Amusement Park Blues
Anyone vacationing in Berlin, Germany would be well advised to skip amusement park rides. Fourteen unfortunate people who were stuck 50 feet in the air for almost an hour last summer have now been billed the equivalent of $420 each by the local Fire brigade for their rescue. The ride operators have refused to pay as they claim they did not call emergency services and did not need help rescuing the trapped riders. One would think if the operators had everything under control it would not have taken so long to get the people down. Also, shouldn't they have refused the service if they did not need it? Instead they allowed the fire brigade to step in and rescue the people, but now claim no responsibility. One family one the ride is being charged 3 times because husband, wife and child were all trapped. Nothing quite like being traumatised and then billed for the privilege. Stefan Fleischer, spokesman for the fire brigade, has said they are looking at the decision to charge the riders again. But he also feels it was fair because the riders could make an insurance claim or sue the operators of the ride. All I can say is welcome to the beginning of the path that leads to the litigious society we have over here folks, maybe you better think about it first.
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091116-23303.html
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091116-23303.html
Comments
this story gets alot of play over there and the amusement parks won't do much business. by the way, my apologies there is one typo thayt i missed above. no i won't tell you where cuz maybe you won't notice it! 😊
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 11/17/09 at 12:30 AM
Just one typo one the page, Patty?
Personally, I think charging people to be rescued is a good idea when it is obvious that those being served have gotten themselves in trouble.
Personally, I think charging people to be rescued is a good idea when it is obvious that those being served have gotten themselves in trouble.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 11/17/09 at 01:12 AM
did you find more than one expat? :red:
do you think it was fair to bill these people though?
do you think it was fair to bill these people though?
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 11/17/09 at 07:44 AM
Fair to bill the people in the story? Most likely not but someone should foot the bill. House on fire? Fine. Flash Flood, tornado, etc. fine, these are emergencies. Getting your citified butt lost in the wilderness, drop your experimental balloon in the Pacific, sail your yacht into a gale, you get the bill.
@Patty: only one, Hun.
@Patty: only one, Hun.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 11/17/09 at 09:39 AM
that sound fair expat. in the story i think the amusement park should foot the bill. their equipment malfunctioned and they did not rescue the people in a timely manner. also even though they did not call for help, they allowed the fire dept. to handle the rescue. the amusement park owners are jerks.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 11/17/09 at 03:10 PM
I only notice the one typo, unless you're counting those added in the comments, intentionally or otherwise ^_^
Posted by jswolf19 in Japan on 11/18/09 at 04:48 AM
no not the comments js, i have a hard enough time keeping my posts right.(as evidenced above) fumble fingers, the typist's stutter. 😊
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 11/18/09 at 02:54 PM
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