[Albion] Club selling your seat, is this right?

[chaileyjem]

Stupid to contest it? Even if you’ve a genuine reason?

Yes. The club are very clear that if you have reasons for non attendance like this you should contact them. Both anecdotally (there's multiple examples of NSC where this has been resolved happily) , , but it also says it in the new T's and C's for 25/26.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

There's one example. The OP on this thread and his friend who had his ticket listed after non attendance. And the details aren't clear but it sounds like a real comms break down. Either way the user is back attending matches. Has it happened to anyone else ?

Email reminders or even surveys asking people about non attendance and reminding users they can share tickets, or list them on the exchange - with as far as we know - no caution if ignored - seem just standard stuff. But all part of their active campaign ahead of next season . And as some have pointed out - have had some impact on filling seats.

I get the standard threatening email - "don't you dare" share your away ticket - every time i go to away matches. Nearly every week. I just ignore it.

I gave another example from the Supporters Club newsletter, where a fan was accused of buying an away ticket, and not attending.
He had, but his ticket hadn’t scanned properly but he still got the ‘telling off’ email and had to prove he had actually gone to the game.

 

[chaileyjem]

completely this. I was hospitalised a while back, last thing on my mind was to put the ticket (which I pay for) on the exchange.

Of course but we've loads of evidence on these threads and others that the club do talk to users that have serious illnesses and will go out of their way resolve issues like non attendance, mobility , moving tickets and show leeway. (its also in the T's and C's).

 

[Talby]

Yes. The club are very clear that if you have reasons for non attendance like this you should contact them. Both anecdotally (there's multiple examples of NSC where this has been resolved happily) , , but it also says it in the new T's and C's for 25/26.

Do you work for the Club? I only ask because every time someone raises anything that brings the Club into disrepute you take their side.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Of course but we've loads of evidence on these threads and others that the club do talk to users that have serious illnesses and will go out of their way resolve issues like non attendance, mobility , moving tickets and show leeway. (its also in the T's and C's).

I am registered disabled with the club. It made no difference last October.

 

[amexer]

What do you do if you’re too sick to go work? Wait a few days until you’ve recovered enough to able to call them?

Am sure most are employed because they are needed and notyfying an employer will be given priority over missing a football match.

 

[chaileyjem]

I gave another example from the Supporters Club newsletter, where a fan was accused of buying an away ticket, and not attending.
He had, but his ticket hadn’t scanned properly but he still got the ‘telling off’ email and had to prove he had actually gone to the game.

Yes. Understood. Just wanted to - for balance - say This thread is 26 pages long now and we've had one example emerge of a user being denied entry to the Albion for non attendance. He is now attending again and it appears it was a comms breakdown. There are also a 2-3 i think other examples (or friends of NSC users) of understandably strong reactions to emails requesting information, or an email getting info wrong or reminding users of the clubs terms. The club make mistakes from time to time. I'd be upset if it was me.

I've also shared the most recent thread about Supporter Services where there were 23 different users praising the work they do, their flexibility , and going out of their way to resolve ticketing issues, fans with illness or mobility issues, or fixing issues if there had initially been mistakes.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I think the suggestion is that if you inform the club of an illness or disability, then your account would get flagged requiring an extra layer of checking/manual intervention before the snotty email is sent

I can vouch for this.

My eldest has social anxiety issues and was diagnosed with ASD and ADHD this year so has rarely attended games. We have listed where I have known he can’t / won’t go (ie late evening mid week games) but he often had a moment before we leave the house so would stay home and I’d still go.

Anyway we got the shitty blunt email which at the time I wasn’t particularly happy about considering he wasn’t breaching any T&C’s (the 25% rule is applied at the end of the season) but I emailed the club to explain the situation and told them to stop emailing him these blunt emails as it was making him more anxious with guilt of not going, hes 10 years old and has enough going on. The emails have since stopped and we haven’t renewed his season ticket as a result.

 

[Talby]

What do you do if you’re too sick to go work? Wait a few days until you’ve recovered enough to able to call them?

We give our money to the club, not the other way round.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Am sure most are employed because they are needed and notyfying an employer will be given priority over missing a football match.

Well there you go, it’s about priorities. That’s life.

