[Albion] ST Direct Debits

[Dick Swiveller]

Here we go.

https://www.directdebit.co.uk/DirectDebitExplained/Pages/Howtoclaim.aspx

Simply contact your bank or building society. They are responsible for refunding the money - even if the original error was made by the organisation collecting the payment. But remember, if you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when the organisation asks you to.

Trust me - we deal with circa 100000 DDs on a monthly basis.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Let's be honest season 20/21 is highly unlikely to see any crowds. It looks like season 21/22 at the earliest and then maybe with limited crowds. So August 2021 therefore what happens to the extra payments made, not seen a home game for nearly 8 months but still paid and what is the long term plan ? This is also one for the government, there is no plan apart from locking down forever until a vaccine is rolled out to over 60% of the population which looks like 2 years minimum if ever found. Then it is also certain to get in or go anywhere you will need a health passport to show you have had the latest vaccination and maybe a daily covid negative test. Coming to terms with the fact life before 2020 is gone and the new normal will be very different

The government's whole plan and rationale is basically everything will be locked down forever to some degree between 3 and 5 with social distancing until and when and if a vaccine is given out to tens of millions of people so I guess the question for the club to ask them is, what is the long term plan and when and if can clubs host capacity crowds again and under what circumstances ?

 

[Eddiespearritt]

My concern about the club sitting on the money of "the customers", and making up the rules as they go along, is that they then hold all the cards, and we the huddled masses of supporters, are relying on them being scrupulously fair about the various possible outcomes.

We missed five games last season - big ones against the real attractions - we've missed four so far this season including League Cup games - and there is little likelihood of returning any time soon. In the event that fans are let in eventually in small numbers, the ballot system suggests that many will regularly be "unlucky". Or is there a guarantee that those who have paid substantial sums in advance will actually be prioritised to be a "lucky winner" in the ballot ? Is there a "your turn next" system ?

Yet the club insists on being paid, and will apply overpayments / credits due to the customer, to future season tickets - which could be arbitrarily much higher next season (for instance), or perhaps for games in the Championship, meaning some won't want to renew.

An added complication is that 1901 members will soon be being asked to renew for another 5 year span - almost certainly at a point when the club holds substantial money that belongs to those individuals, and when no-one has seen a competitive match for 8-9-10 months.

In general I feel very uneasy about passing money over for a product which cannot be guaranteed to be delivered.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

My concern about the club sitting on the money of "the customers", and making up the rules as they go along, is that they then hold all the cards, and we the huddled masses of supporters, are relying on them being scrupulously fair about the various possible outcomes.

We missed five games last season - big ones against the real attractions - we've missed four so far this season including League Cup games - and there is little likelihood of returning any time soon. In the event that fans are let in eventually in small numbers, the ballot system suggests that many will regularly be "unlucky". Or is there a guarantee that those who have paid substantial sums in advance will actually be prioritised to be a "lucky winner" in the ballot ? Is there a "your turn next" system ?

Yet the club insists on being paid, and will apply overpayments / credits due to the customer, to future season tickets - which could be arbitrarily much higher next season (for instance), or perhaps for games in the Championship, meaning some won't want to renew.

An added complication is that 1901 members will soon be being asked to renew for another 5 year span - almost certainly at a point when the club holds substantial money that belongs to those individuals, and when no-one has seen a competitive match for 8-9-10 months.

In general I feel very uneasy about passing money over for a product which cannot be guaranteed to be delivered.

There are no guarantees in life. Only death and taxes. Yes it all seems a bit difficult, but give the club a break, they are doing all they can to survive like the rest of us.

 

[timbha]

There are no guarantees in life. Only death and taxes. Yes it all seems a bit difficult, but give the club a break, they are doing all they can to survive like the rest of us.

Too bl**dy right mate!

I can’t believe how some so called supporters have so little trust of TB and his team. Go and support someone like Newcastle and they’ll find out what it’s like to be shafted by the owner.

 

[timbha]

In general I feel very uneasy about passing money over for a product which cannot be guaranteed to be delivered.

FFS. I think you should find another club. Good luck.

Re your final sentence (quoted) how do you feel about paying your council tax during the pandemic ? Do you accept the council might have to redeploy resources meaning your bins will be emptied a day late?

 

[Springal]

To be fair to the club, the situation has been completely fluid and the fact we offer the Direct debit option does muddy the waters somewhat.

That said, if I was the club I would have allowed people to pull out from 'this season' and offered staggered refunds for people that wanted to give up their season ticket commitment.

 

[Weststander]

#BarbourOut

I demand my money.

 

[Giraffe]

FFS. I think you should find another club. Good luck.

Re your final sentence (quoted) how do you feel about paying your council tax during the pandemic ? Do you accept the council might have to redeploy resources meaning your bins will be emptied a day late?

In what way is that comparable? You pay your council tax for all manner of things. I doubt bin collection is even 20% of what you're paying for?

