SAFC - Fan Ban & Ticket Cancellations

[Things Change]

Reported for casual racism.
You know the rules……

Someone help him

His patter stinks of a man who has recently lost access to away tickets (to which he’s not entitled).

Not at all. None of the issues effect me personally. I haven't been banned or had my derby tickets cancelled. I am not trying to downgrade my coperate tickets to normal tickets and being told I am not even a season ticket holder and have to join the Johnny come latelys at the back of the queue.

However, I'm a long time Sunderland supporter and take umbridge at other loyal fans being tret like shite.

I also want an organisation which was set up to represent Sunderland fans to be seen to be actively supporting ALL fans and to be vocal and upfront about what they are doing, to call out what simply isn't acceptable and how they intend to proceed.

I do not expect them to post a club statement and then clam up for 2 weeks. It's embarrassingly poor.

All fans you say?

What about those who just miss out on away tickets due to points farming. The lads and lasses with 25 points, the Phase 4 folk etc. What about them?

 

[Keith S30S]

His patter stinks of a man who has recently lost access to away tickets (to which he’s not entitled).

All fans you say?

What about those who just miss out on away tickets due to points farming. The lads and lasses with 25 points, the Phase 4 folk etc. What about them?

My last away match was Charlton for the play off final purchased via my season ticket.

You tell me what RAWA have had to say about them?

 

[Things Change]

My last away match was Charlton for the play off final purchased via my season ticket.

You tell me what RAWA have had to say about them?

I might email them to encourage an initiative to stamp out points farming. One man; one ticket.

These tosspots who’ve built up loyalty points through non attendance and points farming are the scourge of the club. Hoarding their wares like hamsters then turning up for the glamour games. Total shithouses.

 

[Keith S30S]

I might email them to encourage an initiative to stamp out points farming. One man; one ticket.

These tosspots who’ve built up loyalty points through non attendance and points farming are the scourge of the club. Hoarding their wares like hamsters then turning up for the glamour games. Total shithouses.

Go for it. It's a free country.

 

[Things Change]

Go for it. It's a free country.

It’s certainly a freer one than when you were a mod like.
Also as an aside can you remember on this very board - during the days of Donald and Methven - where even the smallest bit of criticism of them or the club resulted in bans on here.

Yet now, when we are flying high in the Premier League with the best set of players we’ve had for years any defence of the club is met with the same level of disdain.

It’s as if some would rather be back there.

 

[Keith S30S]

It’s certainly a freer one than when you were a mod like.
Also as an aside can you remember on this very board - during the days of Donald and Methven - where even the smallest bit of criticism of them or the club resulted in bans on here.

Yet now, when we are flying high in the Premier League with the best set of players we’ve had for years any defence of the club is met with the same level of disdain.

It’s as if some would rather be back there.

No I can't remember it at all. It sounds like utter bullshit.

However, if someone is potentially libeling people then I could see why dubious posts would be deleted. Perhaps those who were banned can back up your spurious recollections...

 

[Things Change]

No I can't remember it at all. It sounds like utter bullshit.

However, if someone is potentially libeling people then I could see why dubious posts would be deleted. Perhaps those who were banned can back up your spurious recollections...

Ok Keith.

 

[Chewit]

Whilst in the pub yesterday, a friend told me how the club had ripped their family off earlier this season.

They had an elderly relative (over 65) who wasn’t able to go to a home game and they wanted to give their ticket to their grandson (next generation of Sunderland fans) 10 year old. They tried to forward the ticket using the official club channels, however as the ticket needs to be forwarded “like for like” it wouldn’t allow it. They went to the ticket office and they said they couldn’t just give their lad the ticket as going in on an over 65 ticket as a 10 year old would constitute fraud, however what they could do was to “upgrade the ticket to an adult and pay the additional £14” My friend paid the additional £14 reluctantly and are of the opinion that the club left them with no alternative due to their processes. It was either that or have their friends grandson miss out on attending a game and the hope that they have that he gets the footballing bug and becomes a lifelong SAFC fan.