 

[chaileyjem]

Do you work for the Club? I only ask because every time someone raises anything that brings the Club into disrepute you take their side.

Could you let perhaps remind them because i was pretty pissed off i didn't get a Brentford away ticket for my son the other day.

PS: you are allowed defend the club on NSC - my experience of supporters services and ticketing with my OAP Dad when he was ill was a particularly good one - without being accused of doing it purely for ££.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

We give our money to the club, not the other way round.

Hmmmm. I’d argue the discount you obtain from a season ticket is the club giving something back due to your commitment. Commitment being the key word here.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I do wonder if the issue around missing 25%+ of games a season has actually been a condition for ST renewal for some time - but the club just haven’t focused on it until this season.

The 25% clause was in the T&Cs for the 24-25 season. For the 25-26 season they've added more to the T&C's with the new clause that the seat has to be used for 75% games in addition to the holder having to attend 25% of games in person (at the time the renewal period starts).

They've also added the clause about listing the ticket on the exchange before 2pm the previous day for it to count towards the T&Cs for attendance. The current seasons T&Cs state that tickets shared or listed on the exchange do not count towards the attendance of the Season Ticket holder.

 

[PascalGroß Tips]

The 25% clause was in the T&Cs for the 24-25 season. For the 25-26 season they've added more to the T&C's with the new clause that the seat has to be used for 75% games in addition to the holder having to attend 25% of games in person (at the time the renewal period starts).

They've also added the clause about listing the ticket on the exchange before 2pm the previous day for it to count towards the T&Cs for attendance. The current seasons T&Cs state that tickets shared or listed on the exchange do not count towards the attendance of the Season Ticket holder.

Yes, I'm aware of all that for 25/26 as the club have been very clear about what is expected. People can choose to accept - or not.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

. Some are suggesting it’s about money and greed. I just think they want the stadium to be as full as possible.



.

If all they wanted was a full stadium allow st holders to register one reserve for free.

 

[PascalGroß Tips]

If all they wanted was a full stadium allow st holders to register one reserve for free.

But you can effectively do that by transferring your ticket to someone on your F&F list. Just put that other person on there. I’ve done that with my sons.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

No need for me to write this but I will.

Not now but a few years ago. My son suffers anxiety issues. we get to football he can't go in. We leave.

Why the f*** should I have to tell the club my son has these issues it has the square root of f*** all to do with them. As a parent I will protect him.

That's awful. I hope your son's anxiety issues start to abate.

But I'd be inclined to let the club know.

Firstly, because there clearly is an issue with people having season tickets and not making their seat available if they cant attend. You patently have a reason why you might not be able to attend at short notice, but the outcome (two empty seats) on the face of it is indististinguishable from someone choosing not to go.

Secondly, because our club really does care about supporters. It clearly does, time and again. They might be able to help you, or your son. There might be things they can do to help him feel less anxious coming to games. My experience is that they go above and beyond when they are made aware of issues.

You shouldn't have to tell them. You don't have to. But it could help and I'm sure they would want to.

Good luck with this. Its tough being a parent.

 

[Wozza]

For balance, I think we need to hear from season ticket holders gaming the system.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I can vouch for this.

My eldest has social anxiety issues and was diagnosed with ASD and ADHD this year so has rarely attended games. We have listed where I have known he can’t / won’t go (ie late evening mid week games) but he often had a moment before we leave the house so would stay home and I’d still go.

Anyway we got the shitty blunt email which at the time I wasn’t particularly happy about considering he wasn’t breaching any T&C’s (the 25% rule is applied at the end of the season) but I emailed the club to explain the situation and told them to stop emailing him these blunt emails as it was making him more anxious with guilt of not going, hes 10 years old and has enough going on. The emails have since stopped and we haven’t renewed his season ticket as a result.

That’s a real shame, and I can understand why. I wonder if that’s why the renewal rate is 93% this year instead of the 96% in previous years.
There are décent ways of contacting fans and the way the club has done it.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Hmmmm. I’d argue the discount you obtain from a season ticket is the club giving something back due to your commitment. Commitment being the key word here.

Talby said in post 519 that he was hospitalised and yet you’re lecturing him on commitment?