You pay your season ticket to go and watch football matches. So 100% of what you are paying for has gone.

Compare eggs with eggs. My gym membership DD's were suspended when the gym was closed. My Denplan was suspended when the dentist was closed. Even my motor insurance partly refunded me in part because I wasn't doing any miles.

I'm sorry but the club is a multi million pound business, where only about 15-20% of their revenue comes from match day. *rough estimate, no doubt someone will correct me.

If we were struggling in league two, it would be a no brainer, I'd happily carry on paying to support the club, as we did for many years of total rubbish football. But we are currently a club that is continuing to pay 100% all players on millions of pounds a year. I am afraid I have little sympathy for their position against the millions of people facing job losses, pay cuts and economic uncertain. It is quite conceivable that people paying for their season ticket would really need that money, and they deserve to have that option without the threat of losing their season ticket when they can't actually go.

 

[amexer]

What happened to negotiations Barber said he was having with players . I know they have contracts but dont understand how they think it is right to continue earning same when club losing £1m a game match day income

 

[timbha]

In what way is that comparable? You pay your council tax for all manner of things. I doubt bin collection is even 20% of what you're paying for?

You pay your season ticket to go and watch football matches. So 100% of what you are paying for has gone.

Compare eggs with eggs. My gym membership DD's were suspended when the gym was closed. My Denplan was suspended when the dentist was closed. Even my motor insurance partly refunded me in part because I wasn't doing any miles.

I'm sorry but the club is a multi million pound business, where only about 15-20% of their revenue comes from match day. *rough estimate, no doubt someone will correct me.

If we were struggling in league two, it would be a no brainer, I'd happily carry on paying to support the club, as we did for many years of total rubbish football. But we are currently a club that is continuing to pay 100% all players on millions of pounds a year. I am afraid I have little sympathy for their position against the millions of people facing job losses, pay cuts and economic uncertain. It is quite conceivable that people paying for their season ticket would really need that money, and they deserve to have that option without the threat of losing their season ticket when they can't actually go.

My point (not very well made I accept) was that no services that you pay for in advance can be guaranteed. I’m sure that at the time the club made the decision the expectation was that some fans would return in October. Clearly things have changed and we can all be wise after the event.
I’m sure the club will review the position.
Another poster quoted Newcastle offering refunds for last season’s unused STs. Did any Albion fans ask for a Refund?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Up until three or four weeks ago, we’re expecting to be able to go to games next week. The club worked out a way for sth holders to do that. The government changed its mind.
I’ve no doubt the club will readjust but we need to be patient. I’m sure Paul Barber is trying to work something out but a lot depends on the government ruling.

 

[timbha]

I agree that no services you pay for in advance can be guaranteed. That’s fine. Nobody is blaming the club for football being played behind closed doors.

The key difference is that countless other industries (including the three examples [MENTION=3734]Giraffe[/MENTION] mentioned) responded to the pandemic by immediately stopping payments and refunding customers for products and services paid for but not delivered. The club is instead holding on to a mountain of cash and offering nothing more than a few noises about IOUs.

But the circumstances are different. Gyms closed. People with to/from work and business related motor insurance were doing less miles, (I can’t be bothered to look up the 3rd example) so the outcome was pretty definite.

Football is different with the clubs having to base their plans on: the outcome of the test events, Government rules, improvement or deterioration of Covid, etc etc. Current thinking is that fans will be permitted in lower numbers but not sure if before or after Xmas.

Do you really think the club can stop and start DDs on a whim? They’ve taken a pragmatic decision that allows fans to build up a credit to a certain amount, not collect any more and use that credit as and when fans attend
.
I think they’d look a bit silly if they made refunds now and then had to restart collecting DDs within a couple of months.

I trust the Albion to use my money wisely and that the club will still be there and in good shape when this is all over.

 

[trueblue]

I appreciate not everyone can do without the money but if the club wants to hang on to my cash as an interest free loan until I can get back to some matches, fine by me. Tony Bloom's personally stumped up enough for me not to feel I'm being ripped off.

 

[timbha]

The circumstances are of course different in different industries, but gyms, TV companies and many others did manage to stop/amend/restart direct debits.

The last sentence of your post is actually a good example of what I’m trying to say. You’re accepting that the club is holding on to your money. The post after yours is similar. Many people have defended the club by saying similar things over recent months.

But the reality is you’re only fine with it because you can afford to be hundreds of pounds down for 12 months. Thankfully, so can most people. But it doesn’t make it right and we should think about those who might be struggling to do their weekly shop or pay their gas bill at the moment yet have £500 tied up in a season ticket they’ve been paying for since March with no prospect of using.

Last para - fair enough. I wonder what response they would get from the club if they explained their circumstances and requested a refund.

 

[seagulls99]

I’ve paid DD April, May, June, July, August, September, October and my ‘personal’ email states the last payment will be taken November 1st? Not complaining but that sounds at odds with what others have previously said on this thread, doesn’t it? Renewal not a new ST holder.