…. And a 10 year olds ticket would cost ?
Reflective of the rest of society, the computer says no.

I despair at the total lack of common sense.

I said many times in the championship be careful what you wish for.
We are going shit or bust for global domination. Hold onto your hats as it’s going to be a painful ride for traditional supporters.

Many of whom are going to be priced or squeezed out and left on the gutter.

You thought the club was ruthless with last season’s players. ? We are just a number.
Going to be a lot of heart broken people over next few years.

Its not new after all see the attitude of big clubs elsewhere in Premiership.

Thing is though this is a very provincial club it’s not London, Manchester, etc. there is not an unlimited tap of passionate supporters.

This supporter base is grounded in family heritage and community. From ex pats in the south, to Durham coal mining villages to Sunderland itself. This is why we have such big crowds …. The club will do well to not lose sight of this.

I'll collate the comments on here and send them to RAWA later on.

One of the cancelled season ticket holders spoke to me about it in the pub before the match yesterday. He'd been to the ticket office to try and speak to the manager about it, but the ticket office manager doesn't work on matchdays!

You couldn’t make it up

using block L8 as an example:

adult = £48
over 65 = £36
under 14 = £24

if anything, the club should have owed them money for downgrading the ticket.

its this type of nonsense service that is minor in isolation, but accumulatively over the years it builds up a damning picture of how we are treated. this board only cover a tiny percentage of our support as a whole, as does RAWA and other supporters groups. there'll be endless examples of this type of treatment by the club to fans who never make it public or complain and just soak up the inconvenience, cost and rudeness of the ticket office staff and get on with their day

how can a 10 year old be formally allowed to enter the ground on an adult ticket (£48), but not allowed to enter on an over-65 ticket (£36) , even though an under-14 ticket is significantly cheaper than both ?

you'd think the person in the ticket office would laugh about it, and say 'eee your dead right, here's a u-14 ticket, no charge, thanks, enjoy the game! '

It’s insidious undermining of the relationship between club and supporters. After time it all comes crashing down.

Following football is irrational. We know we are being stupid spending all this time and money on it … no need to rub our face in it however

The new Jack Rodwell

Hereby known as

But the issue is people don't/aren't when they're not used. I know mates who never bother listing it. Don't think the club will continue to allow it next season

It doesn’t always sell when it’s listed .. what then ?

 

[Keith S30S]

Ok Keith.

Not sure how you would know anyway with only being a member of the board since 2024...

 

[Disco_Pants93]

It’s certainly a freer one than when you were a mod like.
Also as an aside can you remember on this very board - during the days of Donald and Methven - where even the smallest bit of criticism of them or the club resulted in bans on here.

Yet now, when we are flying high in the Premier League with the best set of players we’ve had for years any defence of the club is met with the same level of disdain.

It’s as if some would rather be back there.

You’re not wrong there like. People have let the issues on the ticketing side of things completely cloud every other good thing the club have done over the last 5 years and continue to do. I hope the ticketing side of it gets sorted as much as anyone (particularly customer service) but the way people are going on about ‘hating the premier league’ and slating the clubs every single move is absolutely mental. Anyone not on board with the constant criticism of everything is 100% met with disdain when as mentioned before, nobody even has all of the facts to criticise the club with. Mad.

 

[BillBull]

Seems a shame to have a empty seat when it could be listed for resale as theres clearly demand for it

Iam at loss with this. We sit in South stand its a joke around us the seat next to us only been used a few times for the big games

He hasnt renewed

 

[Chewit]

You’re not wrong there like. People have let the issues on the ticketing side of things completely cloud every other good thing the club have done over the last 5 years and continue to do. I hope the ticketing side of it gets sorted as much as anyone (particularly customer service) but the way people are going on about ‘hating the premier league’ and slating the clubs every single move is absolutely mental. Anyone not on board with the constant criticism of everything is 100% met with disdain when as mentioned before, nobody even has all of the facts to criticise the club with. Mad.

