Posted on 08/24/2006 12:15:28 AM PDT by auzerais
Miserly Burger King charges hurt kid for ice
By Jennifer Roy/ Daily News Tribune Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - Updated: 10:35 AM EST
Ice does not appear on Burger King’s menu, but it should after a Newton teen limped into the Moody Street fast-food restaurant last week looking for some cool relief of a sore ankle.
John Michael Jasset staggered into the restaurant about 5 p.m. last Thursday after being hit by a car. He was thrown from his bike and also scraped his knee, arms and hands, his mother, Cheryl Jasset, said.
But when he asked for some ice to put on his ankle, he was told he had to pay for it.
The charge: 99 cents, plus 5 cents for tax. That’s the price of a small soda.
"I’m never going to Burger King again," John Michael said.
The 16-year-old Pond Street resident said that right after the accident, he exchanged information with the driver, picked up his bike, called his friends - who hadn’t seen the accident and rode ahead - on a walkie-talkie and hobbled into Burger King to nurture his injuries.
A sign on the door gives the cost of a bag of ice, but Jasset’s mother says they should have just given it free.
"It’s outrageous," Cheryl Jasset said. "He wasn’t dripping blood or anything, but his knee, arms and hands were cut."
She said she has tried to contact the local Burger King, but has gotten nowhere. She’s called the company’s corporate office, too.
So far there has been no apology from the fast-food giant.
No one answered calls from a reporter at the Moody Street restaurant Monday. Officials at Burger King’s corporate offices in Miami did not return calls, either.
"I’m never going to go to Burger King again," Cheryl Jasset said, echoing her son. "He was scared. No one helped him."
John Michael Jasset said he was afraid to ask for ice, so his friend did. The friend then paid for it because John did not have cash.
He said the cash-on-delivery ice didn’t even help much, but his ankle feels better now. The driver of the car that hit him saw his two friends but not him, he said.
Cheryl Jasset said a language barrier was evident at Burger King on the night of the incident, and has been in the days since.
"There has to be some comprehension because you’re dealing with people all day long," she said.
She said she just wants answers and an apology.
Insurance, she said, will cover her son’s medical bills.
It won’t get his friend’s $1.04 back, however.
Jennifer Roy is a Daily News Staff Writer. She can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jroy@cnc.com.
Why should BK give away for free something they normaly sell?
" A sign on the door gives the cost of a bag of ice, but Jasset’s mother says they should have just given it free."
Why? Just because you're injured? This is just another example of the victim mentality. Something bad happened to me, so gimme gimme gimme?
The only thing that have a right to get mad about, in my opinion, is the lack of compassion from the BK employee.
hell free ice they should have paid for his trip to the ER, and give him free food for the rest of his life why stop there?
I know this happened in Massachusetts and the following is completely off topic, but in Arizona it's illegal to refuse someone a drink of water.
The only one that they should have been mad at if at all would be the manager. I wonder if they even approached him/her.
becasue its the evil fast food!
Why isn't this story about the hit and run driver? Had the law been followed, the kid would have had care provided for him by the EMT's who would have been called by the police.
The media is all too willing to stir up blame for a big evil corporation, yet barely mentions the hit and run driver. BK didn't run into this kid.
Likewise in Texas. Probably for the very same reasons.
That said, I've been to Burger Kings in non-frontier states, and a glass of ice water has always been free there. WTF?
Jasset's mother wakes up with the King.
yeah because the hospital will charge only $1 for ice.
more like $20.
and its all burger king's fault, not the driver who hit him.
You provide classic examples of why we have a two-party republic.
They only offer bottled water at all the local fast food places here. I thought that's what they all went to. The convenience stores have .25 ice cups. Heck, I can't even find free air any more.
This is ridiculous...
First, the mother should be furious with the driver of the car that just exchanged info after HITTING A PERSON who was obviously injured -- even if just minorly! The kid could've been suffering from shock, and could've had much worse injuries than it appeared.
Second, I'm a little disappointed in the staff at Burger King, unless the kid wasn't obviously hurt -- if I were the manager I would've given him ice, a rag to wash up with, and called 911, and I wouldn't have let the kid out of my sight until either the paramedics pulled up or his parent came to get him.
Maybe it's just the mom in me, but what is this world coming to that we don't help each other in times of need... It's truly sad...
Why is anyone surprised that any schlub working at a McFood joint is going to take any initiative and give away free products to the friend of some kid who got a boo-boo on his arm?
Stop holding your breath waiting for that apology and GET ON WITH YOUR PATHETIC LIFE!!!
I know Newton kids, but of rich spoiled brats.
My guess this BK gets swamped by these kids allways asking for free stuff.
"Stop holding your breath waiting for that apology and GET ON WITH YOUR PATHETIC LIFE!!!"
Hoo hoo isn't that the truth.
Nice username, by the way!
What???
My question was why should they! I gave a stranger, or should I say the cab driver, 20 bucks to take a stranger home while waiting at the emergency room while my wife was undergoing test. I had compassion for the guy, evidently the BK clerk did not!
I am sorry...just can't resist the shameless plug for:
Wall Drug Store!!!!
www.walldrug.com
South Dakota
Free Ice Water!
Check out the native South Dakota jackalopes too!
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