establishment if they permit "After hours" drinking.. (Well that's the law in Scotland, not sure about rest of UK!)
As far as this incident, the Stewards had no right to "Lay hands" unless they were presented with a situation they deemed to be dangerous, and they felt that they were about to be attacked, or to prevent the attack of another member of the public (Its the same rights you have as a citizen, there are no special rights for security staff!)
I'm not sure that you'll get any joy from the Police as there was no doubt alcohol was involved on your side and not the Stewards side this would make them more credible as far as Police..
However, i would definately complain to the club's manager, and the security company (They are likely to be contracted to the club from a local security company)there is no good to come from assaulting your patrons as they wont come back (Obviously!)
At the end of the day it's unlikely that you will frequent this pub again.. so they lose in the end..
As someone who does this type of work, i dont get the idea of treating customers this way, it'll only increase the aggro to Staff, making me work harder, and making it more dangerous.. Bloody pointless...
It might also be a good idea to report them to the SIA who licence all security staff in England/Wales at present and who will also cover Scotland from 07/12/2007, they can remove licence's from security staff.

Dragoner, Stewards are not Police officers, they don't have "Numbers!" and they are not legally required to give you name etc, only a Police officer/SIA Official can demand this..

Answer 2

They do have the right to physicaly remove people. If the licencee wishes everyone to leave, then the bouncers have to remove people. If that involves a bit of mild ushering then so be it. Too many drunken people in this scenario wil try to stand around aurguing. At the end of the day you are there with permission of the licensee if you have been asked to leave then you should remove yourself immediatly. Too many people think that they have no right to touch me...wrong!
You should know that bouncers get asked for there numbers about 10 times a night and threatened with being reported all the time. If all these reports were followed through by the complainant when they are sober, there would be no bouncers left....Result= no pubs/clubs open.

Answer 3

You should definitely file a police report. I do not know the laws in your area regarding this type of treatment, but it sounds abusive and dangerous.

The bouncers sound a bit overzealous, and should not be pushing people, many people could have been severely hurt.

You should also make sure that the management of the pub is notified about what happened, and you should tell them after the police report is filed. If you know any of the other people that were getting pushed out, besides your friends, see if they will give a witness statement to the police also.

Good luck, and you should not go back to this establishment again.

Answer 4

I would certainly report them to the SIA (web link below), who are responsible for managing and enforcing the private security industry. Bouncers in the UK must be registered with this agency since new regulations came in a few years back.

It certainly sounds like the bouncers you encountered were not acting within their license.

Perhaps a letter to the establishment, clearly copied to the SIC would get the pub to act.

Answer 5

Either the bouncers were heavy handed or you were drunk and being obstructive.

Obviously you will say that the bouncers were heavy handed and maybe this is true. However I cannot see where complaining to the police will get you.

Answer 6

Course you can complain you went there to enjoy yourself, dont get plod involved though thats too low, if you disappointed with the security then phone or send a letter to the club you could be cheeky and ask for a vip lounge pass so you can go back and do what you intended to do enjoy yourself! but really if it were my possy they would just laugh at you and tell you to poff, door security is an art and at the end of a night the best policy for them is to clear the club asap, im afraid on this occassion you literally went with the flow m8 end of. No point getting busy....................

Answer 7

Check with the local authority for where the pub is, they should know if the pub is using registered bouncers, if not they could be in trouble.

Answer 8

i'm unsure what could be performed yet an identical ingredient surpassed off to me and a pal as quickly as we went to toys r us in a smash time. its basically a couple of minutes walk from the college i replaced into interpreting at so im guessing they have been used to pupils popping out and in. the only distinction replaced into that they stored our bags in the back of the counter. for sure if i replaced into making plans on buying some thing i might have basically walked impressive back out yet as a results of fact i replaced into basically window buying i agreed. i took my telephone and handbag our although- didnt desire something lacking. i might make a complaint or ask for a proof from the save supervisor. in the event that they do no longer agree or fail to grant you an ideal answer then i might in all probability write to the tescos head place of work. has a greater perfect effect and makes issues greater professional. i latterly had to make a complaint to the the national blood amenities and have been given a reaction right this moment away. try it.

Answer 9

You should have contacted the police immediately. Your rights have been infringed by bouncers who refused to give you their numbers.

You have rights. However, you should bear in mind that a publican has the right to eject anyone from his pub and refuse to serve them.

It is very likely that if you lodge a formal complaint against the pub in question and have witnesses etc., that you will be barred [banned] from ever going to that pub again.

If a pub has bouncers what that means to me is a pub which has trouble. Just don't ever bother going there again.

Answer 10

Yes. Sounds like you where assualted. Bouncers are not allowed to touch you except for under extreme conditions. They are mainly just there to control any violent patrons. I think you should file a police report.