The Clubs Responsibility?

[Dr Who?]

Now I am not pointing the finger at the club, but just asking the question.

 

I bought tickets for the Walsall game back in November for the December fixture. The original date was 18th December and was called off. This is fine and I phoned the club to explain that I would not know to pretty much up to the date of the rearranged fixture (1st March) if I would be able to go or not. I was told this would be fine and if I could not go just return the un-used tickets to the ticket office.

 

The day before the game I found out that I could not go to the game due to work commitments, and I phoned the club again, and they told me to return the tickets to Southampton Football Club ticket office. This I did and popped it in the post that evening. I get a letter back on Saturday morning with the said tickets and a letter. The letter says the below.

 

'Please find enclosed your tickets for the Walsall game which was played on 1st March 2011. As we received the tickets after the game had been played we unfortunately cannot refund them. This is due to us already settling the reconciliation with the club, to apply for a refund for the match tickets you will have to contact Walsall directly. Sorry for the inconvenience this may cause'.

 

Ok this is a fair point I can see where Southampton FC are coming from with the reply. But I was told that I could send them back at ANY point as long as they were not used. I even phoned the day before and was told to return them to SFC. Did they think they were going to get there the same day? Also the contract is surely between me and SFC and not Walsall the 3rd party? I should get a refund from SFC and they then get this from Walsall?

 

I work for a Fashion wholesale company (Walsall FC in this case) and we ship to retail outlets (Southampton FC in this case) that then sell their goods to customers (me in this case). If these items come back faulty the customer get a refund from the retail store (Southampton FC), and then we credit the store as the wholesale company (Walsall FC).

 

I am sorry and it is only over a couple of tickets, but I think the club are wrong to bounce this back to me to contact Walsall, as I am a SFC supporter, who I have not had any dealings with in the transaction. It wastes my time and I am sure they are going to come back to me and not refund, so I will then take it to the football league.

 

So keep a look out on watchdog for me!!!

[Glasgow_Saint]

SFC should refund imo

[Barry the Badger]

Do you have the names of the people you spoke to?

 

I would write back explaining what you were told, or email the ticket office.

[Saint_clark]

I can see where they're coming from as they'll have already paid Walsall for the tickets. Have you tried contacting Walsall yet? I have a funny feeling they'll tell you to take it up with SFC again...

[dubai_phil]

Looks like Walsall moved the goal posts.

 

Also before going all watchdoggy, your conversations with the club were on the phone, so I expect you would find that this is more in a discuss with the club in more detail than go down the angry route, and go the written road as in OK I followed your advice but.

 

I know I've been out the UK a long time but I don't think that phone conversations remembered are yet admissable in a "sue you type argument" so negotiation is still your best bet

[Dr Who?]

I did not get the names of the people I spoke to on the phone, and I do this daily as a job when trying to collect payments from customers. You just think that is ok then I will send them back and get a refund. I can see the point of view of SFC, but what I have been told by them as a supporter of SFC I would expect them to refund and then get a refund from Walsall. We are talking £40.00 now what is that to Southampton FC? To me it is a bill or 2. To Walsall it is a dip in the ocean to surely.

 

I do not think Walsall will refund as it does not sit right with me. But all this going backwards and forwards just takes my time. Then even more time to get the point of view of fellow supports lol.

 

I just want my money back for a game that I could not go to (thank god)

[Dr Who?]

Looks like Walsall moved the goal posts.

 

Also before going all watchdoggy, your conversations with the club were on the phone, so I expect you would find that this is more in a discuss with the club in more detail than go down the angry route, and go the written road as in OK I followed your advice but.

 

I know I've been out the UK a long time but I don't think that phone conversations remembered are yet admissable in a "sue you type argument" so negotiation is still your best bet

 

I was not serious about that point. If Walsall do not refund I will go back to Southampton FC with the letter I get from them. Then take it from there. But it could just drag out!

[Charlie Wayman]

I've always found the Club to be most helpful on such issues... so what haven't you told us in your hard luck story?

[John D]

Sounds like SFC should have been clearer with you. I had to return Hartlepool tickets and the woman in the ticket office made it very clear it was up to me to make sure they received them before game.

[thesaint sfc]

If you were told that and have their names SFC should 100% pay. You've been told wrong information by the people who should know that information. It's not like its a difficult complicated scenario! You've 100% done the right thing and certainly shouldn't feel bad reclaiming your money from them - it's definitely their fault.

[Window Cleaner]

Personally I think you will have quite a lot of difficulty in getting your money back,I'd think you'll need the original post-marked envelope back from Saints to have any chance whatsoever.

[Barry the Badger]

I would honestly just write a quick email to the ticket office. They're normally very good at responding. I'm 99% sure that if you explain the situation and what you were told they will sort something out.

 

Say that if there is any negotiation to be done with Walsall please could they do it on your behalf, given that the information you received was apparently incorrect.

[Dr Who?]

Not hiding anything, was told if I did not go to the game then to send the tickets back with a cover letter. The last time I was told this was the day before the game.

 

It is an official letter back from the club with the tickets. I do not think the case is that the game has been and gone and they got the tickets the day after the game, but the fact that they have paid Walsall and the books have been closed.

 

I have never had a problem with the ticket office before. If I had know back in December that it would be so much trouble to get the money back I would have sent them back at the time and just said I could not go, but I wanted to go and support Southampton so had to wait until the last minute. I made this very clear on the phone.