2024 Membership - New record!

[dogwatch]

I messaged my bank online, asking them to block it from going through, as its stuck pending. Told them it is an unauthorized transaction. Hopefully they block it, to save me from having to make any phone calls.

Poor form by the club to not have addressed this.

As I've mentioned before I put this in my responses in the recent members' survey. I hope others did too.

Also as we can infer from RooGal's post elsewhere, this appears to be a widespread practice, probably driven by the AFL and Racketmaster or whoever their membership ticketing partner in crime dubious activities is.

So while the club is complicit in going along with it, it probably doesn't get a lot of say in the matter. The problem is almost certainly further up the food chain and they are the ones who need to be brought to account. However our only point of leverage (outside legal action or going to ACCC or a member of federal parliament) is with the club. Any pressure applied to the club can't hurt. Not sure how much it'll help though.

 

[LondonBulldog]

After we all sacrificed dollars over covid and didn't attend a single game how quickly that generosity is forgotten. They know they got me, love the club spend a couple of thousands each year yet her are a list of things:

• Added Ballarat, o.k fine, yet that meant 11 home games and reserved seat went to 9 game, yet prices went up!
• Lost our replacement games, meaning membership value goes down again.
• Let non bulldog supporter by tickets in "members reserve" meaning we need to deal with idiots from the opposite (some who sneak in with the sole purpose to cause trouble).
• As above, auto renew without informing your members, used to it now, yet poor form. Also people like me brought tickets just to get them to the record. I don't want to auto renew, so I need to call. Probably already taken first month, as I'm slow to act.
• Stuff up the finals tickets for reserve seat holders.
• Never explain why costs are going up higher than inflation.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

I messaged my bank online, asking them to block it from going through, as its stuck pending. Told them it is an unauthorized transaction. Hopefully they block it, to save me from having to make any phone calls.

Poor form by the club to not have addressed this.

Have you rung them and asked them to reverse it?

 

[_Cerberus_]

Have you rung them and asked them to reverse it?

Not yet, giving the bank first dibs
If they are unable to, then I will be giving the club a call.

As I've mentioned before I put this in my responses in the recent members' survey. I hope others did too.

Also as we can infer from RooGal's post elsewhere, this appears to be a widespread practice, probably driven by the AFL and Racketmaster or whoever their membership ticketing partner in crime dubious activities is.

So while the club is complicit in going along with it, it probably doesn't get a lot of say in the matter. The problem is almost certainly further up the food chain and they are the ones who need to be brought to account. However our only point of leverage (outside legal action or going to ACCC or a member of federal parliament) is with the club. Any pressure applied to the club can't hurt. Not sure how much it'll help though.

I'm glad someone has put it forward to the club. But you're possibly right about the AFL and Ticketmaster having a say in this. So the clubs hands may be tied, and I will give them the benefit of the doubt. But it would be nice if the club could address this and be up front about it.

I genuinely think the ACCC should be notified. This would definitely be a breach of some regulations. Especially auto renewing without prior consent.

 

[Sentinel]

This club can walk a plank. When I purchased a 3 game membership at the end of this year. There was not an option asking for their permission to renew automatically. Nor was there any warning that it would occur.

Instead today, when I needed to buy groceries. I was left at the check out unable to process my purchase, due to insufficient funds. Turns out that took money out of my account for a membership I never asked for. Left me in an awkward spot as I had to step aside, hold up the line, and transfer funds across from another account.

The fact the club has taken it on themselves to auto renew without your consent. Has left me feeling pretty unimpressed. It should be the other way around, auto renew doesn't occur unless SOMEONE selects it. Not very professional at all.

The fact that so many of you here have complained about it happening as well, yet the club has chosen not to fix it. Shows how poorly they have handled the whole thing.

I heavily edited this post, as initially I posted it at a time I let my temperament get the better of me.

Thanks for the heads up. I just checked my account and can see I've been deducted today, yet the email I received said it shouldn't be done until next Monday.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Thanks for the heads up. I just checked my account and can see I've been deducted today, yet the email I received said it shouldn't be done until next Monday.

View attachment 2150353
View attachment 2150355

Yes, I got something similar, a few weeks ago.

It also gave a link to check the invoice, which I did (via Ticketwhatever). One year they omitted to include the Social Club add-on, which they quickly restored when I rang up.

 

[Bulldog in Kiev]

I cancelled auto renew last year after it was applied without consent as just prefer to renew when it suits me.
Manually renewed in December and now find I am back on auto renew with payment deducted. Did not see any mention or consent to do this and it is wrong.
Have emailed the club and let them know my thoughts as it’s very poor whether them or whoever.

 

[Bulldog rick]

My 2025 membership came out today as well. But as far as I am concerned the club has done everything correctly. They advised me on the 4/10/24 by email that this would occur.

...and there is option to contact the club if you wish to discuss alternative options.

