Turkish Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 (edited) A serious post from me for once. My dad has been a season ticket holder for years. 4 years ago he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's his condition has got worse over the time and he is now in a wheelchair, unable to walk, is incontinent and cannot attend matches of indeed do anything without the assistance of a carer. For the last three seasons he has had a season ticket in the disabled area and my sister has gone to games as his carer and has benefited form the disabled discount available. He was moved into a home around a year ago so he can get the specialist care he needs and in truth football is now th only bit of enjoyment he gets. However this season when my brother went to renew the tickets the club have decided he no longer qualifies for a disabled season ticket. The reason? That because he now lives in a care home and his incapacity benefit is paid directly to the home and no longer to him in the clubs eyes he is not disabled and there not elidgable for a disabled ticket. Clearly its impossible for him to sit anywhere else in the ground and unless the club reverse their decision they will be losing a couple of fans next season. IMO this is totally disgusting and disgraceful behaviour from the club and I just wanted to make you aware of how they are treating a lifelong fan and long term season ticket holder. Effectively anyone that lives in a care home is not considered disabled in the eyes of our club. Thanks SFC. Edited 5 June, 2013 by Turkish
Saint Garrett Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Awful. No reason to not go out their way to appreciate fans like your old boy.
Turkish Posted 5 June, 2013 Author Posted 5 June, 2013 Awful. No reason to not go out their way to appreciate fans like your old boy. It's not even going out of their way though is it. Just doing exactly what they've done for the last few season.
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Unfortunately not the first time I've heard of the club 'downgrading' disabilities. Disgraceful really and it's this sort of thing that sours all of the good things going on at SFC.
corky morris Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Thats a disgrace. Terrible PR too. For once The Echo might be able to add some publicity to this to add pressure to the club to change its mind.
Saint137 Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Tweet the thread URL to all your Saints-related followers and @ the official account and players - I have
Huffton Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 That is appalling quite frankly. Have you considered taking it further? Might even be worth a letter to the premier league.
Bearsy Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 I don't even get what they're on about. Is it cos they want to see some sort of document that he don't have anymore cos he's in care home?
Colinjb Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Something for the local press I feel. That is bad form.
egg Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Sorry to hear that del, absolutely shocking behaviour. I presume that appropriate words have been had with the most senior person who will actually speak to a fan?
BigShadow Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 I would hope this is one of those situations where someone is following a set of rules that did not cover this situation - and that elevated to the appropriate level, would be quickly rectified. If not...I'm sure the Echo would love to run with this story.
Glasgow_Saint Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Sorry to hear that del, absolutely shocking behaviour. I presume that appropriate words have been had with the most senior person who will actually speak to a fan? I will bring this to the attention of my contact(s) at the club
Turkish Posted 5 June, 2013 Author Posted 5 June, 2013 I don't even get what they're on about. Is it cos they want to see some sort of document that he don't have anymore cos he's in care home? You'd think so wouldn't you bear. Apparently the reason my brother was told he is not elidgable is because he no longer receives incapacity benefit.
Saint Garrett Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 As soon as it starts getting publicity the club will sort it out. Go to the local rag. It's quite frankly awful from the club.
egg Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 You'd think so wouldn't you bear. Apparently the reason my brother was told he is not elidgable is because he no longer receives incapacity benefit. But you said he does receive it, albeit it's paid to someone else. Does he get dla and/or does someone claim a carers allowance?
student Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Honestly get onto them on twitter, for some reason clubs dont like being publicly shamed. Send out a tweet aimed and the club and get as many of us to retweet it as possible and I can pretty much guarantee by this time in 48 hours it will be sorted, probably with some extra compensation too. This is an absolute joke and they should be disgusted.
Bearsy Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 you want to have a word with Saints Disabled Supporters Association who agreed dumb requirements: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/fans/disabled-supporters/ http://www.saintsdsa.org.uk/
Badger Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Outrageous,and a travesty really. Would certainly be worth bringing it to the attention of a higher level of management at SMS, possibly even a letter to NC, or even the owners. They may or may not respond of course, but at least you will have taken it as far as you can. After that, as others have said, the Echo will probably want to publicise it.
Turkish Posted 5 June, 2013 Author Posted 5 June, 2013 But you said he does receive it, albeit it's paid to someone else. Does he get dla and/or does someone claim a carers allowance? He did do, but when he moved into the care home It gets paid directly to them now. Not to him anymore.
Toomer Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 All changes in policy are rubber stamped by Cortese this is just another thing that shows what a c.u.n.t he is.
Wiggles31 Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Yeah that is pathetic. Have you tried writing to the club? Surely some jobsworth has cocked up, that can't really be the policy can it!?
Sour Mash Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 A serious post from me for once. My dad has been a season ticket holder for years. 4 years ago he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's his condition has got worse over the time and he is now in a wheelchair, unable to walk, is incontinent and cannot attend matches of indeed do anything without the assistance of a carer. For the last three seasons he has had a season ticket in the disabled area and my sister has gone to games as his carer and has benefited form the disabled discount available. He was moved into a home around a year ago so he can get the specialist care he needs and in truth football is now th only bit of enjoyment he gets. However this season when my brother went to renew the tickets the club have decided he no longer qualifies for a disabled season ticket. The reason? That because he now lives in a care home and his incapacity benefit is paid directly to the home and no longer to him in the clubs eyes he is not disabled and there not elidgable for a disabled ticket. Clearly its impossible for him to sit anywhere else in the ground and unless the club reverse their decision they will be losing a couple of fans next season. IMO this is totally disgusting and disgraceful behaviour from the club and I just wanted to make you aware of how they are treating a lifelong fan and long term season ticket holder. Effectively anyone that lives in a care home is not considered disabled in the eyes of our club. Thanks SFC. Take it you'll be getting on the blower to them to sort it out? No way can they justify that as a policy. Did your brother get to speak to the Ticket Office manager?
egg Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 He did do, but when he moved into the care home It gets paid directly to them now. Not to him anymore. But he's still the claimant, ie entitled to and indirectly being paid the benefit? Who actually receives the money must be academic.
