# Toilet code? Is that what I think it is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315 "2020-02-01T00:11:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/1 "2020-02-01T00:11:32Z")
I do some transcribing of secret shopper receipts, and this is exactly what was on the bottom of a British receipt. Is this the modern version of a pay toilet, most likely to keep unsavory characters and illegal activity out of the restrooms? Has anyone else ever seen anything like this? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/2 "2020-02-01T00:14:05Z")
I’ve never seen it, but I imagine the customer toilet is secured with some sort of combination lock, for which you can only get the code by buying something, whereupon it is printed for you on the receipt. The purpose being, as you say, to keep non customers from using, or perhaps abusing, the facilities. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/3 "2020-02-01T00:16:03Z")
Makes sense, kind of like the wi-fi password. ---
**Author:** ![KCB615](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@KCB615](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KCB615)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/4 "2020-02-01T00:16:20Z")
I have seen that exact thing in use in a coffee shop in Boston. And it was indeed the combination for the keypad lock on the restroom door. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/5 "2020-02-01T00:17:53Z")
I’ve encountered it in fast food places in some other European countries (Greece, namely). Yes, it’s a code to get into the restroom. I took it to be essentially a way of enforcing the “Restroom is for customers only” rule. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/6 "2020-02-01T00:18:42Z")
The problem with that reasoning is, while certainly many cafes and restaurants and pubs stipulate that the toilets are for customers only, why would I get a receipt before I actually pay for my coffee or beer or meal? ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/7 "2020-02-01T00:23:53Z")
The only places I encountered it were fast food places. So pretty much the first thing you would do would be go to the counter and order and pay for food, at which point you would receive a receipt. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/8 "2020-02-01T00:59:16Z")
What are you all talking about? Is there a link missing? _What_ exactly was on the bottom of a British receipt? ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/9 "2020-02-01T01:03:16Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > What are you all talking about? Is there a link missing? _What_ exactly was on the bottom of a British receipt? I’ve seen this on receipts. The bottom of the receipt has a printed line: “Toilet code 51912” or some such. I more commonly see “WiFi password: customerssuck123”. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/10 "2020-02-01T01:04:13Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Makes sense, kind of like the wi-fi password. call it the Wee-Fee ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/11 "2020-02-01T01:06:11Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > What are you all talking about? Is there a link missing? _What_ exactly was on the bottom of a British receipt? The words “Toilet Code.” ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/12 "2020-02-01T02:26:27Z")
I’ve seen toilet codes for hotels in Europe. There’s no receipt but you need to ask the front desk for the code. The better systems use keyless locks where you just need to wave your room key card to open. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/13 "2020-02-01T02:31:31Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > What are you all talking about? Is there a link missing? _What_ exactly was on the bottom of a British receipt? “God Save The Queen” Duh. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/14 "2020-02-01T02:36:19Z")
Oregon Safeway stores employ a combo lock and the one down the street from me, at least, uses the zip code of the Safeway corporate headquarters which seem to be somewhere in Calfornia. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/15 "2020-02-01T03:01:35Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “God Save The Queen” “Keep Calm and Carry On. Here’s Your Toilet Code” ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/16 "2020-02-01T03:23:54Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Oregon Safeway stores employ a combo lock and the one down the street from me, at least, uses the zip code of the Safeway corporate headquarters which seem to be somewhere in Calfornia. 94588? Safeway HQ is in Pleasanton CA, and I wish the stores around here would use that. Some of the nastiest restrooms I’ve ever seen were at grocery stores. I expect BART (transit) restrooms to be terrible, and so far, they haven’t surprised me, but restrooms at the place where the neighborhood gets its food? Ugh… ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/17 "2020-02-01T03:33:55Z")
That might be it, it’s definitely a 9-something zip code but lower than the 97-something codes for Oregon. And I agree, grocery store toilets do tend to be on the skanky side, notable exceptions being most Fred Meyer’s and Costco, which tend to be quite clean and unobjectionable. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/18 "2020-02-01T03:35:24Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > I’ve never seen it, but I imagine the customer toilet is secured with some sort of combination lock, for which you can only get the code by buying something, whereupon it is printed for you on the receipt. The purpose being, as you say, to keep non customers from using, or perhaps abusing, the facilities. Actually there’s an even more important purpose that only a handful of people know. Every customer receipt has a different password which is matched to a lab analysis of the “offerings” left by the customer in the loo. This analysis is then sold to marketers which then send “curated” coupons, offers, and ads to you based on trace chemicals found in your waste that indicate what foods, beverages, medicines, beverages, and household products are used by you and your household. Cheeky marketing wankers! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/19 "2020-02-01T03:52:59Z")
I would think a toilet code would be made up of only number ones and number twos. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315/20 "2020-02-01T04:07:06Z")
Limited access bathrooms are more common than not in Seattle, especially since a lot of restaurants or stores share bathrooms. However, I never see them actually on the receipt, you just ask the cashier. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-code-is-that-what-i-think-it-is/847315.md?page=2)