Go dogs you good things.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

My 2025 membership came out today as well. But as far as I am concerned the club has done everything correctly. They advised me on the 4/10/24 by email that this would occur.
View attachment 2150444
...and there is option to contact the club if you wish to discuss alternative options.

Go dogs you good things.

Yep.

I agree that a lot of what the club does seems a bit slimy, and they're hiding good deals the previous season in an attempt to recoup more money the following year by auto-signing people up in the hope that they're too lazy or whatever to cancel it (I don't want my football club to take advantage of people's laziness in raising revenue).

At the same time, I feel a lot of heartache could have been avoided if people just read and responded to their emails and took the time. It's not something we should have to do, but it's still something people could have done.

That being said, when I rang up and cancelled, I did leave some feedback that I was disappointed with some of the club's membership practices (while being respectful). There's no reason why I shouldn't trust that that feedback wasn't taken on.

 

[Sentinel]

Yep.

I agree that a lot of what the club does seems a bit slimy, and they're hiding good deals the previous season in an attempt to recoup more money the following year by auto-signing people up in the hope that they're too lazy or whatever to cancel it (I don't want my football club to take advantage of people's laziness in raising revenue).

At the same time, I feel a lot of heartache could have been avoided if people just read and responded to their emails and took the time. It's not something we should have to do, but it's still something people could have done.

That being said, when I rang up and cancelled, I did leave some feedback that I was disappointed with some of the club's membership practices (while being respectful). There's no reason why I shouldn't trust that that feedback wasn't taken on.

In my case, I read the email and what they told me would happen (payment to be processed on the 28th) did not happen (because it was processed today, the 23rd).

This kind of thing is unacceptable for a professional organisation and erodes goodwill. They rely on the loyalty of supporters to turn a blind eye to it - if this were another company I'd be taking my business elsewhere immediately.

 

[dogwatch]

Yep.

I agree that a lot of what the club does seems a bit slimy, and they're hiding good deals the previous season in an attempt to recoup more money the following year by auto-signing people up in the hope that they're too lazy or whatever to cancel it (I don't want my football club to take advantage of people's laziness in raising revenue).

At the same time, I feel a lot of heartache could have been avoided if people just read and responded to their emails and took the time. It's not something we should have to do, but it's still something people could have done.

That being said, when I rang up and cancelled, I did leave some feedback that I was disappointed with some of the club's membership practices (while being respectful). There's no reason why I shouldn't trust that that feedback wasn't taken on.

We're also talking about people who have NEVER authorised an auto-renewal finding that the merchants have gone ahead and done it anyway.

Arrogant. Disrespectful. Predatory. Probably illegal. If not, then it's certainly unethical.

It may not be the club doing the actual auto-deduction but that's certainly how it looks to the consumer. Which makes it even more distasteful.

 

[FootyFun]

Sorry to hear about continuing unauthorised deduction from credit cards.

I had the membership office cancel my credit card number from their records. I now only pay by cash.

I emailed the Membership Manager two years ago explaining all these troubling activities by the membership department. The Manager’s response absolutely NOTHING.

Obviously ignored my request to monitor membership threads on here to understand how his/her practices turn people off the club.

Told the manager if they decided not to accept cash, I am done after 55 yrs of membership. IGNORED, I am surprised cash wasn’t cancelled to give me the flick as they have no principals, decency or give a stuff about members. They only care about what money they can get.

I am questioning the responsibility I have for renewing and thereby endorsing the Club’s worst practices.

A dilemma, love the players hate what our Club has become.

 

[dogwatch]

Sorry to hear about continuing unauthorised deduction from credit cards.

I had the membership office cancel my credit card number from their records. I now only pay by cash.

I emailed the Membership Manager two years ago explaining all these troubling activities by the membership department. The Manager’s response absolutely NOTHING.

Obviously ignored my request to monitor membership threads on here to understand how his/her practices turn people off the club.

Told the manager if they decided not to accept cash, I am done after 55 yrs of membership. IGNORED, I am surprised cash wasn’t cancelled to give me the flick as they have no principals, decency or give a stuff about members. They only care about what money they can get.

I am questioning the responsibility I have for renewing and thereby endorsing the Club’s worst practices.

A dilemma, love the players hate what our Club has become.

I don't want to let our club off the hook but it's not just us. It's clearly happening elsewhere too. I suspect it's a systemic problem starting at the top and the clubs have to go along with it.

It's hard to know because nobody is saying a word about it. Certainly not the accredited media who won't bite the hand that feeds them. The AFL made an example of Mick Warner by removing his accreditation and it seems like that has scared everyone else into line.

 

[TommyD13]

I was emailed and informed that I would be having my auto-renewal deducted yesterday (fine with that happening).

