£5 Charge for a lost ticket? Is the club ripping off the fans?

My dad lost his season ticket a few weeks ago. They wont do anything, he has to buy tickets for the rest of the season. So that point is irrelevant.

 

I lost mine and was quite happy to pay the £5 fee. The Box Office staff were exceedingly helpful, friendly and pleasant. I can only assume that some people act aggressively with the Office Staff, and in turn get some of their own medicine. Back in the pre-East Stand days (1988) I'd left my season ticket in Scotland, informed the office, and Michael Spinks escourted me to the turnstile and told the operator to let me through. Those were the days!

 

didn't know that facility existed

god forbid i'd ever forget my season ticket, but if I did, I'd have gone and bought a full price ticket</p>

 

RE: No they didn't

They must have let me off with the charge then when I forgot it last season, because I wasn't charged then.

 

Aren't you the clever one

Everybody can forget things and if it's a one-off there should be no charge. I've forgotten mine once. Was only in the car but I'd parked in tarn and it was 10 to 3. Might as well have gone back for it as they pissed me around for 20 minutes and I missed the Kick Off anyway. Had to pay £2 at that time - £5 is taking advantage imho.

 

agree with that mate

never had a problem with them. went in on sat and she was giving us a funny look had just had some people in trying to get tickets for the game she looked like she expected us to ask the same. then &quot;two tickets for plymouth please&quot; she looked shocked to say the least. but always found them polite and helpful myself.
</p>

 

See they aren't as bad as everyone makes out

Read Harrow Tykes reason as to why they charge and you won't feel quite so ripped off.

Everyone in this thread has slated the club, but the reason they do it is because people take the piss and get a replacement while someone else uses their ticket. It's not the clubs fault that happens.

 

Still laughing at you now, you only watched the 1st half !! you spent the 2nd half watchin it on on the telly with me having a pint or 2.....(pint) (pint) (pint) (pint) (pint)

 

'fiesty'??

Hahaha....rubbish....inexcusable error...etc etc..</p>

dumbell300</p>

 

RE: See they aren't as bad as everyone makes out

Quite on the contrary, my view is based on direct experience.

Whilst I wasn't charged £5 admin the first time, I was told by the box office that I could just pay on the gate and return with the ticket and my unused stub to collect a refund. Which, when I returned 2 weeks later, led to a lady in the box office calling me a liar in front of a queue of people. I got my refund after writing to Peter Ridsdale.

As for abuse of the system, all the club needs to do is check the stub is still in place wehn returned - if it isn't then they've identified a breach in ST conditions and can revoke it.

At the end of the day they're charging £5 to give you a piece of paper whilst they hold your cash in an envelope. That doesn't cost £5 to administer, and though I take the point that it is a deterrent to forgetting, it is far more than the processing cost and (as banks are now finding) is thus against the law, let alone my personal viewpoint.

I'm not 'slating' the club but I stand by the point that this particular charge is in place purely to cash in on the fans and I do have some extremely negative experiences with the box office to go alongside plenty of excellent ones.

 

I know ......That's why the £5 hurts even more!

 

Thanks for everyones views, after reading your responses ....

Here's a view of my thoughts now:

1. On the customer service side of things I do know that prior to me getting to the box office the staff had received some serious hassle with foul and abusive language ....UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THEY EVER HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS!! NO EXUSES!

2. I didn't particulary receive poor customer service on either visit (Contrary the latter vist was exceptionally good) it was another guy who was in the office at the time ..... He was on the receiving end of the fiesty blonde but he wasn't one who had been abusive or troublesome .....What he received as a customer was both un-warranted and one of the worst cases of customer service I have ever witnessed in my life! (And I have worked in retail for 20 years!)Once again I have to say ..NO EXCUSES.

3. With regards to fans abusing the lost ticket and letting friends use their season ticket, this argument doesn't stack up, the club asks for proof of ID to obtain the duplicate ticket and then requires the corresponding ticket from your season ticket book before you get the refund. (FAIR POLICY!) I would imagine it would also be very easy to check if season tickets were being mis-used in this respect .....As for my circumstances once in 10 years doesn't appear to be abusing the policy?

4. Shaftn Red - I did in fact spend the entire 2nd half with you in the bar watching the match on the tv - this only adds to the argument as had I voted not to spend the additional £5 admin fee the club would have lost out on the additional sales ...i.e. Pie = £2.50, Lager = £500

5. Admin fee - I still can't justify £5 for the 4 minute service ..... Unless the Box office staff all earn around £100 per hour?

6. No matter what happens I'll still be there every Saturday .... shame the club dosn't appear to show the fans the loyalty we show it! See you at Coventry on Saturday!

Interesting views everyone .....Shame the club don't have a spokesman on this forum to put their viewpoint accross.

You Reds!

 

When I forgot mine a couple or years back...

....we got charged a fiver.

But if you went and presented the ticket that you forgot at the box office the week after you got the money back.

That changed?

 

You will NEVER get the club

to admit or acknowledge that it could possibly be wrong in any way shape or form.</p>

It is far too precious and arrogant for that.</p>

The customer is ALWAYS wrong.</p>

 

RE: Thanks for everyones views, after reading your responses ....

think i was stood behind u in the boz office when all that kicked off.
U work for Bill Hills?

 

RE: Thanks for everyones views, after reading your responses ....

Yep that's me, I have to say I felt for the lad in front of me ......He didn't deserve that kind of attitude.

Ah well,

 

i was same tho - left my season ticket in trousers at work

£5 aint bad so you can get in. They could just not let you in. You wouldnt get on a bus without a ticket or money. Still got to get my 15 quid back like.

 

RE: Hang on - so if you lose your season ticket or its stolen

Thats what my dad reckons, and he's been in to see the club about it. Pants isn't it.</p>

I reckon they should scrap the season ticket books, they are a right pain. It should be summat like a membership card, that you can swipe or scan. Then it can fit in your wallet, so no awkward book to carry. if its lost, they can simply cancel the card, and issue a new one (with a charge if needed!). Won't happen in near future though, the card readers will be too expensive to install.
</p>

 

I'm a bit confused as always

Isn't the procedure thatif you forget your season ticket then you go to the box office, pay for a matchday ticket in the same seat and then if your season ticket hasnt been used and/or you can produce the ticket after the game then you get your money back (minus £5)?

If that's the case then I don't see the point of the bus comparison as you would have still had your money to pay the driver, all you're asking for is that money back later when you can prove that you had a ticket that hasnt been used. £2 charge sounds fair to me.