Thetownend.com

The ticket office at Swindon Town FC seems to be one of the most unfair I've ever encountered.  Why, as a student, should I be forced to pre-book my ticket, and, due to being exiled and having to prebook, have to pay a £1 booking fee each time?  I guess this plays straight into STFC's hands and encourages me to buy a season ticket....!

Equally what pisses me off is when I've forgotten a ticket (twice) at away games the away ticket office on both occassions (Luton and Brizzle) have assured me Swindon Town ticket office will give me a full refund, and on both occasions have the ticket office fobbed me off with a story of "we've already forwarded the money on"....  On the most recent instance at Bristol I've been told to write to their ticket office, which I will do shortly, but I'm not especially hopeful.

Okay I'm a dopey twat for forgetting my ticket, but the first point really bugs me.  I don't see why I should have to prebook as a student.  My NUS card has never been checked on collecting my ticket, and it would be easy for me to continue buying student tickets after I'm no longer a student.  Why not go down the path of Reading and offer price reductions for all 18-21 year olds?  Then merely ID anyone trying to buy a reduced ticket.  We're probably losing hundreds on match days by people defrauding the system.  Hell I even bought a child ticket for one game as I forgot to prebook a student ticket and I'm 19!  (Okay, not my proudest moment supporting the Town, but I'm skint and it was the choice of that or not attending.)

Of course I've never had good relations with Swindon Town ticket office.  It was me who was sold an away ticket for collection on the day to the Withdean for "that" playoff semi final match, and then on arrival told my ticket had sadly failed to join me.  Two hours later in a wet Brighton, I was being escorted away for over-zealous celebrations of Parkin's goal after breaking in and standing alone on the bank....!   :D

Ive had the same trouble, was a season ticket holder for years before coming to uni so never really had to bother with buying tickets on the day.  Last season me and a mate drove down to see the game (walsall lost 3-0) and ended up having to fork out £23 each for the pleasure.  Tried reasoning with the ticket bloke showing him my manchester student card and telling him id just driven 170 odd miles to watch the game and was going to have to drive back after.  He a straight no to every argument i tried  :twisted:  bastard

its a disgrace...the club should be doing all it can to get fans to come to the ground. treating you lot like this is shambolic. i blame the old guy in the ticket office who looks like he should go on ten years younger

change the name of the thread to 'Devlin sort it' :x

Customer relations really do have to worked on by the ticket office .. it is not CUSTOMER friendly - gives the wrong example ... something to have a look at Mr D

Rules are rules though, you can't start breaking rules for one person otherwise every fucker would be at it.

And buy full price tickets you tax dodgers.

I have never had any probs with the ticket office at all, I have forgotten to pick up tickets for many away games and they have gone out of their way to help me, I guess it all depends who you speak to.

and if you have boobies it allways helps :D

especially big ones  :D

i agree with this rant, but on the few times ive forgotten to buy a student ticket i site in the town end, which seems to happen a lot. not the best view, but wot can u do?

I'm not debating this - it's just bloody stupid rules!  This "rule" has stopped me coming to a couple of games this season as I can no longer decide last minute to turn up to a game.  Other grounds do not have this policy - e.g.: At Layer Road I bought my student ticket on matchday.

get a bloody job and pay the price like the rest of us :D

If you're going to get a job at uni it has to be the first year really. I've been too busy in the last year and a half but in the first year I did feck all.

I think Arriba meant full-time job...!

Okay, but what about the other exiled fans?  If they want to buy a ticket in advance why should they pay a booking fee?  And why can't we get refunds on unused tickets?

Yeah that Arriba's a cunt  :wink:

I'm not particularly happy paying the booking fee either but if you think about it, it probably pays towards having the hotline.

i've usually found the ticket office to be fairly good. there's one bloke who is a fucking miserable useless cunt though.

we're not the only club in the division who don't sell student tickets on the day, been to a few games this season where i've been unable to get one and some clubs don't even offer student discount.

honestly can't understand why they won't give you a refund when you've paid for the ticket twice, surely they'd know whether the ticket was bought in advance or on the day? i suppose some dishonest people would try ripping them off though.

It kind of annoys me that if I want a student ticket I have to pre-book and pay to do so. And then they never check my card. I can't think of one time!

My mate forgot his season ticket once though and they made him pay for a ticket, but then he got it refunded next match. Fair enough I thought!

One of the people who I go with is going to be getting a season ticket with me next year and he's is a student. Can he get a student season ticket and pay through installments? Otherwise I have to lend him 200 odd quid!

Yeh I am pretty sure he can

I'm a student in Cardiff but still get season tickets every year.  I have to drive all the way to swindon and back just to flash my NUS card to renew my ticket.  Annoying as hell.

At least you have an NUS card. I don't get one of those.

Same ere i had to drive down from bicester just to show the NUS card.

£6 can get you a 'NUS associates' card for a year and has the same discounts etc. Alternatively eBay might be worth a look.