Ticket anxiety as I call it is a painful thing.
Club have no intention of resolving issues in anything but a cynical profiteering way. Caring and helping does not come into equation.

But this is ticketing only at the moment. I don’t believe it’s KLD modus operandi.
If you listen to Ghisolfi… all he talks about is how KLD says everybody in the club has to be aligned with the community.

The ticketing function contradicts that.

I will be frank it strikes me that they are making it up as they go along, a bit like the current government. Put enough pressure on them and they will U turn.

You can have positive intent but still be wrong on an issue

I might email them to encourage an initiative to stamp out points farming. One man; one ticket.

These tosspots who’ve built up loyalty points through non attendance and points farming are the scourge of the club. Hoarding their wares like hamsters then turning up for the glamour games. Total shithouses.

Interesting counter argument….

Is what you say different to sanctioning branches buying tickets in bulk and thus ensuring a bus is full though….

To then changing your policy and punishing people for it.

 

[Disco_Pants93]

Ticket anxiety as I call it is a painful thing.
Club have no intention of resolving issues in anything but a cynical profiteering way. Caring and helping does not come into equation.

But this is ticketing only at the moment. I don’t believe it’s KLD modus operandi.
If you listen to Ghisolfi… all he talks about is how KLD says everybody in the club has to be aligned with the community.

The ticketing function contradicts that.

I will be frank it strikes me that they are making it up as they go along, a bit like the current government. Put enough pressure on them and they will U turn.

You can have positive intent but still be wrong on an issue

But was it not well documented that KLD didn't see the need for a ticket office at all given how Marseille don't have one and it's all operated online? There's been little to suggest he's bothered about staffing the ticket office seriously and sorting the customer service out. I think much of it stems from the fact that the ticket office staff and the people who ran it were stripped out under the previous owners and the people there now aren't sure what they're doing and the rest is coming back from half-arsed, minimum wage style replies from people monitoring AskSAFC. We've never truly got the ticket office back.

 

[Essayeffsee]

It’s certainly a freer one than when you were a mod like.
Also as an aside can you remember on this very board - during the days of Donald and Methven - where even the smallest bit of criticism of them or the club resulted in bans on here.

Yet now, when we are flying high in the Premier League with the best set of players we’ve had for years any defence of the club is met with the same level of disdain.

It’s as if some would rather be back there.

Bit like the ticketing situation isnt it?

Yet now, when we are flying high in the Premier League with the best set of players we've had for years people now want to go away when couldnt before. These complaints werent heard before Cardiff (a) opening game of last season, Plymouth early on, Swansea before Christmas, Norwich a midweek with nothing to play for and so on. The change isnt just PL its the huge amounts of woodwork our "fans" are crawling out of.

But was it not well documented that KLD didn't see the need for a ticket office at all given how Marseille don't have one and it's all operated online? There's been little to suggest he's bothered about staffing the ticket office seriously and sorting the customer service out. I think much of it stems from the fact that the ticket office staff and the people who ran it were stripped out under the previous owners and the people there now aren't sure what they're doing and the rest is coming back from half-arsed, minimum wage style replies from people monitoring AskSAFC. We've never truly got the ticket office back.

Indeed. Just because things are good on the pitch doesnt mean we can ignore the shitshow off it. The ticket office and operations have been a farce for a while now and theyve done nothing about it. Thats either because they dont care or the real senior people are oblivious to it.

 

[the sleeping giant]

I might email them to encourage an initiative to stamp out points farming. One man; one ticket.

These tosspots who’ve built up loyalty points through non attendance and points farming are the scourge of the club. Hoarding their wares like hamsters then turning up for the glamour games. Total shithouses.

I've no doubt those people might well exist but I've never met any of them since match-tickets, purchased in advance, became the norm.

I've been in three different (active) supporters branches in that time and I can't imagine, for a second, that people in those groups would accept such behaviour. Yes, there's an element of the branch secretary exercising some discretion, but there's also self-policing that goes on by the group, which ensures the club do not have to impose a convoluted and unmanageable process that simply cannot work unless you get to a situation with national Digital ID proof-of-identity cards, read at the turnstile.