The Kraken Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Sorry to hear that Turk; hope it gets sorted and the club does the right thing.
Bearsy Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 it must be comforting for him to know he ain't disabled anymore. The healing touch of cortese innit.
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 He did do, but when he moved into the care home It gets paid directly to them now. Not to him anymore. I know this is probably an over simplistic suggestion, but could you maybe get the care home to buy it on his behalf?
Dig Dig Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Horrible thing to hear, no excuses for this at all. Hopefully the right outcome will come of this but it's a shame to even be put in the position that your family are now in in the first place.
Turkish Posted 5 June, 2013 Author Posted 5 June, 2013 But he's still the claimant, ie entitled to and indirectly being paid the benefit? Who actually receives the money must be academic. Correction. The benefits listed on the club website as being eligible are not ones he claims. He used to when he lived at home but that care wasn't sufficient so he got moved into a home and no longer gets that benefit. It seems he is too disabled to get a disabled season ticket!
Turkish Posted 5 June, 2013 Author Posted 5 June, 2013 Take it you'll be getting on the blower to them to sort it out? No way can they justify that as a policy. Did your brother get to speak to the Ticket Office manager? Waiting for a reply mate.
mulletsaint Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Hopefully it's some sort of administrative error and once someone at the club looks into your issue it'll all get sorted. Otherwise it's a bloody disgrace.
Mattio Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Terrible news, I hope that this is just someone simply following what's written in front of them without engaging their brain, I know for a fact when I've got in contact with the senior members of the ticket office they've been extremely helpful so hopefully that's the case in your situation too.
hypochondriac Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Will most likely be someone not realising the situation. I would imagine they will change it once they understand.
Nigel=God-Poyet=Sod Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 That's awful to hear. I really hope the club changes their decision on this and understand your Dad's situation Turkish. Hope everything works out.
Stoozer Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Should get this trending on twitter and linking it to the official club Twitter feed. They'll take notice if Saints fans retweet it.
MOSaint Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 @ScrubTactics 15m @bigadamsport any thoughts on this http://bit.ly/15KzgWB ? Absolute disgraceful way for saints to treat its disabled supporters Expand Adam Blackmore Adam Blackmore @bigadamsport 2m @ScrubTactics I'll speak to the club in the morning - maybe I can help get common sense to prevail. Certainly I'll try happily
MOSaint Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Adam Blackmore @bigadamsport 1m @ScrubTactics If someone can tweet me the real name of the family involved, that would help also
Chez Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 But he's still the claimant, ie entitled to and indirectly being paid the benefit? Who actually receives the money must be academic. Agreed. There must be some sort of certification that proves the claimant is elidgable for incapacity benefit and couldn't that be used by the club to determine who can and can't get a disabled ticket. Hope you can sort this.
sotonjoe Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 I would have thought this just needs a senior member of staff to investigate and then common sense will prevail. I wouldn't have bothered throwing your toys out of the pram until you've heard the response. At least give them a chance to sort it out!
sfc4prem Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 ****ing disgrace. Puts the club in a really sh*t light. Ashamed.
ToreSF Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 What a disgrace. Sorry about your fathers condition, Turks.
Saint-Armstrong Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Write to Cortese and co and put it in the paper too.
Seaford Saint Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 it must be comforting for him to know he ain't disabled anymore. The healing touch of cortese innit. Wash your mouth out young man.....welcome back.
shurlock Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Hope you get it sorted out. Hopefully just another case where some jobsworth has blindly applied the letter of the law without understanding it's spirit.
Alain Perrin Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 I don't believe the club or any socially responsible organisation would deliberately try to screw a genuinely disabled person out of a ticket. More likely they have policy that doesn't cater for this precise situation and will be grateful to have it raised with them. I'd suggest trying to escalate within the club before engaging a media **** storm. Good luck. Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_276 using Board Express
Seaford Saint Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 A serious post from me for once. My dad has been a season ticket holder for years. 4 years ago he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's his condition has got worse over the time and he is now in a wheelchair, unable to walk, is incontinent and cannot attend matches of indeed do anything without the assistance of a carer. For the last three seasons he has had a season ticket in the disabled area and my sister has gone to games as his carer and has benefited form the disabled discount available. He was moved into a home around a year ago so he can get the specialist care he needs and in truth football is now th only bit of enjoyment he gets. However this season when my brother went to renew the tickets the club have decided he no longer qualifies for a disabled season ticket. The reason? That because he now lives in a care home and his incapacity benefit is paid directly to the home and no longer to him in the clubs eyes he is not disabled and there not elidgable for a disabled ticket. Clearly its impossible for him to sit anywhere else in the ground and unless the club reverse their decision they will be losing a couple of fans next season. IMO this is totally disgusting and disgraceful behaviour from the club and I just wanted to make you aware of how they are treating a lifelong fan and long term season ticket holder. Effectively anyone that lives in a care home is not considered disabled in the eyes of our club. Thanks SFC. Terrible way to treat someone. I have to ask this, has someone at the club made a mistake.
MOSaint Posted 5 June, 2013 Posted 5 June, 2013 Adam blackmore on twitter has said he'll ask the club about this in the morning and if he could get the name of the family involved it would be a great help.
Recommended Posts