Ugly
Fishy Cool Bird
join:2001-12-12
The Meadow
 ·Comcast
| [civil rights] public accomodation discrimination
OK, I am unsure of what law, if any, applies here. Hence the question.
This evening I visited a nearby Pizza Hut restaurant that has both eat-in and carry-out service.
I have bought pizza there once or twice before without trouble. My last visit was easily three months ago, so something may have changed since then.
I approached the counter inside the restaurant with a cash register where a late-20's woman was standing.
I said "I'd like to place an order please." Polite and pleasant. 
She replied, "Sure, what's your phone number?"
"I did not phone it in. I said that I want to PLACE an order please.
OK. I still need a phone number.
What's that for? I'm standing right here ma'am. I prefer not to share private things like that.
It's for the store's security.
You let me walk right in and even solicited me with a coupon that was mailed to my home. How secure is that?
Do you require a phone number as a condition of buying pizza now?
Yes.
Fine. 123-456-7890.
So, you're not going to give me your real phone number.
What about my security and privacy? And what if I am so poor that I cannot afford a phone?
Then we refuse to serve you.
Write down for me your name, manager's name and telephone. [She complies.]
I leave with written information.
• What just happened?
I was relaxed, polite and sober (I never drink) on way home from a quiet day at work and stopped to pick up my supper. No stress, until this.
I am dressed in business casual attire with NO odd hair, strange jewelry, tattoos, or odors.
In trying to buy a $11 pizza (it would have been cash, but we never got to the point of payment, as the order was refused), I was treated as if it were something more like a gun-purchase with background checks and so on.
Is this a lawful policy or is it somehow unfair to the poor and unwired of the world?
Is it some kind of scam?
What is going on?
--
Oh, I love the smell of fish. Guts, rotten, it's all good. |
|
ergibbs
To Be Free
Premium,ExMod 2001-05
join:2001-03-07
on the ocean
| Nothing illegal about it. If the store wants to adopt the policy, they can. However, it's a stupid policy and, I would imagine, will cause them much grief. I would complain to Pizza Hut headquarters and ask for an explanation.
--
Things are not what they appear to be: nor are they otherwise.
Surangama Sutra |
|
Ugly
Fishy Cool Bird
join:2001-12-12
The Meadow
·Comcast
| reply to ergibbs
Re: [civil rights] public accomodation discrimination
The "customer contact" information at the PH website refers customer concerns regarding any store experience to the local store manager.
Is this a franchise or a national chain? If the former, then that might explain why no corporate authority is evident.
--
Oh, I love the smell of fish. Guts, rotten, it's all good. |
|
ergibbs
To Be Free
Premium,ExMod 2001-05
join:2001-03-07
on the ocean
| Even franchises have to answer to Corporate. Obviously the store wants to resolve all grievances locally - no one likes it when daddy calls them on the carpet. I would still go to Corporate and give them the store number and manager's name.
--
Things are not what they appear to be: nor are they otherwise.
Surangama Sutra |
|
psafux
Got Grep?
VIP
join:2005-11-10
| reply to Ugly
Its a private company. You don't have to do business there. If you don't like their policies you can choose not to do business there.
I don't see a discriminatory issue here at all, to be honest. There is a nationally-known computer store that requires phone numbers in order to make a sale. RadioShack used to as well around here.
If your comments were verbatim, you were being extremely rude to someone probably making around minimum wage and who probably hates the policy too. Its not their fault.
--
Yes. the cat in my avatar is indeed mine. |
|
Ugly
Fishy Cool Bird
join:2001-12-12
The Meadow
·Comcast
| reply to Ugly
No, never rude. Actually, quite nice, as I suspected the same: someone doing as they were told.
Tone was mild and calm. No hand gestures or faces either. Please help sincerely or stand aside to let others try. Thanks.
If one represents a business then one must hear and respond to legitimate questions from customers.
Like, say one who is seeking to better understand a policy that is new to him.
--
Oh, I love the smell of fish. Guts, rotten, it's all good. |
|
ergibbs
To Be Free
Premium,ExMod 2001-05
join:2001-03-07
on the ocean
| I would be very surprised to learn that PH Corporate was willing to lose a customer simply because they didn't want to supply their phone number.
