Pontins told to stop screening Irish names

[KTF]

Apparently Pontins had a list of Irish names that they used to blacklist members of the travelling community to stop them making a booking. Plus they banned commercial vehicles in their parks which also allegedly discriminated against them.

I can only imagine that this was an oversight on Pontins part and not because of the reputation these fine upstanding members of our community have when it comes to paying their bills, keeping the place in good decorative order and generally being no trouble at all to other guests.

From: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56246848

[DaveCWK]

A ban on commercial vehicles is fair enough, but the banning all the names that happen to be popular amongst traveller families does seem a bit extreme!?

[Camelot1971]

Maybe when people book, they can ask them if they like dags instead?

[towser44]

Having had the 'pleasure' of being stuck in a hotel in Fuerteventura with a load of them a few years ago, it's a shame that this screening can't not only be done, but expanded to all accommodation providers!

[Electro1980]

DaveCWK said:

A ban on commercial vehicles is fair enough, but the banning all the names that happen to be popular amongst traveller families does seem a bit extreme!?

Travellers and Irish people generally.

[redrabbit]

Came to light because of a whistleblower, apparently. Shouldn't be too hard to identify - it'll be the one wearing 'Red Diesel pour homme'

[smn159]

Wanting to book at Pontins should in itself be enough to put anyone on a blacklist

[rufmeister]

towser44 said:

Having had the 'pleasure' of being stuck in a hotel in Fuerteventura with a load of them a few years ago, it's a shame that this screening can't not only be done, but expanded to all accommodation providers!

So you, a traveller, surrounded by fellow travellers, and this came as a shock?!

[Sheets Tabuer]

Imagine living a life owning a caravan going wherever the heart takes you only to book a holiday where you have to stay put. I presume to make it more homely they send the kids out to st in the neighbours bushes and find 80 year old holidaymakers convincing them their chalet roof needs fixing for the today only cash price of 25k,

Reminds me of a mate that went to centre parks, he said they had travellers next door who as soon as they pulled up began drinking and fighting, he left when they started betting on who could punch his car door window through.

[CAPP0]

When they're on the mainland they're usually all called Smith - saves all the hassle of multiple individual vehicle registration docs, insurance policies, etc.

[poo at Paul's]

I was staying at a Marriott in Preston a few years back when a wedding party with lots of suspciously orange looking looking ladies were present, and a car park full of tree surgeon pick ups. Mid week, the first fight started at 615pm as i entered the lobby, i checked in, got my room number, navigated round the human st on the corridor going to my room (seriously!!), and the night basically went downhil from there. Police arrived at 645!!
Utter fking nightmare. Anyone in hospitality will appreciate why Pontins had such a policy!

[Murph7355]

My accountant, of all people, dropped me this by email today noting I was on a reprieve as his plans for blacklisting now needed updated.

Told him that was fine but would be paying him in tarmac from now on.

[Armchair Expert]

How is it that travellers became ethnic minorities is beyond me?

[AJL308]

I accept that it is unacceptable to discriminate against certain groups purely on the grounds of race or ethnicity. However, I do not accept that it is unacceptable to discriminate against certain communities based on provable evidence that they represent an unacceptable risk to others or your business. It is entirely reasonable, right and proper as far as I can see.

If certain communities don't want to be discriminated against then they should just refrain from acting like s. It's hardly rocket science.

[Tom Logan]

poo at Paul's said:

I was staying at a Marriott in Preston a few years back when a wedding party with lots of suspciously orange looking looking ladies were present, and a car park full of tree surgeon pick ups. Mid week, the first fight started at 615pm as i entered the lobby, i checked in, got my room number, navigated round the human st on the corridor going to my room (seriously!!), and the night basically went downhil from there. Police arrived at 645!!
Utter fking nightmare. Anyone in hospitality will appreciate why Pontins had such a policy!

Preston you say?

I hope you were handed a stab vest when you checked in.

[Biker 1]

Can't we deport the whole sorry lot of them to Eire now that we've left the EU?

[Ayahuasca]

There were no issues when O’Reilly was banned from a hotel in Torquay a few years ago.

[Tom Logan]

Ayahuasca said:

There were no issues when O’Reilly was banned from a hotel in Torquay a few years ago.

'Cos he only had one arum.

[Darth Paul]

Armchair Expert said:

How is it that travellers became ethnic minorities is beyond me?

I believe that was another one of Teflon Tony’s legacy’s, but I stand to be corrected.

[CAPP0]

Armchair Expert said:

How is it that travellers became ethnic minorities is beyond me?

I'm led to believe that the basic reason for this (there is probably more detail available) is that the trouble-making Irish travellers, who in my view are an entirely different and separate group to the "real" gypsies and others, cosied up to the Roma and paid that group's legal fees when they (the Roma) set out to attain their ethnic minority status, on condition that they were included. So now, you can live in a big house in Rathkeale (other traveller towns/villages are available) when the weather's a bit st, but come over here at will and behave like utter twunts with your R-card safe in your back pocket if anyone dare call you out for your utter twuntishness.

It still beggars belief that a group who not only contribute absolutely zero to society in general but in fact disrupt and destroy with impunity any part of said society they feel like, are allowed to exist and function like they do with little or no comeback, and scream "racist" if you dare so much as glance in their direction.