OFFICE OF FAIR
TRADING News Release (43/09) issued by COI News Distribution Service
on 20 April 2009
Manchester United
has agreed with the OFT to revise its season ticket terms and
conditions to make them clearer and fairer for fans.
Following a complaint from the Manchester United Supporters Trust
in November, the OFT identified a number of potentially unfair
terms with the club's season tickets under the Unfair Terms
in Consumer Contract Regulations (UTCCRs). The club has responded
positively and agreed to amend its terms to ensure that:
* every season ticket holder is now guaranteed a seat at every
home league and cup game,
* the club provides clearer information about when a season
ticket holder is likely to be moved from their seat for a cup match,
* if fans' season tickets are terminated for failure of
credit card payments for cup games they will receive a pro-rata
refund of the money they have already paid to the club,
* duplicate season tickets are issued where the original has been
lost or stolen, and
* a clearer appeal process is in place to deal with disputes over
cancellation of season tickets because of non-payment for cup
matches. The club has also agreed to provide clear and upfront
information to supporters before they buy their tickets, enabling
them to calculate the maximum total cost for a holder over a
season based on the club reaching the final stage in all
competitions, as well as an indication of the number of home cup
games in the previous campaign.
Though Manchester United did not agree that the previous terms
and conditions were unfair the club has provided assurances that
these changes will be implemented in time for supporters
considering the purchase of season tickets for 2009/2010.
Mike Haley, OFT Head of Consumer Protection, said:
'We have worked closely with Manchester United and are
pleased that the club has amended its season ticket terms to the
considerable benefit of its fans. These changes greatly improve
the protection for season ticket holders at all stages of the
process, from upfront transparency on potential costs, to a
guarantee of a ticket to all home games in all competitions.'
NOTES
1. The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999
(UTCCRs) protect consumers against unfair standard terms in
contracts they make with traders. The Office of Fair Trading,
together with certain other bodies, can take legal action to
prevent the use of such terms. The UTCCRs can protect consumers
from terms that reduce their statutory or common law rights and
from terms that seek to impose unfair burdens on the consumer.
2. The OFT has used its enforcement of the UTCCRs to help improve
terms and conditions across a wide variety of sectors. In relation
to ticketing terms and conditions for football matches, in
December the OFT secured an agreement from Tottenham Hotspur to
amend its terms and conditions relating to ticket refunds for fans
and wrote to the Football Associations of England, Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland calling on clubs to ensure terms are
compliant with the law. See http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2008/142-08.
3. In the event of the loss or theft of a season ticket
Manchester United Football Club will issue a duplicate season
ticket unless the Club reasonably believes that a ticket holder
is, or has been acting in a fraudulent or illegal manner or in
breach of any of the ticket's terms and conditions.
http://www.oft.gov.uk
PUBLIC enquiries: 0845 7224499 enquiries@oft.gov.uk
OFT
reports and consumer information leaflets are available free
from:
OFT, PO Box 366, Hayes UB3 1XB 0800 389 3158 oft@ecgroup.uk.com