A restaurant boss has offered a diner a bus pass - after the cheeky customer tried to get him to pay a motoring fine.
Sam Morgan was amazed to find an unusual complaint from an irate customer.
The messages asked bosses to foot the bill after the diner mistakenly strayed into a bus lane on his way to the restaurant.
The customer claimed the eaterie's website directed customers to a nearby carpark, resulting in a journey into the restricted area.
BirminghamLive reports the customer then offered to 'pop by' the restaurant for bosses to repay the cost of the ticket.
About Dining, the restaurant group behind Divide, shared the complaint on Twitter this morning.
Company bosses said: "Over the years we have seen a couple of complaints after all it’s hospitality and we serve around 600 people a week but this one is next level. TripAdvisor should be amusing tomorrow."
In the email, the disgruntled diner said: "I attended your restaurant on Saturday with my friends.
"I have today received a bus lane violation as I was driving to the car park landed on your website. In doing so I accidentally went into a bus lane and have now had a fine.
"Given you highlight this as a car park near you, the fee for this violation should be covered by you not me as it's a (sic) extremely poor customer service that you have not advised me that the car park is positioned near bus lanes.
"All reasonable restaurants would take this type of care and attention to make sure it's customers are aware of such matters!!! We had a lovely day and meal now completely ruined by this situation."
After threatening to leave a poor review for the restaurant, the diner went on: "I assume you understand I can pop by tomorrow to collect the payment, or you can send it to my account or card."
In response About Dining owner Sam Morgan said: “Firstly let me please apologise for the delay in replying, the truth of it is that I had to go for a lie down after reading our email. I am simply going to decline your offer to pay the bus lane fee however I am going to arrange an annual bus pass for you.
“I feel this has many benefits including environmental and the safety of the general public given your inability to drive correctly could have serious implications. Good day I am now going to catch the bus into work.”
In a further response, the disgruntled diner again threatened to post negative TripAdvisor and Google reviews for the popular eatery.
They shot back: "I suppose you think the whole situation is funny, let’s see if you think it’s funny when I post a negative review on Google or TripAdvisor.
“Your reply is so poor on a customer service front an offer to pay half may have been acceptable. It will cost you more in negative press from the review so you may want to think again.”
In a further response, the disgruntled diner again threatened to post negative TripAdvisor and Google reviews for the popular eatery. They shot back: "I suppose you think the whole situation is funny, let’s see if you think it’s funny when I post a negative review on Google or TripAdvisor.
“Your reply is so poor on a customer service front an offer to pay half may have been acceptable. It will cost you more in negative press from the review so you may want to think again.”
