Before the thread police jump on this as a thread about tickets and thus may not be the right place to be; I wanted to put it here so it gets a wider audience as would welcome some advice.
There is probably very little I can do about this but wanted to see what others thought before I proceed.
Basically I have sat at the back of the South Stand for a good 10 years now and have great seats - I was lucky to get them from some other people who stopped going but told me - so moved from the Kop.
Today, I got a letter (which I will attach) from the club basically saying my (mine and my uncles) seats do not exist anymore. They have had to get rid of them to extend the press box at the back of the stand due to the demands of the premier league. I am guessing this will affect probably 100 or so seats, as there is a row behind me nearer the press box (very back row) and also maybe 50 seats on that one and 50 on ours.
They have said they have had to re-locate me. They have not rang me, asked to speak about what my options are. They have sent me a letter saying we have been moved to the Upper Tier in the Westfield Stand in the corner. They claim these are excellent seats and have moved all our section together to keep with the community spirit.
The letter then goes on to offer me recompsense in terms of the difference between the two prices and a voucher for £50 for the shop (what my 75 year old Uncle would want from the Shop I am not sure!). As an aside my uncle has recently been diagnosed with cancer and is battling that - so no idea in terms of additional steps he has to climb to get in the Westfield corner
To say I am angry is an understatment. In affect I have lost great seats I have had for a long time and will never have them again. I meet other people in that stand pre game and half time and I would not be able to do that anymore. Yes, I understand the situation but to me they have not even tried to have any dialogue with us - just sent a letter as if to say tough get on with it.
They have said I can discuss other seats available but have said there is basically nothing suitable in the stand we were in (in affect they have sold them all - the better seats) so we are left with vastly inferior seats in another stand - so no longer side on view which is what I like - it's not about the money really - although simply knocking off the small price difference - they said they will pay this back in due course - is not really enough compensation.
I am not going to go all silly and talk about trades description act etc but this is frankly appalling customer service. At best they should have contated us and asked us to go and discuss us with the ticket office manager or someone at the club and allowed us to look at other seats - they have simply bunged us somewhere else. They say we can discuss seats but there will be sod all left now.
I have attached the letter but wonder what other peoples thoughts would be a) if it happened to them b) what they would do about it
End of rant. Sorry know most people may think its a small thing and say at least you are still going but I wonder how others would feel if they were moved seats and stands. It has annoyed me - takes us all this time to get back to the top flight; I buy my seats/season tickets and then basically what I believe I have bought has now radically changed.
Hi Deadbat,
You have my sympathy. My advice: I would send any correspondence via email or letter addressed to both Bettis and the ticket office manager. A paper trail is vital. This should be done before any meeting takes place, ideally, as you want a written response to the grievances and communication of the resolution you would like to see before any meeting to thrash outa resolution. An oral response isn't sufficient, as you're relying on the individual(s) concerned to be as good as their word, and to still be working at the club if/when any resolution is available. None of these is a given. If you attend the meeting first, or future meetings, make it clear you require a written confirmation of any results/agreement from the meeting(s).
Questions I would be asking:
Why weren't seats in every stand ringfenced when promotion became feasible? (most of last season).
Premier league rules re press requirements have been established for some time; SUFC's explanation simply doesn't cut the mustard.Any unneccessarily ringfenced seats, in any stand, could always be sold at a later juncture. The current situation was avoidable.
Why wasn't I given priority over previously unsold South Stand seats, before they were sold out to new season ticket holders?
Why are we being moved when we are long suffering season ticket holders?
Surely it should be last in first out? You have both served your time during fallow times at the club and earned your premium seats; make this very clear!
If none of that results in an acceptable remedy, I would be asking for a cast iron guarantee that the next two seats that
yourself and your uncle (not the club) deem acceptable in the South Stand are made available to yourselves - regardless of timescale. And that your issue is reviewed as a matter of priority every season before unsold season tickets go on sale to non renewers. Once again, a paper trail is absolutely neccessary to make sure the club and individual staff members live up to any promises made. Evidence is needed so you can approach the club in the future.
I would also express my displeasure at the impersonal way this has been handled. Explain your uncle's health issues and how a generic letter doesn't allow for explanation of health issues etc - particularly when being transferred from a stand with easy accessability, to one with stairs and a steep rake.The fact you both didn't get a letter is disgraceful, particularly if you don't live together.
Good luck!
