Burger King apologises over price dispute, withdraws trespass notice

Friday, 29 March 2019

Burger King has admitted it was in the wrong over a price dispute at the chain's Timaru restaurant which saw a man trespassed for two years on Thursday.

Antares Restaurant Group Ltd general manager marketing James Woodbridge said Burger King wished to apologise to Timaru man David Eymael following the incident on Thursday morning.

Eymael was slapped with a two-year trespass notice by police after placing an order for his favourite bacon and egg muffin and ending up in a dispute with staff over its price.

David Eymael is pleased he will be able to order his beloved bacon and egg muffin from the Timaru Burger King after the trespass notice was withdrawn.

Eymael said he expected to pay the $5.40 price he saw advertised on a board at the entrance to the drive-thru. When staff tried to charge him an extra 30c he refused to pay and said he would only pay the amount advertised.

David Eymael who refused to pay 30c more than advertised price has had an apology from Burger King.

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Police were called and he was issued with a two-year ban from the premises.

On Thursday, a Burger King Timaru spokesman confirmed the price of the muffin had increased from $5.40 to $5.70 and while he was not on site at the time he told Stuff he had personally changed the signage to include the new price the previous day.

However, on Friday the chain acknowledged it had in fact been in the wrong and the signage had not been changed.

'Burger King would like to apologise to the customer, Mr David Eymael. Upon further investigation, BK acknowledges the mistake was made at our end by not changing our menuboard price as quickly as we should have,' Woodbridge said,

'As a result we have spoken to and will be sending a written apology to Mr Eymael.'

Woodbridge said Burger King would be withdrawing the trespass notice and 'sincerely apologise for the unnecessary stress caused'.

Eymael said he was happy he would now be able to purchase his beloved bacon and egg muffin again.

'It's great that they've owned up to the mistake but it should have never happened in the first place.

'They're going to give me a letter of apology in writing … they may reimburse me in some way, I don't know.'