BTW..... if there are people who repeatedly take tickets off others, and therefore never boost their own loyalty points, they are doing themselves a massive disservice.

 

[Wakey ftm in Sussex]

I've no doubt those people might well exist but I've never met any of them since match-tickets, purchased in advance, became the norm.

I've been in three different (active) supporters branches in that time and I can't imagine, for a second, that people in those groups would accept such behaviour. Yes, there's an element of the branch secretary exercising some discretion, but there's also self-policing that goes on by the group, which ensures the club do not have to impose a convoluted and unmanageable process that simply cannot work unless you get to a situation with national Digital ID proof-of-identity cards, read at the turnstile.

BTW..... if there are people who repeatedly take tickets off others, and therefore never boost their own loyalty points, they are doing themselves a massive disservice.

Well said … you speak my language .

In fact you spoke much nicerer thvan wot ey do.

Joking aside … there seems no defence for the total hypocrisy the club have shown towards SAFC2012 & the over the top sanctions imposed.

It really only needs a “round the table” open, honest & hands up chat to resolve the issues between them.

I can only hope I guess … ITHICS

 

[SAFC_FTM]

But was it not well documented that KLD didn't see the need for a ticket office at all given how Marseille don't have one and it's all operated online? There's been little to suggest he's bothered about staffing the ticket office seriously and sorting the customer service out. I think much of it stems from the fact that the ticket office staff and the people who ran it were stripped out under the previous owners and the people there now aren't sure what they're doing and the rest is coming back from half-arsed, minimum wage style replies from people monitoring AskSAFC. We've never truly got the ticket office back.

In theory you could run easily without a physical ticket office if you had phone lines that work, a live chat function and email function that was replied to efficiently.
Like you have pointed out we seemed to think we could shut up the physical shop and run the digital/remote side on shoestring.

The AskSAFC is not fit for purpose. Sometimes I have had quick responses within a few hours which made sense, other times I've had requests which takes weeks and then answers are contradictory.

One thing that we really need is well manned phone line, especially during ticket sales periods. For example, if a situation arises when trying to buy away tickets you may only have 15 minutes to get it resolved or the tickets are lost from your basket then you have missed out.

 

[the sleeping giant]

In theory you could run easily without a physical ticket office if you had phone lines that work, a live chat function and email function that was replied to efficiently.
Like you have pointed out we seemed to think we could shut up the physical shop and run the digital/remote side on shoestring.

The AskSAFC is not fit for purpose. Sometimes I have had quick responses within a few hours which made sense, other times I've had requests which takes weeks and then answers are contradictory.

One thing that we really need is well manned phone line, especially during ticket sales periods. For example, if a situation arises when trying to buy away tickets you may only have 15 minutes to get it resolved or the tickets are lost from your basket then you have missed out.

If you've had a response from Ask.SAFC ever you've done well.

I must have sent messages on at least 6 occasions in the last 12 months which were not responded to at all..... the most recent in mid-March. They were clearly written and polite so no reason to ignore them.

If the club were serious about their 'customer' service, they'd have service level targets which they could publish as proof of their commitment to the fans.

KLD says he wants ever area of the club to be 'best in class'. He's got a long way to go with this area.

 

[Hetty]

If you've had a response from Ask.SAFC ever you've done well.

I must have sent messages on at least 6 occasions in the last 12 months which were not responded to at all..... the most recent in mid-March. They were clearly written and polite so no reason to ignore them.

If the club were serious about their 'customer' service, they'd have service level targets which they could publish as proof of their commitment to the fans.

KLD says he wants ever area of the club to be 'best in class'. He's got a long way to go with this area.

Did you register on ASKSAFC, top right. It registers all your requests and if solved or not?

You must be logged on to see external links

 

[GAS Man]

Having just gone through the move seat process, I really recommend using this channel to get through to speak to someone. The speed in answering was first class. The club should charge for each enquiry if the service received is as good as this.