Up the Clarets helps get cheaper phone calls to ticket office

[ClaretTony]

A couple of weeks ago a campaign organised by West Ham supporters led to the club removing premium rate telephone numbers to the ticket office which often meant supporters running up high costs.

That left just three Premier League clubs doing similar - Burnley, Crystal Palace and Sunderland - and I was contacted by the West Ham group suggesting I lead a similar campaign. I told them to leave it with me for now and I'd see what could be done although I didn't expect a campaign to be necessary.

On 25th October I emailed David Baldwin (Chief Exec) and got an immediate response telling me he was all in favour.

Today the club have confirmed that the 08 numbers will be disappearing soon and all calls into the club will be standard rate. No confirmed date yet but looks set to be soon.

[levraiclaret]

Well done Tony and Mr Baldwin.

[claretdom]

We are going to end up leaving the usuals with nothing to moan about soon.

Even the away ticketing problem has been sorted now it seems, what with all the fuss about loads missing out last away at Man Utd despite having 1000s of points, not 1 post about the struggle for the next away game.

[ClaretTony]

I don't know how much it cost, living locally it's not something I've ever had to use.

Andrew Watson brought it in - he said it was to provide us with a better service when all it was doing was taking more money off our fans.

[ŽižkovClaret]

One of those things that would cost infinitely more in goodwill than any increase in revenue

[JimmyRobbo]

Thank you Tony. When booking tickets for my family (inc concessions) I have run up very expensive bills from my mobile phone.

Appreciated.

Good of the club too.

[ClaretGent]

Thanks Tony for progressing this. Any idea of when the new number will come into operation? As far as I can see the 0871 number is still in use.

There was an article on the Official site on 07/11/16 stating that the number will change, but it doesn't give a timescale:
http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news ... 04532.aspx

[Sidney1st]

Great news.

If anyone asks, I didn't use my work phone when I was in a queue to the club for 50mins the other week...

[Spike]

I knew you would come in useful in the end!

[ClaretTony]

Thanks Tony for progressing this. Any idea of when the new number will come into operation? As far as I can see the 0871 number is still in use.[/url]

No date as yet - not just a simple switch.

[ClaretGent]

Cheers Tony. Appreciate that systems will need to be updated, and communications prepared to inform people of the change.

[occ-claret]

That's great news. Only recently did I complain about being on hold for 50 minutes with only 6 in the queue. The ticket office then went home without answering my call. Not best pleased.

[what_no_pies]

Had an £11 bill for calling them not too long ago. It's a disgrace that they let that happen in the first place and they should make it free phone to make it up. Got millions coming in now after all.

[Longsider]

Good effort pal.

[RammyClaret61]

I've had many dealings with Dave Baldwin over the last couple of years. I must say he's a great bloke to deal with. A great asset to our club.

[turfytopper]

Not before time...absolutely disgraceful way of dealing with your customers. Well done.

[titsoutforthelads]

Why is it taking so long.?
Tony's post claiming the credit id nearly 3 months old.
A freephone number could have been installed the following day and ticketzone compensated monthly as I am am sure they are sharing the rip off profit made.
I had a charge of £3.56 trying to buy a Sunderland Cup ticket and I didnt even get to speak to anyone.

[titsoutforthelads]

Why is it taking so long ?
Nearly 3 months since Tony's post.
Could have set up a free phone number immediately and paid a monthly fee to ticketzone to componsenate them as I guess they share the rip off profits.
I had a £3.23 charge for trying to ring to order a Sunderland match ticket but didnt even get to to speak to anyone.

[Shipclaret]

Well done mate cost me almost 8 quid for tickets against Man City because I rang the wrong 0800 number then had to register my son...scandelous

[cricketfieldclarets]

Why is it taking so long ?
Nearly 3 months since Tony's post.
Could have set up a free phone number immediately and paid a monthly fee to ticketzone to componsenate them as I guess they share the rip off profits.
I had a £3.23 charge for trying to ring to order a Sunderland match ticket but didnt even get to to speak to anyone.

It is and should be a very simple process. These numbers take minutes to change. Even if the old number is advertised elsewhere you can still change it easy enough

Got charged this morning for ringing this number as the ticket site was down. Then got charged £1.60 booking fee! Negligible price but still don't understand why we are paying this and where that money goes? Is it to the company we outsource the ticket booking too?


So effectively I am paying X pence per minute, plus connection cost etc plus a booking fee.

[ClaretTony]

Why is it taking so long ?
Nearly 3 months since Tony's post.
Could have set up a free phone number immediately and paid a monthly fee to ticketzone to componsenate them as I guess they share the rip off profits.
I had a £3.23 charge for trying to ring to order a Sunderland match ticket but didnt even get to to speak to anyone.

It might be almost three months since my post, and I really should have waited until they had been able to get a change made, but it is 18 years since the numbers were changed to this premium rate and maybe nothing would have been done at all had I not made an approach to the club.

Despite the post above confirming it is easy, it really isn't anything like as simple as you would think. The changes, whatever they are able to be, will be made as soon as possible.