1 Jan, 2018 → by ClaimboUser49292
Theft/Injury/Negligent Employees

1

On exiting the park, I was pushed to the ground, injured & nearly trampled as the crowd was fast moving & out of control (it was announced that the lockers would be inaccessible after 10PM). No effort was made by Universal to have people exit calmly--they just stood around and watched. No one would assist me. I went to guest services for help--I wanted a refund for the remaining 2 of 3 days I prepaid for (I checked in at guest services when I arrived & was assured if I was unable to return due to health issues, I would get a full refund). They only refunded $84 for 2 days of passes--3 days cost me $335. The worst experience was when I asked for help getting my possessions out of a locker at the neighboring park entrance...Universal has 2 entrances. I was barely able to walk. They said they couldn't provide a wheelchair or any assistance. They told me to walk outside the park to the security offices--after the park had just closed. Security has no offices outside the park entrance. I had to stand outside screaming for 5 min before someone came to help me. This was 10 min after the park closed. I just wanted to get my bag--it contained my medication & camera equipment, and an extra jacket (too heavy to carry & I was scared of theft--wanted my valuables protected). I was told security had already "swept" the lockers & my things would be in "lost & found". More walking super slow, unstable, hurting & limping--with no offer to help me or get a wheelchair. There were no bags turned into lost & found. They gave me a form to fill out & list my losses. I just wanted to check the locker myself & be sure it was empty--I was not allowed. I gave them my locker # and they assured me the locker was empty. Since the lockers either use a special code or fingerprint, it seemed impossible that it was a random theft--the only people with access are the employees. I wanted to file a police report--over the next hour & 45 min I kept asking for the police--they never called the police & kept ignoring me as I sat on the ground crying. There were no chairs, no one offered me a seat or a tissue or water--nothing. They were cold & uncaring. They stood around me--just staring at me, detached, as if I was their nightly entertainment. Horrible experience is an understatement. I explained the value of my missing possessions, mainly the daily maintenance medication I require, something I have to take at scheduled intervals w/o exception (stopping it suddenly is life threatening), it is also extremely hard to find (allergic to all but one brand), it is a schedule II, very tightly regulated & very expensive--any loss or theft needs to be reported to the police. A Dr. can't just call it into a pharmacy, it requires a hard copy, and it needs to be filled in the state it was prescribed--my Dr. can't write a new prescription due to loss or theft--unless I have a police report. I asked for the police to be called more than 6 times--but Universal guest services & the security guards never called. They refused to call the police. My phone was dead & I couldn't call anyone for help. Not calling the police when the loss is over $5000, and the strongest opiate medication available has been stolen--is confusing & inexcusable--it makes me question their intentions. I take the medication for cancer pain management, the medication (especially at the dose I'm prescribed) is lethal to anyone who isn't acclimated to it, it also has a high street value--reasons which make it desirable for thieves, but make it even more difficult for patients who need their medication replaced. I've been planing a trip to Cuba since August, had made special arrangements for mediation, transportation, visa's etc., it was more involved than I could ever explain here--but having my medication gone, meant cancelling the trip & flying home--losing over $5, 000 on the trip & another $5000 for the camera equip & medication. All of that plus my husband finally has 2 weeks vacation this year & it would be wasted, xmas ruined--all because of Universal. With all of this on my mind, plus the severe pain & no access to my medication--I was crying uncontrollably--for almost 2 hrs. Not once did any of the Universal employees standing around me offer to help. Only thing they did was hand me a form & pen to list my losses. They never called the police, never offered tissues or water or to call someone for me--it was late, I was cold, I felt ganged up on & abused on top of injury--I was beyond upset. I had given them the locker # at the beginning--and gave it again several times during the night. It took them an hour & 45 min to "find" my bag in the locker where I had left it--and give it to me--but not so simply. I had given a description of the bag & contents--plus my name was on the medication & it was in the locker # I gave them. The "head" security guy still wouldn't give me my bag--he wanted additional proof that it was mine. It was unbelievable. I still can't believe the way they treated me. So, did the "security" employees who claimed they checked every locker & "swept" them--did they lie? When they rechecked & it still wasn't there--was that a lie? Why not call the police? When I didn't back down or accept what they said--how did they just happen to "find" my bag then? Not saying the Universal employees are stealing the guest's valuables--but it sure makes me wonder... And there is no excuse for how I was treated... Having a large group of people supposed to be helping you & instead they surround you & are seemingly entertained by your suffering--it's extremely traumatizing. I haven't been able to leave my hotel since last night. I could never have anticipated treatment like this--especially from a company with a reputation like Universal. Now I am completely distrustful of Universal & I am terrified to go back to the park. All the trauma I endured was completely avoidable--none of it needed to happen. My injury was directly due to poor crowd control & misinformation--telling people they would not be able to access their lockers after 10PM was a lie & caused a panic of people racing to the lockers/exits. Last night's events never should have happened. An apology would have been appropriate, but it never occurred. I will discuss this with family when I get home & Xmas if I will take legal action against Universal. What they did to me is unforgivable and my current inability to go out & leave my hotel is directly due to what they did to me--I'm still scared. I can't imagine being near park employees or going back there. I am traumatized. No idea how long something like this lasts, but the experience & feelings it brings up are paralyzing. The people that did this to me should not be in a position to hurt others--yet they still have jobs at Universal & could be hurting someone else tonight--and the tomorrow night, etc. One last bit--I asked for the video of the locker area to be reviewed when they were still claiming my items were stolen--but there is no video--according to the security employees. I don't know if the video works or not--or if it was just another lie in order to protect themselves. Bottom line, you can't trust Universal, and you definitely shouldn't trust their employees. If you do have items missing (many people came to guest services wanting to report losses--they were brushed off & no one filed a report. The best advice I can give is to not accept what they say & if it is valuable or important to you--stand your ground & insist on filing a police report, the culprit may be the Universal security agent helping you--and the bigger fuss you make, the better odds of recovery.
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