The True Cost of Phoning 0844-815-5000

[stockyfox]

Having eventually got through to buy a ticket for Saturday,I also took the opportunity to convey my irritation and frustration with the fact that one is obliged to wait until whenever, to actually speak to someone.

Moreover, I was able to substantiate my annoyance with these specific details, courtesy of my monthly itemised Virgin Media phone bill,which showed that:

From 24^th Juneto 21^st July,

I had made 13 calls

Lasting for a cumulative time of 86 minutes

At an overall cost of £8-84

To which 20% VAT is added to give

A grand total of £10-61

A few days ago, (after 21^st July), I had phoned and first heard the recorded message 'apologising' for keeping me waiting but I was told my call was 'important' to them and I was encouraged to 'please hold and you will be connected to the next available operator. Please have yourclient number etc etc .

Then suddenly, I was told that I had been placed in a queue and I was number 18. I decided to hang on and then I was told that I was slowly moving up the queue and I was now number .................................. 17.After 43 minutes, I was number 2 and then I was cut off and told that all the operators were busy and so I would now be placed in a queue!

I put the phone down and redialled 'Reception' only to be told that the phones to the ticket office had been down from 7 o'clock that morning and the engineers were working on it.

[Dylan]

It's a shambles.

After emailing LCFC several times and being ignored on all occasions, I decided to ring up today.

Started off 12th in the queue so I waited. Once I got up to near number 1, after about 18mins, I was placed on another 'hold' queue, (which played another recorded message). I decided to wait, and after another 15 minutes, I had no answer so I decided to put the phone down thinking it never would. 35 minutes of my time wasted, and NO answer to my query!

[Head Honcho]

Had my BT bill and they stung me for £2.00 for being on the phone for over an hour.

Sent off a sarky letter but no response from the powers that be.

When I did get through though the ticket office were great which I also conveyed to them in my "sarky letter".

Shame no one at the Ricoh knew where my ticket was, they took so long to find it. I only found out at half time that Vassell had been sent off!

[John Matrix]

that's mental

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Consider using 0116 229 5000, although you might have to ask nicely to be put through to the ticket office.

[thybluefox]

I was on hold for 35 minutes at lunch today until being cut off. I then had to get my dad to ring who was on hold for 40 minutes before actually getting through to someone.

Useless

[Fox92]

I don't understand is, I phoned up today and got through to number 1 in the line (it took about 15 minutes which is fairly good really). It then took another 30 minutes to actually be spoken to (longer than what I had to wait to get from 11 to 1 in the line).

Realistically, are they that busy?

[Neil_LCFC]

The year we won league 1 I rang up for peterborough away tickets on my mobile as I was at work. It took me nearly an hour, the first two calls got cut off after 20 mins and I had to start again. On the 3rd call I got thru with 1 minute remaining of the 20 min cut off time. Grand total when my bill came in was over £14 . I was calling to buy a £17 terrace ticket which cost me £31 in the end !

[Rich Fox]

Consider using 0116 229 5000, although you might have to ask nicely to be put through to the ticket office.

Tell them your phoning from abroad that may help them put you through.

[Dan]

How have they not sorted this? Tell you what I like the upgrade to the ticket office/fanstore but there was hardly anything wrong with them, this on the other hand, has been a problem for years.

[The Year Of The Fox]

I had the same trouble when trying to purchase my home tix for playoff semi after already purchasing next seasons ST. As the playoff tix were being sold via ticketmaster, they had not yet got confirmation that i'd purchased a ST (entitling me to a ticket for the home leg) as ticketmaster was an inbound call centre they were unable to phone our ticket office and speak directly to each other.

Cue me acting as the go between, getting cut off 3 times each after 20mins. After the 3rd time I blew my top and emailed the TO. To be fair they rang back quite quickly and sorted it. But the numerous attempted calls to both numbers set me back 30 odd quid on my bill.

I emailed our fanzone complaining and asking for a refund. Nothing was ever done.

My mate still hasn't received his ST as of today. When he eventually got through after being on hold 55mins (he didn't get cut off after 20 for some reason) he was told his account had been put on hold (whatever that means, as he has paid his direct debit) so as it stand right now he doesn't have a ST. He was told they would get back to him later today which they didn't do.

The TO are severley pissing fans off now. It makes simple maths to cram the TO with as many staff as possible on days where they know its gonna be busy. The more staff they have on the more tickets they sell.

I'm suprised noones bothered try to take this up with the new CEO. Surely she can't be aware of the farce that is our TO.

Maybe channel 4 should start a new tv series called undercover fan.