Pizza Hut, Inc.
14841 Dallas Parkway
Dallas, TX 75254
Customer FeedbackPhone: 1-800-948-8488
All Other InquiriesPhone: 1-972-338-7700
--
Things are not what they appear to be: nor are they otherwise.
Surangama Sutra |
|
Ugly
Fishy Cool Bird
join:2001-12-12
The Meadow
·Comcast
| Yes, that's the number. Try it and see.
The message is a recording that refers one to the local store.
But that repeats my previous post on the matter. Sorry for that, but it appears you missed it, or did not believe me.
--
Oh, I love the smell of fish. Guts, rotten, it's all good. |
|
ergibbs
To Be Free
Premium,ExMod 2001-05
join:2001-03-07
on the ocean | I misread your previous message, sorry. Did you try both numbers? |
|
Ugly
Fishy Cool Bird
join:2001-12-12
The Meadow | I only used the one designated for my issue; it is not an "other."
I do what's right and expect others to do the same. Simple.
--
Oh, I love the smell of fish. Guts, rotten, it's all good. |
|
ergibbs
To Be Free
Premium,ExMod 2001-05
join:2001-03-07
on the ocean | Use the other. |
|
Ugly
Fishy Cool Bird
join:2001-12-12
The Meadow
·Comcast
| said by ergibbs  :Use the other. OK, give me a minute.
--
Oh, I love the smell of fish. Guts, rotten, it's all good. |
|
ergibbs
To Be Free
Premium,ExMod 2001-05
join:2001-03-07
on the ocean | might have to wait until normal business hours. |
|
Ugly
Fishy Cool Bird
join:2001-12-12
The Meadow
·Comcast
| reply to Ugly
Well, that's what I just learned from listening to the "website support center's" recorded outgoing message with hours, and touch-pad options for dial by names, etcetera.
So, getting back to the actual question of the thread, Is this a lawful policy?
--
Oh, I love the smell of fish. Guts, rotten, it's all good. |
|
ergibbs
To Be Free
Premium,ExMod 2001-05
join:2001-03-07
on the ocean
| To the best of my knowledge there is no law that expressly prohibits a business from requesting personal information. Next time, just recite the number to the local office of the BBB.
--
Things are not what they appear to be: nor are they otherwise.
Surangama Sutra |
|
drslash
Goya Asma
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Marion, IA
| reply to Ugly
I would say it is lawful. A private business can have conditions before they make a sale. They can refuse to do business with you for any number of reasons other than race, religion, gender, etc. Requiring a phone number does not fall in to a discrimination category, IMO. |
|
mocycler
Premium
join:2001-01-22
Naperville, IL
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to Ugly
Oh how you must suffer over the horrific violation of your "rights"!
All those minorities sure have a lot of nerve expecting to vote and drink out of the same water fountain as everyone else when poor exploited souls like yourself are suffering the injustice of being asked for a phone number.
What's going on is you gave some minimum-wage worker who was only following orders a bunch of crap under the guise of bravely standing up to some evil plot to destroy liberty and justice.
Yes, it's a lame policy. But they have the right to be lame. You stopped being "polite" when you gave her a bullshit phone number. I would have given you bullshit manager's contact info in return.
To wrap this in some claim of "civil rights" makes you look foolish. Take off the tin foil hat and get over yourself.
mocycler |
|
Ugly
Fishy Cool Bird
join:2001-12-12
The Meadow
·Comcast
| reply to ergibbs
I want to know the law. Being ignorant is unpleasant for me.
I do not care so much for helping them to do what's good for their businss as I care for understanding how and when someone is mistreating me in a way that may break some law(s).
Good business is their issue. Following the law is now my concern.
--
Oh, I love the smell of fish. Guts, rotten, it's all good. |
|
ergibbs
To Be Free
Premium,ExMod 2001-05
join:2001-03-07
on the ocean
| I would imagine that, if it were illegal, we would have heard of something before now since, as someone else noted, businesses have been requesting this information for quite some time. Check out this site and see if there is any relevant information. If you find some, I'd be very interested to learn about it, too.
--
Things are not what they appear to be: nor are they otherwise.
Surangama Sutra |
|
