After many years of paying extortionate call charges when booking tickets, enraged West Ham fans have started a petition to get rid of the ticket office premium rate 0871 number.

West Ham FC
- http://www.whufc.com/Footer/Pages/Contact-Us

2014
- https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/2014/10/01/the-farce-that-is-the-west-ham-united-ticket-office

2015
- http://www.claretandhugh.info/the-hidden-west-ham-tax/

2016
- https://keefydblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/08/0871-west-ham/
- http://www.claretandhugh.info/west-hams-ticket-provider-due-to-be-replaced/
- http://www.claretandhugh.info/time-to-end-the-ticket-office-premium-call-rip-off/
- http://whu365.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/premium-rate-number-adds-up.html
- http://kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=163127
- http://www.claretandhugh.info/hammers-face-os-ticket-challenges/

Current
- http://www.claretandhugh.info/fans-meeting-with-club-read-all-about-it/
- http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2016/October/6-October/Hammers-host-Supporter-Feedback-Forum
- https://az834416.vo.msecnd.net/cmsstorage/whu/media/whu2/new%20stadium/new%20stadium%203/supporterfeedbackforumv2.pdf
- http://kumb.com/story.php?id=130382
- https://az834416.vo.msecnd.net/cmsstorage/whu/media/whu2/pdfs/01-minutes-supporter-feedback-forum-5-october-2016-2-6.pdf
- https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/2016/10/07/hammers-supporters-meeting (search for 0844)
- http://www.upthehammers.co.uk/archives/71151

Petition
- http://www.claretandhugh.info/candh-campaign-to-end-premium-line-rip-off/
- http://www.thepetitionsite.com/809/708/558/say-no-to-0871-ticket-office-number/
- http://www.claretandhugh.info/premium-line-ticket-line-rip-off-fans-horror-stories/

There are some real horror stories in that final link!

Other clubs may face similar protests in the coming weeks and months.

It seems that West Ham's proposed solution is to replace the premium rate 0871 number with a premium rate 0844 or 0845 number.
https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/2016/10/14/call-to-dump-the-68p-per-minute-ticket-office-number

This would make the calls 6p per minute cheaper on every landline and mobile but does not address the real issue. Moving to an 03 number would change the calls to be inclusive on landlines and mobiles else charged at no more than the rate charged for calling an 01 or 02 number.

Probably just an indication of what WHU really thinks of its fans - they're just cash cows.

Personally, I don't find that a surprise - soccer is no longer a sport, it's big business and big business = money money money (players' salaries and transfer fees show that).

Pressure continues to be applied and the petition now has close to a thousand signatories:
http://www.claretandhugh.info/sign-here-help-end-ticket-line-rip-off-nightmare/

While using an 087 number for sales lines is legal, it is crazy that people buying tickets by telephone incur an extra £50 or more on their telephone bill as they do.

It would appear they even discriminate against accessibility users as well:

Accessibility

Email: accessibility@westhamunited.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 845 174 0174
(Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone provider's access charge)

Read more at http://www.whufc.com/Footer/Pages/Contact-Us#mOksL5jCChA1dMoK.99

**The above URL was included as part of the information I copied from the WHUFC website **

The petition reached 1600 and was submitted to West Ham.

A few days later...
http://www.upthehammers.co.uk/archives/71490
http://www.claretandhugh.info/victory-west-ham-to-ditch-premium-rate-numbers/

Time for Burnley, Crystal Palace and Sunderland fans to get on the case...

Excellent news!

Clearly the voice of the fans was loud enough for WHUFC to take notice.

With regards to Burnley they can't even get the call charge info right:
Ticket Hotline: 0871 221 1914
NB: Calls to 0871 numbers cost 10p per minute from a BT landline, but will vary depending
on your phone company or if using a mobile phone

Read more at http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/club/contact_the_club/index.aspx#0j8Z7j83FHE88f24.99

** PS the above URL was auto included from the link copied from Burnley FC's website **

That issue is now moot.

Seeing which way the wind is blowing, Burnley are dumping their 0871 number...

http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/article/2016-17/burnley-fc-phone-number-to-change-3404532.aspx

Ian01 wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 4:56pm:

That issue is now moot. Seeing which way the wind is blowing, Burnley are dumping their 0871 number... http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/article/2016-17/burnley-fc-phone-number-to-change-3404532.aspx

Excellent, lets hope they get it sorted soon :-)

Ian01 wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 4:56pm:

Excellent, lets hope they get it sorted soon :-)

They appear not to be able to grasp how long the term 'next week' means though - see the below extract posted on 22/10/16.


Quote:

..... understands the club are to make an official announcement next week to scrap the use of the unpopular Premium rate telephone numbers.

Blame the yobs for that. A few hours before the announcement (that the number will be changing) was due to be made, there was violent disorder at the stadium and their press office then had to spend the next week or more dealing with the fallout from that.

It would have been silly to try to change the subject away from such a serious issue. Delaying the announcement by a week or two is a sensible option. It also means the announcement, when it comes, is more likely to state the date things are changing rather than be just a vague commitment that it will change at some point in the future.

West Ham United has now introduced replacement 0330 numbers.

http://www.claretandhugh.info/new-irons-ticket-line-number-after-candh-petition/

http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2016/November/9-November/Hammers-introduce-nation-rate-numbers

and they still can't get the calling info right...

* calls are charged at National Rate... no they are not they are standard geographic rates...

never mind  :o

The "national rate" wording comes from Ofcom's information written in 2007.

http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/telephone/03number

Ah I see Ian

Well that proves how inept they are, since as you and I have discussed "national" rate does not exist...

:o

Well, that's where things get a bit tricky. Certainly, there is no longer such a thing as 'local rate' (a lower charge for a local call) for calls to 01 and 02 numbers.

In 2004, most landline providers scrapped the price differential between local and national calls and moved subscribers on to call plans with inclusive calls to geographic 01 and 02 numbers.

In framing the regulations on call costs for 03 numbers, just three years later, Ofcom were wholly justified in using the phrase 'charged no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number' as this is unambiguous.

However, when users of these numbers declare their call costs, there is a different emphasis. Users should start off by mentioning that calls to 03 numbers are inclusive on landlines and mobiles as that is how the vast majority of these calls are made. After that, they should continue by saying that non-inclusive calls are charged at geographic rate - and leave the caller to find out from their phone provider exactly how much that actually is.

Any declaration of call costs should not say 'national rate' because at one time there was one landline provider that did charge different rates for national and local calls to 01 and 02 numbers and charged calls to 03 numbers at the same rate as a local call to an 01 or 02 number.

This is very subtle. Not everyone gets it.

Looks like the national press have noticed this issue:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/football-fans-still-forced-call-9295289

Numerous clubs appear to be operating in breach of the consumer protection regulations introduced by BIS in June 2014. These require an 01, 02, 03 or 080 number for after-sales issues and enquiries.

Calls to 084 numbers cost up to 19p per minute from landlines or up to 62p per minute from mobiles.
Calls to 087 numbers cost up to 25p per minute from landlines or up to 68p per minute from mobiles.

A number of clubs appear to be also operating in breach of Ofcom's requirement, introduced in July 2015, to declare call costs alongside these numbers.

Sunderland AFC has today dumped their premium rate 0871 number:

http://www.safc.com/news/club-news/2016/december/safc-new-phone-numbers

NUFC has got rid of the 0844 number used by disabled fans and replaced it with a cheaper number.

Everyone else still have to call an expensive number:

https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/disability-hotline