A Line Cannot Be Drawn Under This

[Bristol Boy]

Having read the club's official statement, I'm sorry but I don't see this matter ending here.

First of all, there is no explanation as to why a voucher for £16/18 is offered, whilst supporters can only get £10 cash back.After that experience surely the club don't expect all those fans to travel in that way again.

Secondly, can the club tell fans what they are doing to recover costs from those responsible in order to also recover not only a full £16/18 cash refund but a % of the ticket cost for the portion of the game that was missed.

That won't be from Millwall or City, but it should be from those responsible and it would appear from the statement that is:

• The Coach Operator/s
• The Met Police

This is a tremendous opportunity for the club to show solidarity with it's fans and it shouldn't be missed.

The club, IMHO, also have a duty to those fans in the CATS coaches to ensure fair play.

[robins72]

Cant see that happening though. This is almost like a token gift from the club. I certainly will think again about using cats coaches. I was lucky we had a decent steward who has stewarded the same coach for a number of years and got things moving, some were much more unfortunate.

[Bristol Boy]

Cant see that happening though. This is almost like a token gift from the club. I certainly will think again about using cats coaches. I was lucky we had a decent steward who has stewarded the same coach for a number of years and got things moving, some were much more unfortunate.

This warrants FAR more than a token gesture.

[Guest red til dead]

[gamon]

I feel sorry for all the City supporting London residents who were forced onto a train to Temple Meads at Paddington after enduring a 2 hour tube ride packed into cabins like sardines.

[old_man_terry]

sounds like a fair response to me from City.

although they can do as much as they can in organising these trips, once they have people on coaches and away from the gate, their isn't much the club can do to make sure they reach the ground on time.

It's down to the coach firms and the police, it is quite clear that it is down to them in addition to the M4 incidents, the fact is that next season those that travelled will be able to go again for free next season. Alot of people don't like to use CATS, however next season we will be playing either Swansea or Cardiff so if people want to go to those games there is no doubt that to get to them, they will have to travel by City's Coaches, so their is their chance.

City have made an excellent gesture to those affected I believe, and i think as the statement lets concentrate fully on our game on Saturday, if we win that, I doubt many will be bothered about the millwall game and will be looking forward to their heavily discounted travel to either Wolves/West Brom/Charlton etc.

[grebes]

I am really sorry to hear that the BCFC fans who travelled on the coaches had a awful day BUT

Can't it wait until the season's over? The club have the most important game of many a year on Saturday, a wonderful opportunity to finally go up.

Lets all focus on that shall we? Last Saturday's transport issues will pail into insignificance if we win against Rotherham.

Come on you Reds! (The BCFC ones)

[Bristol Boy]

sounds like a fair response to me from City.

Not to me and those that went.....or rather tried to

although they can do as much as they can in organising these trips, once they have people on coaches and away from the gate, their isn't much the club can do to make sure they reach the ground on time.

Nobody has said they could.What they did do was charge people for what they didn't get so, as such and in law they are responsible for refunds AND why don't you address the point that I've made about the discrepancy between the £10 & £16/18

It's down to the coach firms and the police,

Good.Let the club sue them to fund the reimbursement

it is quite clear that it is down to them in addition to the M4 incidents, the fact is that next season those that travelled will be able to go again for free next season.

What, travel with CATS again??

Alot of people don't like to use CATS, however next season we will be playing either Swansea or Cardiff so if people want to go to those games there is no doubt that to get to them, they will have to travel by City's Coaches, so their is their chance.

And if they would like to pay for that next season and have their money back now, what then

City have made an excellent gesture to those affected I believe,

You're right that it's a gesture but it's far from adequate never mind excellent

and i think as the statement lets concentrate fully on our game on Saturday, if we win that, I doubt many will be bothered about the millwall game and will be looking forward to their heavily discounted travel to either Wolves/West Brom/Charlton etc.

West Ham took 6,500 to Wigan free on Saturday-That's excellent and the two situations are completely separate so don't fall for that spin.The players are the ones that need to focus, CS and his entourage should concentrate on selling the ground out...all of it, he can put the Rotherham fans in The Premier Club Seats if he wishes and on obtaining recompense from fans that were shabbily treated

[Bristol Boy]

I am really sorry to hear that the BCFC fans who travelled on the coaches had a awful day BUT

Can't it wait until the season's over? The club have the most important game of many a year on Saturday, a wonderful opportunity to finally go up.

Lets all focus on that shall we? Last Saturday's transport issues will pail into insignificance if we win against Rotherham.

The two matters are totally unconnected.

We are all focused on beating Rotherham and hopefully, the team won't let us down as they did Saturday

[Collis]

Having read the club's official statement, I'm sorry but I don't see this matter ending here.