[Al-aLondon-Foxile]

It's a shambles.

After emailing LCFC several times and being ignored on all occasions, I decided to ring up today.

Started off 12th in the queue so I waited. Once I got up to near number 1, after about 18mins, I was placed on

another 'hold' queue, (which played another recorded message). I decided to wait, and after another 15 minutes, I had no answer so I decided to put the phone down thinking it never would. 35 minutes of my time wasted, and NO answer to my query!

this is their system, I waited in a que at 6th place for 55 mins last Thursday for cov tickets. When you get to no.1 you go onto a different system and it was a worry but I stuck with it & got the tickets. Not a goo system tho & dunno how much I'll pay,

[I am Rod Hull]

Obviously there`s MORE than one born every minute....

[fox ache]

Is it just me or cant anyone use the online booking!!!! Tried several times yesterday for Forest.......it went all the way to `adult £30 - online sales - seat 411 - ticket 1`, then nothing!!!!

Had to phone today at work ----- 45 minutes ,started at 17th got down to number 2 then had to wait another 15 minutes listening to "please hold - please hold"

AAAARRRGGGHH

[Daggers]

...but

...but

...free Fans Village

[Guest Bilo]

You're welcome.

[davieG]

You're welcome.

The last time I looked in there it offered the reception phone, you ring that and they tell you to ring the TO number.

[MPH]

...but

...but

...free Fans Village

yeah... no point offering a free fans village if you are going to let the fans down with a shoddy booking service...

If they are serious about improving the match day process and stuff they need to get all professional about things like this...

[The Year Of The Fox]

No point in having a free fans village at the ground when you can't even buy a match ticket

[Rocket-Ron]

I thought that I was the only one this happened to. I was cut off twice on Wednesday whilst talking to the operator frustrating after being on the line for 30 mins each time. At one stage I even got as far as giving my expiry date on my card.

The friends and family didn't work for me either.

All in all I started on the phone at 9 and got off about 10:50.

[billyfox1]

I had the same troubles trying to contact the club so I ended up emailing a large complaint to the fanzone email address and got the following response.

I tried to contact you by phone earlier. I can only apologise for the problems you have experienced. You SHOULD have received your Season Ticket by now, they have all left the stadium, all be it, later than they should have done. That is completely Leicester City’s fault. Our problems have then been escalated, as you are not alone in not having received your Season Ticket and of course, as we instructed supporters to do, everyone has tried to contact us by phone, to say they had not received them, which has caused the phones to go into meltdown. Again, our fault entirely.

I am still hopeful your season ticket will arrive before Saturday, (according to Royal Mail there is no reason to suggest it won’t) however we have put in place a contingency plan in the event them not arriving.

IF you do not receive your Season Ticket by Saturday morning, please either:-

· Visit the Ticket Office in the City Fanstore, prior to 1pm on Saturday and you will be issued with duplicate tickets for Saturday’s and next Wednesday’s game. At least this way, we can guarantee you will see the game.

· If you cannot get to the ground until after 1pm, then please visit the Sub Ticket Office 1, positioned past Turnstiles 7-12 as you approach the Kop (going past Main Reception) and again, duplicate tickets will be issued.

I do appreciate this is an inconvenience to you and on behalf of the Club, I do apologise. My job now however is at the very least, to ensure supporters can get in for the next two games whilst the postal backlog clears.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me

Yours sincerely

Chris Tinbergen

Head of Consumer Sales

Leicester City Football Club

[stockyfox]

It would appear that my initial posting on this thread and the subsequent replies received both on Foxes Talk and Bentley's Roof has this morning elicited a detailed apology and response from the Club which is now on the Official Website.

It may be a coincidence but whatever, the Club has now openly acknowledged the problem and is addressing how to improve the situation.

[Alpha Gifts & Awards]

Sympathise with everyone's frustrations, but I would encourage you all to do this via the website, which I'd imagine is easy for the club.

Equally, there are a number of call inclusive phone packages available, which would nulify the issues some of you face, should you have one. Now I'm not in the club's employment, but run a business, thus can understand things from both sides. Managing hundreds of callers at once is extremely difficult, but I'm sure they are committed to doing better.

Hope it's easy on you all next time .

[Alexikokopops]

You're welcome.

The last time I looked in there it offered the reception phone, you ring that and they tell you to ring the TO number.

Yep, same here. I'm yet to find a non-premium number for the Ticket Office

[markbsac]

i was 24th in the cue...waited 20 mins..got to no1 ...and then was cut off and told to ring back later !!! very angry.......whay cant we have an 0116 number. god its pence they make on 0844 and it just annoys the fans