Wanderers fans pay twice for tickets

1:08pm Tuesday 1st July 2008

BOLTON Wanderers have pledged to pay any bank fees of hundreds of fans left out of pocket following a season-ticket error.

Supporters who bought tickets over the phone or on the internet were charged twice last week.

The club has written an to apologise for the error to the 627 fans affected.

Wanderers said there was a problem with the electronic banking system on Tuesday and Wednesday, which meant they took at least £300,000 extra.

The money is expected to be credited back to the fans' accounts today.

One fan, who was charged £409 twice for his season ticket, said: "When I phoned Wanderers to tell them a mistake has been made I was told that hundreds of fans had been affected by this.

"They said it could take weeks for it to be credited back to my account, so I was not very happy. The Bolton News yesterday said Phil Gartside is trying to win back the fans, well this has not helped."

Gareth Robinson, Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association chairman, said: "Mistakes happen and I'm sure this has not been done deliberately.

"It is just unfortunate timing when the club is trying to build bridges with the fans after last season."

A spokesman for Wanderers said: "We have an external system for payments provided by a company called VeriFone.

"The system was faulty on Tuesday and Wednesday last week which meant that 627 transactions were duplicated.

"We have contacted all the people who were affected and the money will be credited back to them by the close of play today."

The club has also agreed to pay any bank charges supporters have been stung with as a result of the error.

Compensation could be on offer for some fans.

The spokesman said: "The priority is to get the money back to them.

"We want to apologise for any inconvenience and stress that we are just as unhappy about the situation."