First of all, there is no explanation as to why a voucher for £16/18 is offered, whilst supporters can only get £10 cash back.After that experience surely the club don't expect all those fans to travel in that way again.

Secondly, can the club tell fans what they are doing to recover costs from those responsible in order to also recover not only a full £16/18 cash refund but a % of the ticket cost for the portion of the game that was missed.

That won't be from Millwall or City, but it should be from those responsible and it would appear from the statement that is:

• The Coach Operator/s
• The Met Police

This is a tremendous opportunity for the club to show solidarity with it's fans and it shouldn't be missed.

The club, IMHO, also have a duty to those fans in the CATS coaches to ensure fair play.

Chill out.

This is BCFC remember. Did you expect Sexstone to turn up at your door with a bouquet of flowers apologising while kissing your feet and complementing your wife?

[freezer]

It was a farce and serious questions need to be anwsered, to make sure that something like it doesn't happen again.

One point, if a driver doesn't speak hardly any English, can he understand road signs, important roadside safety warnings, radio traffic updates etc. If not, isn't that a serious safety issue.

Not sure if I will ever travel CATS again so the voucher thing is out.

Why a refund of only 10pounds?

The club and it's official transport not only lost it's way but 'lost' my son on Saturday. He will be an ex-season ticket holder after Rotherham, and choose his games, and I'm gutted about that. Hopefully we'll have some good away trips together, by car or train.

No, it shouldn't just be 'brushed under the carpet'. CS and BCFC get it sorted, properly. Fobbed off again is no good.

Next season, there will hopefully be many bigger games, how will they be handled if lessons are not learnt from mistakes such as this.

[WTFiGO!?!]

A bit like what collis is saying, leave it Bristol Boy I reckon.

CS has offered his token gesture, what we the fans and the Club itself do not need is this tension five day's prior to what is an enormous game.

We all know Colin Sexston is a ****, it didn't need an episode like this to confirm it.

The lot I really feel for and would be absolutely irate if I was one of them is the coach that never arrived at all. They deserve proper compensation ie/money back plus: compensation.

The Football itself didn't help matters but let us not dwell on that right now.

[Lordofthebling]

Who is paying for the compensation? Anyone know?

Coach company or City?

[WTFiGO!?!]

Who is paying for the compensation? Anyone know?

Coach company or City?

Presumably City will be getting on to the coach company and have them pass the nuggets on.

OB should be chipping in too, but obviously what with them being above the law that won't be happening.

It is not by any means entirely the Club's fault.

[Bristol Boy]

Chill out.

This is BCFC remember. Did you expect Sexstone to turn up at your door with a bouquet of flowers apologising while kissing your feet and complementing your wife?

No I didn't, particularly as I didn't travel by coach.

However stupid remarks that belittle the situation, don't show enough respect to those that were inconvenienced and will allow more of the same to happen in the future.

Nobodys is blaming the club for the initial problem, however their reaction doesn't go far enough in the opinion of many, including my good self.

[Bristol Boy]

Presumably City will be getting on to the coach company and have them pass the nuggets on.

OB should be chipping in too, but obviously what with them being above the law that won't be happening.

It is not by any means entirely the Club's fault.

I don't think it's the clubs fault at all, that isn't the point.

However, as the club accepted payment for a service that wasn't provided, they have a contractual responsibility.Clearly they should offset that by counter claiming against the coach company and/or police if they were clearly responsible, after a full and proper investigation.

There is also a moral duty of care plus an issue of just plain old fashioned fairness and customer service to be considered.

Do the right thing.

[Bristol Boy]

Who is paying for the compensation? Anyone know?

Coach company or City?

City will pay as that is who those on CATS paid.

I assume they will seek reimbursement of those costs from their supplier and the police if they are found responsible.

[Bristol Boy]

A bit like what collis is saying, leave it Bristol Boy I reckon.

Not my style, sorry

CS has offered his token gesture, what we the fans and the Club itself do not need is this tension five day's prior to what is an enormous game.

There is enough tension I'll agree and if I thought for one minute that this would hinder GJ and the team I wouldn't have mentioned it.It's a separate issue and I'm 100% convinced it won't.If the club want to park the issue pending a full investigation and promise full, not partial cash refunds, then I won't post another thing on the matter.

We all know Colin Sexston is a ****, it didn't need an episode like this to confirm it.

There's no need of that, however what has happened thus far is inadequate and must be properly addressed.

The lot I really feel for and would be absolutely irate if I was one of them is the coach that never arrived at all. They deserve proper compensation ie/money back plus: compensation.

Which coach was that?

