Rude Client Gives Receptionist A “Reservation” For 4th-Floor Room At A 3-Floor Hotel, Ends Up On The Roof
Working at a front desk at any establishment can be both a blessing and a curse. While you are the face of the company or institution, you are also a gatekeeper of sorts who needs to deal with anything fate throws your way.
An internaut shared a story from their days working at a hotel front desk and having to deal with a certain client who simply refused to accept that she had been duped, so malicious compliance ensued.
More Info: Reddit
No doubt anyone who has worked the front desk has at least a few “bad customer” stories
Image credits: bearjcc
Reddit user u/bearjcc paid a visit to the r/MaliciousCompliance community, a subreddit dedicated to conformation to the letter, but not necessarily to the spirit of a request, to share a story of how he, while working a hotel front desk, had to deal with a particularly rude and stubborn customer.
The customer in question apparently came in with a reservation that she claimed she paid good money for. Unfortunately for her, the hotel didn’t do third-party reservations, let alone for accommodations for a hotel of a different name and those found on the 4th floor of a 3-floor hotel. Yep, it was a fraudulent reservation. This was besides the fact that the hotel was completely booked for the night.
And this front desk employee shared one with extra revenge added to it, in the form of malicious compliance
Image credits: bearjcc
The woman simply barged in, began dragging her luggage, slapped the reservation slip onto the front desk and bolted to get even more luggage. Having assumed the protagonist of our story would do all of the formalities while she readied herself, she came back to see that nothing was really done.
After a while of trying to explain that this was a different hotel, they didn’t do third-party reservations, there was no 4th floor, etc., etc., the lady did not back down and insisted, quite rudely, might I add, that she had a reservation, and she wanted to be taken to her room.
So be it. Cue malicious compliance.
Image credits: bearjcc
OP grabbed a large set of keys, picked up her luggage, hauled it up to the third floor (elevator’s busted), pointing out that it was the 3rd floor, then proceeded to open up a door that did not look like a hotel room door, and proceeded to take both the client and her luggage to the supposed 4th floor, which turned out to be the roof.
“… and here is the fourth floor, I hope it is as nice as the last time you stayed here,” said the maliciously compliant front desk employee. And then left her there.
Image credits: bearjcc
A while later, he went back to check up on the roof patron, who was gone by then, and so locked up the door. She must have left via a different exit. And, granted, OP would have helped her if she hadn’t been so difficult, but it is what it is, and this turned out to be a great story for the internet to enjoy.
So great, in fact, that it got a tad bit over 17,000 upvotes with over 50 Reddit awards. Needless to say, people loved it and applauded the perfectly executed malicious bit of compliance. Others shared their own experiences while yet others, also receptionists, wish they would have done the same.
Image credits: bearjcc
You can check out the story, as well as how people reacted in the original post here. Or you can read any other malicious compliance story we have already covered here. But before you go, tell us your thoughts on this malicious tactic in dealing with pesky hotel patrons in the comment section below!
The internet loved the story, sharing their thoughts and experiences along the way
My dad used to be the night auditor for the Brown Palace 40 years ago pre-PC and pre-credit card. Its Denver's version of Waldorf NY or Ritz Paris. It was a target for con men who knew it was cash rich and so were the guests. The front desk regularly had con men who'd try to break several $100 bills and over and over into change and end up with more money than the started with (can I get 3 $20, 3 $10, 2 $5 and 10 $1 = $10 profit on $100). The front desk would explain my dad was the only one who could break it right then and get him. He'd then run the con on them so they were forced to count each time and ask for corrections - you're the night auditor because you're really good at math. A house detective would step out and go grab a policeman. When they got back, they'd turn over the con man and the video tape of the front desk. After a couple got decent sentences for attempt to commit fraud, the word got around to leave the front desk at the Brown Palace alone.
Awesome story. YouTube Abbott and Costello for their 7 into 28 routine and their 7x13=28 routine. Better yet, their 2 tens for a 5 routine. Sounds like a similar thing. I used to use those examples every year (math teacher) to show my students how easy it can be to be fooled by wrong math.
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I'll use 3rd party sites to browse hotels from time to time, but I always book on the hotel site itself.
I won't book third party ever. My husband was very ill and after numerous dr appointments, surgery and a hospital stay we wanted to get away for a few days to put the trauma behind us and return to a somewhat normal life. So we booked an Oceanside room where you could just step out and sit on a patio and had a great view. When we got there the room we were given was for the handicapped. It looked like a hospital room. They had no clue what we had just been through. We were in no need of a handicap room. The hotel was privately owned and expensive. And when I asked to be moved they said all the other rooms were booked that was all that was left. I had made reservations months earlier. It was heartbreaking. What we tried to escape from was thrown back at us. Never use that booking business again. Ever.
That's ironic (I'm not trying to make fun of your crummy situation). I *am* handicapped and travel with a wheelchair. I always specify I need a wheelchair accessible room. I'll even call the hotel specifically to make sure. I can't tell you how many times I don't get one. It makes going to the bathroom a nearly impossible task because the door is too small and there's no room in there for both chair and toilet. Usually they've ended up giving the handicap room to an able bodied person. The best (worst) was the hotel that put me on the 4th floor but their elevator was out of service. I said unless you're carrying me up those stairs, please find something on the first floor at least!
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My dad used to be the night auditor for the Brown Palace 40 years ago pre-PC and pre-credit card. Its Denver's version of Waldorf NY or Ritz Paris. It was a target for con men who knew it was cash rich and so were the guests. The front desk regularly had con men who'd try to break several $100 bills and over and over into change and end up with more money than the started with (can I get 3 $20, 3 $10, 2 $5 and 10 $1 = $10 profit on $100). The front desk would explain my dad was the only one who could break it right then and get him. He'd then run the con on them so they were forced to count each time and ask for corrections - you're the night auditor because you're really good at math. A house detective would step out and go grab a policeman. When they got back, they'd turn over the con man and the video tape of the front desk. After a couple got decent sentences for attempt to commit fraud, the word got around to leave the front desk at the Brown Palace alone.
Awesome story. YouTube Abbott and Costello for their 7 into 28 routine and their 7x13=28 routine. Better yet, their 2 tens for a 5 routine. Sounds like a similar thing. I used to use those examples every year (math teacher) to show my students how easy it can be to be fooled by wrong math.
Load More Replies... I'll use 3rd party sites to browse hotels from time to time, but I always book on the hotel site itself.
I won't book third party ever. My husband was very ill and after numerous dr appointments, surgery and a hospital stay we wanted to get away for a few days to put the trauma behind us and return to a somewhat normal life. So we booked an Oceanside room where you could just step out and sit on a patio and had a great view. When we got there the room we were given was for the handicapped. It looked like a hospital room. They had no clue what we had just been through. We were in no need of a handicap room. The hotel was privately owned and expensive. And when I asked to be moved they said all the other rooms were booked that was all that was left. I had made reservations months earlier. It was heartbreaking. What we tried to escape from was thrown back at us. Never use that booking business again. Ever.
That's ironic (I'm not trying to make fun of your crummy situation). I *am* handicapped and travel with a wheelchair. I always specify I need a wheelchair accessible room. I'll even call the hotel specifically to make sure. I can't tell you how many times I don't get one. It makes going to the bathroom a nearly impossible task because the door is too small and there's no room in there for both chair and toilet. Usually they've ended up giving the handicap room to an able bodied person. The best (worst) was the hotel that put me on the 4th floor but their elevator was out of service. I said unless you're carrying me up those stairs, please find something on the first floor at least!
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