4 days ago
Dad 'fuming' and kids left in tears over four 99 cones at ice cream van
He said prices were displayed in minuscule writing on an A4-sized card, and he didn't realise cost until it was time to pay.
A dad has hit out after being charged £20 for four ice creams. Frank Krzyzanowski was left incensed at the price of the sweet treats during the cost of living crisis.
The 38-year-old treated his family to the cones from a Royd Ices van earlier this week. And he said his "heart sank" when the price flashed up on the card reader.
Manchester Evening News reports he bought the cones for his partner Asya, 30, and his three children - daughter Aneta, 16, and sons Frank Jr, eight, and nine-month-old Adrian.
Manchester Evening News reports he bought the cones for his partner Asya, 30, and his three children - daughter Aneta, 16, and sons Frank Jr, eight, and nine-month-old Adrian.
Frank said when he first approached the van in the Lancashire town, he spotted the menu but the prices were displayed in minuscule writing on an A4-sized card.
Frank explained that it was only after he went to pay that he realised the financial cost he was about to feel and how much it reminded him of the cost of living crisis.
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He said: "Families are being charged up to £4.50 for a basic cone. It's extortionate for a public park especially when cash is refused as it's card only, so kids with pocket money can't even buy one."
Speaking of the incident, which took place in Burnley, Lancashire, on Monday, August 4, 2025, he said: "It's embarrassing seeing kids cry because parents can't justify paying £15 to £18 for a round of ice creams.
"I ordered four standard 99 cones with a flake and sauce. It wasn't until the card machine flashed up the total that I realised how steep the price was. My heart sank.
'There was only a small A4 sign with prices. It's still ridiculous. I was too embarrassed to say anything, with my kids already holding the cone, so I just paid, but inside I was fuming. It wasn't about the money, it was the principle.'
Frank added: 'You feel trapped. You're standing there with your children, the ice creams are already made, and suddenly you're cornered into paying extortionate prices in a public park. It's humiliating and feels like you're being taken advantage of.'
'Local families are being exploited in a cost of living crisis. The park's café doesn't sell ice creams so there are no cheaper options. It's a blatant scam hidden in plain sight and families are being forced into it because there's no alternative."
A spokesperson for Royd Ices said: "We are already aware of this complaint and have been in contact with the local authority. We are very aware of the social and economic impact on the public at this moment in time.
"At this location we offer a wide and varied range of products available to suit a range of budgets. Transparency is key to our retail operations and like many other retail outlets our prices are on display at the serving counter/display cabinet.
"Burnley Borough Council have a very strict consumer pricing policy which is very fair to the general public, which we completely adhere to." Burnley Borough Council have been contacted for comment.
