Been to renew season tickets this morning only to be told the credit card I use every single day elsewhere is void! The signature strip had worn away at one end of the card, but the signature itself was still intact. However both the clerk and the supervisor were making a right performance of trying to check it. Saw red when the supervisor then told me she was well within her rights to cancel the transaction and send me away to get a replacement card. At this point I blew up and told her to do this, but I wouldn't be coming back. She then back-pedalled furiously and asked to check the signature on my debit card instead. I can't remember the last time I had to sign for goods since chip and pin was introduced, so no-one actually looks at the signature any more - except Barnsley FC of course. She went into what sounded like a right load of baloney about why they couldn't have chip and pin (if she's right then no football club who have the Ticketmaster system can). The ironic thing is I could have booked by telephone, fax or email and they wouldn't have seen my card anyway!
On this I agree Its a bloody farce down there. Had the same thing happen last season. **** me, most of the smallest retaillers in tarn have chip and pin FFS? how much does it cost??
Apart from anything else Its not nice to have your card questioned and apparently refused in front of a large queue of people!
I like the irony If your season ticket is stolen or lost then you have to buy a new one because fraud is sucha big problem yet they have left themselves open to fraud by not having chip and pin. What if my business has not yet upgraded to chip and PIN? If you don’t have chip and PIN you may be charged for fraudulent transactions that could have been protected by chip and PIN.
Once happened to me at HMV. They said that my signature wasn't mine despite me having my drivers licence with me which had the signature on and a photo of me.
The club is taking a bit of a risk If a card is used fraudulently the credit card company will not refund any cash to the club. Wouldnt be a problem most places but it seems our club cant check for stolen or lost tickets so presumably they wouldnt be able to find a ticket bought on a duff card either Not surprised that the staff are ultra cautious
I know. I was spitting feathers at the time and had to come away without the tickets. I think the reason is because they have a bespoke ticket booking system that prints out tickets, keeps track of sold seats and is probably linked to the accounting system, databases etc. I guess its probably this system that does not "easilly" interface with Chip & Pin sep up. Not an excuse though.
I dont see how it can be possible for it not to work with it really. All chip and pin is is something that scans cards and authorises a payment automatically , just the same as them checking the signature manually
Yes but... in this case would a person walk into the box office with a stolen VISA card and buy a season ticket with the same persons season ticket application form?
RE: out of interest, what was the reason why they said they couldnt have chip and pin? nt It was something to do with it being incompatible with Ticketmaster's system.
I reckon its because the terminals are really expensive anything upwards of £150 each - and they would need at least 3 http://www.thebarcodewarehouse.co.uk/point-of-sale/chip-and-pin.aspx Have they got chip and pin in the shop?
So what if you want to pay cash? I cant believe the Ticketmaster wont work with Chip and Pin - that just cant be true
Bin there n done that You missed out the condescending attitude. I had to stand in the box office and phone it to use my credit card. Bizarre but true.
Oh yes That's why I was ready to walk and sod the season tickets because of the attitude of the Box Office Supervisor. Everything ends up in confrontation when she gets involved.
Can't quite understand this! Correct me if I'm wrong but... a) the club swipe your credit card first, in which case should it have already been reported lost/stolen, the cc company will return a 'void' code. b) the club then print out a voucher for you to sign and cross-check the signature on that voucher against the one on the back of the credit card. This is essentially a double security check if you like. Presumably the card 'swiped' through ok, and as you say the signature bit was still readable and checkable so, unless the clerk had a 'void' code returned on the swipe, I can see no reason for refusal. If the signature strip is 'damaged' then it is reasonable for the clerk/supervisor to undertake another check on the signature (debit card, driving licence or whatever) as an additional security check. Of course the card could have been 'nicked' and not yet reported as such, but in that scenario the responsibilty falls back onto the card holder and the credit card company. And as you point out, you'd hardly use a stolen card to purchase a season ticket which is traceable! If the card didn't swipe through ok (e,g. the magnetic strip was damaged) then that is a different matter entirely. Chip and Pin is the ultimate answer needless to say, and they have it in the club shop. Why on earth it isn't available to the Box Office only BFC can answer. Ultimately it's yet another case of poor customer service.