Critique my letter...

[BentMikey]

Hey folks,

Just hoping for a critique of my letter here:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I'm sorry to be contacting you with a complaint, but I recently witnessed the following:

At around 12:30 I was waiting in Victoria bus station, and observed a BT Openreach driver drive past the taxi rank westbound along Terminus Place, whilst holding a mobile phone to his ear and visibly conducting a conversation. I then observed him making a one-handed u-turn into the eastbound portion of Terminus Place, where he parked in a bus stop and continued his phone conversation. I walked up, and took a photo of him and his van, although he dropped the phone as soon as he saw me start to take the picture. His registration no. was FH55 XGX.

He got out of his vehicle and said that it was "none of my business". When I said that it was the public highway so his mobile phone use was everyone's business, he started to abuse me verbally. His comments included "You daffodil", "You ****ing foreigner" , "Get out of my country", "Bloody Saffa", etc.

As this was going on, his colleague also drove up, also on his mobile phone, held up to his ear. His registration no. was FP55 OXM. I also took a photo of this vehicle's registration. After parking up, this person, wearing an id tag with "AName", told me I didn't have his permission to take his photo. I told him that it was perfectly legal to take pictures in public, and if he didn't believe me he should google this. He flipped over his ID badge to hide it from me. He proceeded to tell me that "would smash your ****ing face in" in a very threatening manner, and if I tried to take another picture, he would "smash your phone out of your hand". I also suggested that assaulting me would not be a good idea because of the CCTV in the area, and that I'd pursue a criminal complaint.

I'd like to point out that I at no point shouted at either of these two employees, I did not swear at them, and did not threaten them in any way.

I was shocked just at seeing one of your drivers on the phone in such a public place overrun with pedestrians, when driving on the phone is more dangerous than drunk driving. To then see the very next BT Openreach employee also on the phone was appalling. Even worse was the bigoted and foul mouthed abuse, from two clearly identifiable employees in uniform, from liveried company vehicles. I felt sick and threatened by them.

I would like to request what BT Openreach's general policy is in respect of mobile phone use whilst driving, verbal abuse, and threatening behaviour like this. I would also like to request that this complaint is passed to their manager(s), and dealt with.

Best regards,
Mike.

Pictures attached...

 

[BentMikey]

p.s. the actual letter contains the phrase you would expect, it's the profanity filter on here that swapped it for ***s. Surprised it leave the cahnt one in though?

 

[hackbike 6]

Yeah nice letter but shouldn't you scrub out the registrations on here?

Just a thought like.

 

[JamesAC]

Nice letter. Polite and to the point. Might the polis be interested? The guys should be a) sacked and prosecuted, IMO.

Please keep us posted as to any result you get.

Good luck

James

 

[hackbike 6]

or c) Shot.

 

[JamesAC]

or c) Shot.

.. having first had their gonads removed and lightly toasted over a BBQ..

 

[hackbike 6]

Whatever rocks your boat I guess.

 

[magnatom]

No there is no problem posting the registrations.

The only thing I might add, to lend some weight, is a reference to the RoSPA article where it says that using a mobile phone is as dangerous as drink driving, possibly with a quote. That would highlight the seriousness of the original issue.

As for the other comments...

If I was foreign (and I suppose I would be in England!) and someone said comments to me like that, I would lose absolutely no sleep if they were to loose their jobs over it. Totally unacceptable.

No witnesses I suppose?

 

[PBancroft]

I would sign it "yours sincerely" instead of "best regards" but otherwise very good. I had to look up what a "saffa" is though.

I think Steve Robertson is still Chief Executive - he probably won't read this personally but I would feel inclined to send a copy to him. Also the director of Human Resources - no idea who that is.

 

[hackbike 6]

It does always amaze me when people in full uniform driving a marked van sound off like that. They deserve to be sacked.

They are called idiots.

 

[Domestique]

Its a good letter BM.
Going slightly off track, dont you ever feel intimidated?

 

[gazzaputt]

That is totally unacceptable.

Bad thing here is 2 of them 1 of you when it comes to statements.

I find BT drivers to be awful.

 

[PBancroft]

...

 

[Beanie]

About 18 months ago i emailed BT Open Reach about one of their employees gassing away on their mobile phone when driving. I was pleasantly surprised to get a telephone call a few days later from the local depot manager concerning the issue. He apologised for the bloke's behaviour and said he would remind the staff about mobile phone use when driving, though i doubt he did anything about my suggestion that they fit cameras in their vehicles to keep an eye on their employees!

Hope your complaint produces better results than mine did - i still see BT Open Reach drivers brazenly flouting the law!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Good job Mikey.

Agree, a copy should also be filed with the Police who may wish to press charges.