Forced to use Niteclub cloakroom??

I

Itchy

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I was out last night and went to a well-known club in Limerick (No names YET). After paying admission, two friends were told that they would have to leave (Not as polite as that!) if they did not put their "jackets" in the cloakroom, which was another fee. One was wearing like a little blazer thing that was part of her kit for the night and she hadnt planned to take it off and the other guy was wearing a zip up casual top, hardly jackets.

Not being stingy, I do use the cloakroom when I have a jacket but this dosent seem right at all??
 
Why didn't they refuse, ask for a refund of their admission charge and leave if they were not happy?
 
Print up a tee-shirt for next time, saying: 'They only let me in after I paid their poxy cloakroom charge'? :D






edited by jem to remove offensive remark
 
I'd imagine that they can enforce such a rule on the basis that people can hide things in their jackets, or just because they feel like it 'management reserves the right' etc.

If you are forced to use the cloakroom, I don't think you should have to pay on top of the admission charge, but that's only my opinion.

Go ahead and name the establishment-just don't say anything defamatory about it. At least others may benefit from your experience, i.e. avoid the place or leave the 'coat' at home.
 
I've an idea I might know the club in question ;) — but I'm sure this is fairly common practice. There's a tactful way to ask these things, of course, but nightclub door staff don't usually excel in the 'charm school' stakes.
 
it happens the same in a big nightclub in temple bar

did you ever read the receipt you are given, not sure how tax compliant it is
 
Being from Limerick myself, I've always wondered, since I left, why we spell it niteclub (sorry, a little off topic).

Never came across the enforced cloakroom rule before but would agree that it would be time to leave and ask for money back. Door policy in Limerick was always a bit strange - shoe policies etc
 
It's another example of the 'Law of the Bouncer' which generally seems to be undocumented and based upon ever changing precedent - not sure what you can do about it. Personally, I'd take me money and run :)
 
I know tons of places in Dublin that enforce this. I don't really like it. It's just another way to rip off customers.

Why are people reluctant to name the establishments?

If a bank had hidden extras, people would mention the name of the bank?!

I'm just curious.
 
Itchy said:
I was out last night and went to a well-known club in Limerick (No names YET). After paying admission, two friends were told that they would have to leave (Not as polite as that!) if they did not put their "jackets" in the cloakroom, which was another fee.
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I'd reckon that this, technically, is illegal. Or at least, not enforceable by the nightclub or their staff.

As described, a condition of the contract (paying for entry to the nightclub) is the payment of a further fee for the coats.

If you're told about this upfront, before paying for the original entry fee, then there's no problems.

However, given that you're given an extra contractual term for entry after paying the original fee, the legal bods here can confirm maybe that this isn't actually possible to do.

You're not being provided with the full information involved in entering this contract with the Nightclub up front, and therefore cannot make a full decision as to whether you wish to enter into the contract or not, based on all the relevant terms and conditions.

However, dealing with such an issue at midnight/1am in the morning, with a few beers on you, with aforementioned bouncers, probably wouldn't be an easy way to enforce your consumer rights.

Would the Office of Director of Consumer Affairs have any input/enforcement abilities in this area?
 
CCOVICH said:
I'd imagine that they can enforce such a rule on the basis that people can hide things in their jackets, or just because they feel like it 'management reserves the right' etc.
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Women I know put stuff in their handbags if they are going to bring anything in... so that argument dosent really hold up.

Is is not like the payment protection fiasco? We wont let you in if you dont buy this other service??

Its just a poxy charge and I felt like cribbing!!;) It was in the SinBin and I know Barcode in Dublin do it aswell (edited by CCOVICH)
 
A woman's handbag is a different story-surely you will admit that?

I said to name the venue, but keep it civil.

Unless there is a law against such a charge, there aren't any comebacks.

There was no PP fiasco-it was never a condition that people take it out-so that's confusing the issue.
 
It's reasonably clear to me that making people pay for services they don't want isn't correct. I would be pretty sure that if this was ever challenged it would be found to be in breach of some consumer legislation or other.

Haven't you seen the ad (McDonalds I think) where the guy is charged for being at the dentist (or wherever), for having a cup of coffee, for reading magazines, etc . . . This would be like the club charging for the cloakroom, charging for using the dance floor, charging for sitting down, etc . . .

I remember this happening to me a *long* time ago and not being terribly impressed, but definitely 1AM is not the time to start forcing the issue. It is fine to say you want your money back and so on, but in certain circumstances people will be prepared to pay this and subsequently complain rather than put on their coats and finish up their night out there and then.

z
 
zag said:
Haven't you seen the ad (McDonalds I think) where the guy is charged for being at the dentist (or wherever), for having a cup of coffee, for reading magazines, etc . . . This would be like the club charging for the cloakroom, charging for using the dance floor, charging for sitting down, etc . . .


z
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There's a similar one (also McDonalds) based in a nightclub where after paying in, he has to pay for cloakroom, then is asked will he be dancing and is charged extra for that, then asked if he'll be dancing on his own or with someone and when he says hopefully with someone charged more again for that.
 
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