The Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust has called on the club to cancel the controversial Academy Friend opt-out scheme and replace it with an opt-in system.

As reported yesterday, existing season ticket holders who pay for their seats via direct debit will be automatically be made Academy Friends at a cost of £10 a month unless they opt out, contrary to the information in their season ticket packs which in error said they needed to opt in.

In a statement the Trust said: “Ipswich Town 1st explicitly calls on the club to cancel any automatic payments to the Academy Friend scheme which have been made as part of the automatic renewal of season tickets.

“The statement that the club have released via TWTD states that there was a printing error that meant an ‘opt-in’ tick box was erroneously included on the form sent to season ticket holders that took advantage of the automatic renewal by direct debit system.

“Even if this is the case, the corresponding literature does not make any mention of this being something that will be applied automatically. There is no text in either the covering letter or the season ticket brochure that mentions anyone will be automatically opted in to this scheme.

“There are a number of mentions of the direct debit scheme, and they are always followed by an instruction that the season ticket holder need not do anything to continue their membership — when the reality is that if fans did nothing their direct will have increased by £120.

“We have already had complaints from some of our members, these include those who are unable to afford the extra £120, a family of four where even their children are being charged the £120 [each] and supporters who already are Academy Friends who are now going to be double charged unless they opt out — this doesn’t even include the numerous fans that are extremely angry with what can only be described as a ‘stealth tax’ being applied.

“We believe the club have no option but to cancel this scheme and revert to the opt-in scheme which is implied in the literature.”

Season ticket holders, who are officially informed of the requirement to opt out in their direct debit payment schedule, have until April 17th to notify the club if they wish to do so with the first payments due to go out on May 1st. Those who want to opt out can do so via seasonticketchange@itfc.co.uk.

Meanwhile, season ticket holders who have received their direct debit schedules are reporting that the postage on the envelopes containing them was underpaid, postal charges having risen on Monday. Town’s bulk mailings are carried out by a third party, who we understand were responsible for the error.

Photo: Action Images

MaySixth added 16:44 - Apr 4 Shambles.
5

smithy91 added 16:54 - Apr 4 Im not a season ticket holder, but this is basically underhanded pickpocketing from the club! Its an embarrassment, so i ask why the hell havent the club produced an apology statement. Love the town but there seems like something is very canieving with the way Evans and/or the directors go about their business...ticket prices for match day and now this!
6

dirtyboy added 17:06 - Apr 4 May see a rare Marcus Evans statement on this one. As much as I agree it's poor judgement or whatever, there is a degree of overreaction. We all make mistakes. People think ITFC is this massive company who shouldn't make mistakes, and unfortunately, it's not that big and mistakes do happen.
-1

NSL added 17:10 - Apr 4 iTFC RIP
-1

Marcus added 17:12 - Apr 4 I just spoke to the ticket office (they called me). At this stage they're calling everyone who has sent them an email to opt out. I feel this is the wrong approach. They should at least agree to call everyone who hasn't emailed them and get a verbal agreement before keeping them opted in. This would be the only acceptable compromise. Anyone they are unable to contact should be opted out and a mail sent to them to inform them that they need to opt back in.

4

itfc2001 added 17:44 - Apr 4 Haven't seen my renewal document as am out of the country. Thanks for the heads up and have now opted out.
1

stuyarmouthblue added 18:37 - Apr 4 As Smithy says, where's the apology?
3

jas0999 added 19:04 - Apr 4 As a minimum I'm expecting Marcus Evans to issue a full and frank aplogiogy. Nothing short of abysmal by the club. A disgrace. I reiterate my previous posts on the matter: there are many fans, for a number of reasons, who won't know how or even that they need to opt out. The club should be ashamed.
3

alfromcol added 19:45 - Apr 4 Opted out by email and got this reply today: """Thank you for your email requesting that you are opted out of the Academy Association Ramsey Friend contribution. This email is to confirm that we have processed your opt out request(s). You will be re-issued a further payment schedule, detailing your new payments, in around two weeks time. It is possible that your first payment date will also be re-scheduled for mid-May 2014""" Not sure why I am being re-issued a further payment schedule as I haven't received one yet??

0

bluebrit added 20:11 - Apr 4 It's an embarrassing cock-up - I've changed the seats for my family and cancelled my eldest son's seat as he's of to University. My email to the club couldn't have been clearer and yet they've managed to cancel the wrong season ticket and charged me at the higher price of my eldest son and also included the £120 for each of us on top. The club made the decision to reduce costs in the ticket office and then end up with this fiasco. I'm sure a lot of people support the academy but cannot afford the costs involved. They need to cancel all academy costs and then ask people to opt in otherwise it looks extremely underhand.

2

harlingblue added 21:21 - Apr 4 I will renew my season ticket. If I choose to support The Academy, it will be MY choice and on MY terms and not ITFC. I will now open my envelope and then decide.
2

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 21:45 - Apr 4 Very poor, underhand move by ITFC. They simply must withdraw this policy and issue an apology.
1

blues1 added 06:12 - Apr 5 if you read the star guys, they have already apologised for the error. jas, everyone will be totally aware that they need to opt out as it will state clearly the need to when you receive your payment schedule.really cant see theres that much difference between an opt in or opt out scheme. simply means those who don't want to do it opt out rather than those who do opting in. as ive said in a previous post on another thread, while there are exceptions(married guy, 2 kids, all getting season tickets), paying an extra £120 now(over 12 months) could save you anything from£200 next season if we get promoted.and those unhappy with this purely on cost im certain will find the extra needed to get a ticket if we in premier league. when, if they had done this scheme this season would hav saved themselves over double,maybe treble what they would have paid out this season.

0

Count_Arthur added 09:07 - Apr 5 When the hard working loyal Town fan has to struggle to even afford the season ticket renewal this whole episode is a shambles. Just think of the fans who don't read these forums and won't realise until their payments start coming out! I can foresee another backlash when the direct debits kick in unless this gets sorted NOW! Town need a decent publicity manager once again not the part time fools they employ at the moment.

0

blues1 added 10:49 - Apr 5 Count arthur. You seem to think that only fans who read theseforums know about this? No, its been in paper and on tv so think every fan will know by now. And no1 will have ne money removed before they do as it will be clearly stated on the payment schedule theyll receive shortly, giving them the time and choice to opt out prior to their 1st payment being taken.
0

Mac added 11:40 - Apr 5 Shame on you Marcs Evans and fellow directors, why do you think you can dupe loyal ITFC season ticket holders this way. May I suggest you look back at the history of our club and the high standards set by the Cobbold family who treated the club supporters with the utmost respect. If the club requires the supporters help, just ask don't take and you will find the vast majority will be supportive.

0

Count_Arthur added 11:57 - Apr 5 Blues1 I am well aware that this has now been reported elsewhere, and the opt out should be/is relatively easy, but there will still be a large number of fans who won't realise that they're being overcharged until the direct debits come out, unless ITFC do a U turn now! We shouldn't be in this situation in the first place!
0

alfromcol added 14:36 - Apr 5 Payment letter, with schedule of payments, including the extra £120, now arrived in the post. The letter says if you have already informed us you wish to opted out, please ignore this schedule.
0

Casbo added 07:50 - Apr 6 Disgusting treatment by the club of their loyal fans. This is the final straw for me after supporting the club since 1966. I have cancelled my season ticket. The people who run ITFC have no local connections and don't care about the local community as evidenced by ending their links with the Trust last year. This was an appalling move as the Trust continues to do great work for especially at risk young people in the area.

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls