Maccas cold fries fury
A GOLD Coast woman with a special needs granddaughter claims they are too scared to return to their local Maccas after a fries order incident, but Maccas is feeling salty back.
Tracey Lintern claims staff at McDonald’s Ormeau belittled her, laughed at her, refused to provide service and threatened to call security when she attended the restaurant last Saturday. Ms Lintern claims her young granddaughter, who has anxiety and PTSD, witnessed the incident and started to cry.
The Ormeau woman initially visited the restaurant more than a month ago to pick up an order of hot fries for a friend.
Ms Lintern said she ordered other items and asked staff to make the fries last to ensure they stayed hot.
When the fries came out first, the woman said she complained to a female staff member and was given a new order of fries.
When Ms Lintern returned to the same McDonald’s last Saturday, she claims she had a “terrifying” experience.
“I was buying dinner for all the family, so I decided to go inside with such a large order,” she explained.
“The same (staff member) was on. As soon as she saw me she started to talk about me to other staff members.
“I wasn’t even at the counter yet, then they all turned around at me to see who she was talking about.
“Another girl started looking and laughing at me,” she claimed.
Ms Lintern said when she approached the counter to complain, the female staff member refused to serve her because “the last time you came you were rude”.
The Ormeau woman said the staff member threatened to call security, which upset her granddaughter who was standing next to her.
“She’s crying saying ‘Grandma what’s going on’,” Ms Lintern said.
“No one served me, so I just walked out,” she said.
Ms Lintern said she didn’t feel comfortable returning to the restaurant and had made a complaint with McDonald’s head office over the claimed incident.
“I was so excited when I moved here that McDonald’s was so close, as I would normally go twice a day, but now I can’t bring myself to go.
“Why would you want to go back for that treatment, all over wanting hot chips?” Ms Lintern said.
A McDonald’s Australia spokeswoman said it had received her complaint, was reviewing it but stood by the staff members’ actions.
“We do not tolerate anti-social behaviour and won’t accept abuse, intimidation, threats or violence towards our employees,” the fast-food giant’s spokeswoman said.
The McDonald’s spokeswoman said it was committed to providing great service to customers while ensuring staff felt safe at work.
“Our employees have the right to be treated with respect and feel safe in their workplace,” she said. “We have received the customer’s complaint and it is being reviewed by our team.”