McDonald's Restaurants Ltd
11 - 59 High Road
East Finchley
London
N2 8AW
December 9th 2009
Dear Sirs,
I am not known for writing letters of complaint, but the death of my daughters
goldfish became the last straw.
I did nothing to react when I received a puncture in your drive-thru last month
and simply put it down to an over cooked sharp ended fry which had fallen
whilst a meal was being passed through the serving hatch. Accidents happen, I
accept that.
However, the latest carelessness due to one of your staff caused the loss of a
life.
After a wonderful day at the fairground my family, the goldfish I had just
proudly won my daughter and I, decided to top off a wonderful day by treating
my daughter to a happy meal. Not risking the drive-thru again, in case of
unswept fries lurking, we decided to eat in.
My daughters Happy Meal, the wifes Sweet Chilli Chicken and my own Big Mac Meal
arrived safely until your employee decided to place my wifes coffee directly
next to, and touching, Ronald the goldfishes bag of water which he was happily
swimming in on the tray where I had placed him so I could get my money from my
wallet. He had ironically been named Ronald just ten minutes earlier by my
daughter after Ronald Mcdonald on knowing we were on our way to eat in your
establishment.
Now, I know it may seem farfetched but I swear to you, the moment the coffee cup
melted Ronalds bag of water, there was a pain showing in his eyes that can only
be described as that of a fish knowing it was going to die. It was truly awful
to be a witness to it. The bag burst, my daughter screamed and Ronald the fish
lay flapping on your counter gasping for air.
Now I admire your very young assistant for trying to react but his actions
amazed me. He took the coke from my own personal Big Mac Meal (which I had paid
extra to large it up I might add!), removed its lid and scooped Ronald into
there faster than you can say, "I'm Lovin' It!"
On the contrary, it was very quickly apparent that Ronald the fish wasn't
lovin' it at all. I think the chill from the iced coke paralysed him at first
before the coke literally started to burn him to death in the same way you
expect acid to when it touches the skin. Have you ever seen what happens to a
two pence piece when put in a coke? Well I assure you it has the same effect on
an orange and black Shubumpkin.
All this happened less than two feet away from my nine year old daughter who
was stood at the counter between my legs.
Now I know my burst tyre, my wifes guilt for it being her cup of coffee and my
loss of a large coke are due to accidental and unacceptable actions taken
indirectly by your company, however, none of that compares to the tears shed by
my daughter on the death of her Ronald the goldfish that day. Not to mention
the ten minutes solid I spent having to hook 4 ducks (them hooks aren't as big
as they used to be) at the fairground at £1.50 each time in the pouring rain in
order to win my daughter her goldfish. Needless to say, the Holdsworth family
have eaten their last McFilet-o-fish meal.
Whilst complaining for the first time in my life I really have to ask why, with
every tasty delicious Big Mac I have, do you insist in putting a soggy green, Seabrook
crinkle cut crisp with zero distinguishable flavour inside and insist on
calling it a gherkin? That’s not appreciated and it certainly is not food.
This is not your average complaint about a cold burger or poor service; this is
a case of car failure and death. Therefore I do hope you take this complaint
seriously and deal with it in the professional manner I expect from a role
model company like yourselves.
I look forward to your reply and hope my family can receive some answers and
finally lay pour Ronald the fish to rest.
Yours McSincerely,
Mr Daniel Holdsworth.
