GAA urged to offer refunds on tickets
NO CLUB GAMES HAVE BEEN PLAYED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
A COUNTY Wexford GAA fan has called for people who bought season tickets to be refunded the €160 cost after all matches were cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.
Tom Grimes of Drumgoold, Enniscorthy, said he wants to inform other Club Card holders that they are entitled to a full refund and should follow it up with the County Board as he did.
Mr Grimes contacted the County Chairman Derek Kent asking about a refund for his Wexford club ticket, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and disruption to the GAA season in the county.
‘No club matches have been played this year except for a senior league game between Oulart/The Ballagh and Cloughbawn on March 11, which was free to attend anyway,’ he said.
He was informed that Wexford GAA was waiting until the end of May before drafting a policy on a partial or full refund.
He then spoke to the Consumer Rights Commission, explaining that the product he bought in December is not the product he is going to get and complained that there were no terms and conditions on the website.
‘The website does revert you to the main GAA website and when you dig deep, you see the GAA’s terms and conditions that they amended in late March to include Acts of God,’ he said.
‘The Commission informed me that terms and conditions cannot be changed after you make a purchase. Therefore, the County Board are putting themselves in a position where they could end up in the small claims court,’ said Mr. Grimes.
After contacting the Consumer Rights Commission, he wrote to the County Chairman again last week asking for his money back and was informed this time that he would get the refund once staff have returned to the office.
‘This is a controversial issue throughout the county that should be debated and the county board must do the right thing and, at the very least, offer full refunds to whoever wishes to get one,’ he said.
‘Fair enough if people want to use their ticket for next year but anyone who seeks a refund of their season ticket is legally entitled to it and should be given one,’ said Mr Grimes.
In a statement, County Wexford GAA informed 2020 Club Card holders that they will be contacted once details of the format for championships have been ratified formally by the clubs. ‘In the event that no club championships take place, 2020 Club Cards will be valid for 2021 club championships. We appreciate our patrons’ support and understanding on this matter in these uncertain times.’
Mr. Grimes said no one knows whether games will be played this year and even if games are played next year, people with underlying health issues may not wish to attend.
Meanwhile Croke Park, which admisters inter-county season tickets said fans will be offered a partial refund of a discount on their 2021 season ticket if remaining games are not played.
It said the updating of terms and conditions on the season ticket was to give greater clarity not an attempt to step from from its obligations.