But I thought it was weird to not get an email, either confirming they’d taken the money or some kind of invoice as is usually the case if you make an online purchase. Or hell… even a thank you for contributing money to the club…

 

[Highlander]

Sorry if this has been covered as I have not read the whole thread.

I have just been speaking with the club about their shifty auto renewal system, apparently it's somewhere in the T&C and you have to call up to cancel every year, because to buy a membership you agree to the T&C.

I love the club but that is ****ed.

 

[Fossie 32]

Sorry if this has been covered as I have not read the whole thread.

I have just been speaking with the club about their shifty auto renewal system, apparently it's somewhere in the T&C and you have to call up to cancel every year, because to buy a membership you agree to the T&C.

I love the club but that is ****ed.

Yeah maybe they are covered legally but morally it is bullshit. I'd like to see where we agree to terms and conditions and where the clause about auto renewals is. Who reads all that when agreeing to buying things? I assume they will behave like an honourable organisation without having shifty clauses in there. Bad move I guess.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Sorry if this has been covered as I have not read the whole thread.

I have just been speaking with the club about their shifty auto renewal system, apparently it's somewhere in the T&C and you have to call up to cancel every year, because to buy a membership you agree to the T&C.

I love the club but that is ****ed.

But they do still notify you in advance that they are going to do it around a certain date. Just ring up and tell them not to.

 

[Dogs 13]

Sorry if this has been covered as I have not read the whole thread.

I have just been speaking with the club about their shifty auto renewal system, apparently it's somewhere in the T&C and you have to call up to cancel every year, because to buy a membership you agree to the T&C.

I love the club but that is ****ed.

But they do still notify you in advance that they are going to do it around a certain date. Just ring up and tell them not to.

The terms & conditions state that if you want to cancel your membership “product” you have to complete an opt out form and send it to the club or complete it at Whitten Oval.
It seems when you join up you automatically go on the Committed Bulldog process and you’ll be automatically renewed every year.
They’re deliberately making it difficult to opt out. I don’t see how you can sign up for just one year. Once the hooks are in the train just keeps on rolling. Perhaps paying in cash (or cheque ) is the only way so they don’t have your account details.
It’s just not right !!

 

[Highlander]

But they do still notify you in advance that they are going to do it around a certain date. Just ring up and tell them not to.

We shouldn't need to, this is a Foxtel tactic.
A simple check box when buying a membership is all that is needed.
No wonder why we get a record membership every year.
I've been a member for I think 27 consecutive years, I'm always going to get a membership, but this method is pathetic and gross.

 

[ossie_21]

Sorry if this has been covered as I have not read the whole thread.

I have just been speaking with the club about their shifty auto renewal system, apparently it's somewhere in the T&C and you have to call up to cancel every year, because to buy a membership you agree to the T&C.

I love the club but that is ****ed.

Yeah maybe they are covered legally but morally it is bullshit. I'd like to see where we agree to terms and conditions and where the clause about auto renewals is. Who reads all that when agreeing to buying things? I assume they will behave like an honourable organisation without having shifty clauses in there. Bad move I guess.

Unfortunately…this is the “new normal”

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

The terms & conditions state that if you want to cancel your membership “product” you have to complete an opt out form and send it to the club or complete it at Whitten Oval.
It seems when you join up you automatically go on the Committed Bulldog process and you’ll be automatically renewed every year.
They’re deliberately making it difficult to opt out. I don’t see how you can sign up for just one year. Once the hooks are in the train just keeps on rolling. Perhaps paying in cash (or cheque ) is the only way so they don’t have your account details.
It’s just not right !!

Ok, sorry, this might be different from Bulldog for Life, which is what my membership is.

 

[Mantis Toboggan]

Yeah maybe they are covered legally but morally it is bullshit. I'd like to see where we agree to terms and conditions and where the clause about auto renewals is. Who reads all that when agreeing to buying things? I assume they will behave like an honourable organisation without having shifty clauses in there. Bad move I guess.

I’d be interested to see if it is legal. Stuff like FOXTEL and rolling subscriptions, you very clearly acknowledge a set of terms and conditions when you sign up. I have certainly never done that with my Bulldogs membership. What good are terms and conditions if they are not provided to the interested party?

Anyway, like you say, it’s morally bullshit any way you look at it.

 

[Mantis Toboggan]

My membership is up to $800 this year. It’s a lot of money when you consider the games flogged off to Ballarat with no replacement game coming back like they did in years gone by.

Hopefully we’re not dealt too many Thursday/Friday night games next year too. Thursday night is especially turd for those of us juggling early mornings with Bulldog induced compulsive drinking.

 

[Dogs 13]

Ok, sorry, this might be different from Bulldog for Life, which is what my membership is.

I think they changed it from Bulldog for Life to Committed Bulldog a few years back.

 

[Dogs 13]

Wouldn't it be nice if membership chimed in and addressed some of these concerns.
I have no doubt they monitor this forum.