Getting disillusioned by Clubs Ticketing policies.

[Lordeffingham]

I am a lifelong City fan, living in Greater Manchester since 1961, have been a season ticket holder for most of my life, as have my family since the 1920's. I try to get to as many games as I can.

After all the recent website problems and being unable to purchase any tickets online, I rang the number given on the site to purchase tickets.

I can now state that I am sick and tired of the modern day, non club based ticket sales situation, and find it ridiculous that having made 4 calls to try to get 3 tickets for Thursdays game, I seem to be banging my head against some corporate brick wall, the personal caring approach looks to me like a thing of the past.

I anticipate a probable poor attendance generally, on Thursday, and find it difficult to understand why in an age when the risk of any hooligan or terrorist threat must be at an all time low, the Club retains such a ridiculously stringent stance to buying tickets to a relatively mediocre game, that is in any event to be shown live on TV.

I usually take my nephew to the game but as he was unable to make it, and not wanting to go alone (as my own third tier seat was unavailable), I asked my neice and her friend, if they would like to go. both said they would and were really looking forward to it (both are in their 20's, by the way).

I made innitial enquiries on Saturday, but was told I needed both their full names, dates of birth, adresses with post codes and their city card membership numbers. I said I'd try to find out all the information and ring back.

I rang again on Tuesday, but even with the details required was told by the call centre (after a 25 minute conversation), they couldn't verify some of the details and therefore would not sell me the 3 tickets at £15 each, plus a £2 booking fee each. I asked to speak to a supervisor, who informed me the staff member was correct in declining me any tickets and was acting on the instructions of the club. She further stated that they were a call centre and not the club, so there was no more they could do for me. I asked if they had a number for the ticket office at the club, and she gave me one.

This morning I rang to see if the matter could be resolved, but having waited 21 minutes on an automated queue, I gave up and hung up.

I dare say I am not the only one struggling with this kind of problem and was about to ring a friend of mine, Mike Summerbee, who I know would certainly offer me some free tickets, because that's the kind of great guy he is, but didn't want to mither him to be honest over such a trivial matter.

Never want to moan about City, they have always been so great as a Club, in their treatment of fans and friends, but fear this is likely to become the norm and absolutely hate the fact our Club would appear to be on the verge of replicating the Manure in their way of treating loyal supporters.

I actually feel like saying "bollox, let's save the petrol and parking money, stay warm and dry and watch it on my own TV in the comfort of my own home", but though this is the most likely conclusion, I'm not happy and can't understand why they seem to be prepared to lose money, reputation and support in this way?

By the way, I've now put my tin hat on.

 

[johnmc]

Go to the ground on the day - oh wait thats another £5.

I appreicate that they want to get a view on the attendence prior to the game for policing and stewarding issues but maybe this can be relaxed when the away fans are likely to be in the tens rather than thousands

 

[Blue-Eyes]

Go to the ground on the day - oh wait thats another £5

Which is cheaper than paying £2 each booking fee.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Go to the ground on the day - oh wait thats another £5

Saves you the 2 pound booking fee though? So only an extra 3 quid...

 

[Lordeffingham]

To be honest, am not sure there would be any chance of getting 3 seats close to each other, and am so cheesed of am going to forget it and stay away now.

 

[pattym]

Bought three tickets over the phone yesterday, one for an (Evertonian) non access card holder, found the guy on the other end of the phone, polite, friendly and very helpful. SO no complaints from me.

 

[pedigreeblue]

It does often seem to be who you get on the other end of the phone and if they are willing to go that extra mile.. I do wonder how many people gave up trying to buy tckts for the Liverpool game. I know people will come back saying its easy to buy tckts, just do this and do that, but i have spoke to countless people over the last couple of years who simply gave up trying to buy one, i'm not talking about the regulars, i'm talking those that can perhaps just afford the odd game and say want to take the kids. Seems it is easier to board a plane than get in the ground sometimes.

 

[Blue-Eyes]

To be fair to the club and the agents they use, the stringent rules aren't just counter hooligan and terrorism.
By not letting every Tom, Dick and Harry buy a ticket they are significantly reducing the amount of tickets which will find their way into the hands of touts (I know it doesn't stop it as touts can have more than one Citicard/Access Card but it makes it harder for them).

On that basis I applaude this stance as genuine fans looking to buy match tickets for say Chelsea/United/Arsenal aren't being held to randsom as all the tickets have been sold to touts, who inturn will charge £100 a piece.

 

[gazeth]

Send your post in an email to Danny Wilson, I'm sure that this would be covered under the supporters experience umbrella. The dealings that I have had with him recently to do with my season ticket have been excellent.

 

[bluefandk]

Whilst I admit the ticketing system at City still needs improving, it has tbf improved a lot over the years.

Back in the day it used to be a nightmare getting tickets as a foreign fan, now at least the os works most of the time and if you have to ring the ticket office you could get lucky and get somebody on who gives a fuck, that has not always been the case.