If that happend I totally agree and it makes a lie of the "Coaches didn't get lost claim, which was quoted in the EP"

The Football itself didn't help matters but let us not dwell on that right now.

And that's the point that GJ is focusing on right now and rightly so.

[Bristol Boy]

It was a farce and serious questions need to be anwsered, to make sure that something like it doesn't happen again.

One point, if a driver doesn't speak hardly any English, can he understand road signs, important roadside safety warnings, radio traffic updates etc. If not, isn't that a serious safety issue.

Not sure if I will ever travel CATS again so the voucher thing is out.

Why a refund of only 10pounds?

The club and it's official transport not only lost it's way but 'lost' my son on Saturday. He will be an ex-season ticket holder after Rotherham, and choose his games, and I'm gutted about that. Hopefully we'll have some good away trips together, by car or train.

No, it shouldn't just be 'brushed under the carpet'. CS and BCFC get it sorted, properly. Fobbed off again is no good.

Next season, there will hopefully be many bigger games, how will they be handled if lessons are not learnt from mistakes such as this.

Spot On!!

[robins72]

I do agree with your comments freezer and bb but from working in the service industry you can make mistakes and put them right. It doesnt mean that the customer forgets though believe me. Ok so they can make a full refund to its paying customers but the damage has already been done. I'm sure that alot of people will still not use cats coaches again because of what happened on Saturday.

[Fodbarmyarmy]

I do agree with your comments freezer and bb but from working in the service industry you can make mistakes and put them right. It doesnt mean that the customer forgets though believe me. Ok so they can make a full refund to its paying customers but the damage has already been done. I'm sure that alot of people will still not use cats coaches again because of what happened on Saturday.

You are of course correct - a lot of people (myself included) will not use the official coaches again - but then again a lot of people also said that back in the day they stopped us having the odd zider on the trips

It was a nightmare day I must admit However this "too little too late" reaction is IMO completley pathetic

The club have recognised that a lot of those who travelled were not satisfied and have offered recompense - we are lucky to get anything at all becuase there is bound to be small print on the tickets etc that dissolve the club from any responsibility for delays or comebacks

Why don't those who cant let it go find out the names of those involved in the accident on the M4 and sue them as well for they are as much to blame!

These things happen - you learn from them and move on - after all when was the last time anything like this occured

Having said that - I will be on the coach to Cardiff next season (Swansea as well if they go up) but not from choice

[Spud55]

The club are in no way what-so-ever obliged to give anyone on the coaches anything at all, they can't control accidents, or any of the other goings on, if you are that bothered then it's on your head to take this up with peter carrol, as if the drivers got lost then that is entirely their fault, but if it was a chain of events that was beyond their control then it's just something that happens.

If the club failed to have enough coaches turn up then that would be an issue for the club to sort out, but i would guess that what has been offered is what they can do, they will have talked to people who know a dman sight more about these sort of proceedings than anyone on here, and mabye 10 pounds per ticket is all they can reasonably expect to get out of peter carrol, as well they are highly unlikely to sit there and just accept liability for this, so i would expect that the best the club could get was guarenteed free travel to another game for anyone who was inconvinienced or a portion of their ticket fee back.

Unless that the club can Proove that the coaches were lost, which is kinda difficult as it's going to be word against word, then persuing this would be a further waste of time and money.

If it's that much of an issue to you then you are more than welcome to take it to a civil court to get your money back, but in the end of the day city have no obligation to give you anything, as frankly they only provide a service to get coaches to ag at the time specified, after that it bcomes peter carrols responsibility, everyone got on the coaches on time so city have done all they offer to do, peter carrol ###### up and it's them you should be taking this up with.

[dezgimed]

Well I saw the whole game, got there on time, and I get £10 back..

Bargain I say..

[Busterrimes]

Good points raised there Spud. Peter Carol will say that no coach was supposed to make it's own way to the New Den, they were to head for Blackheath where the police were to take over. The drivers were not provided with directions to the ground therefore if you made it to Blackheath then Peter Carol did their job and the fault then moves to the Met police who were supposed to wait until all coaches arrived.

Did the police try and find out where the other coaches were? No they just took six to the ground and left the rest to fend for themselves. The police take much of the responsibility for this and that is who should be tackled, not the club.

[Bristol Boy]

The club are in no way what-so-ever obliged to give anyone on the coaches anything at all,

Don't you read the rest of the threads? Yes they are under contract law.They accepted payment for a service that wasn't provided.If you didn't pay Peter Carroll, how can you reclaim money you didn't pay someone.....Just think about it

they can't control accidents, or any of the other goings on,

You've missed the point.They can't but their supplier can & should have

if you are that bothered then it's on your head to take this up with peter carrol, as if the drivers got lost then that is entirely their fault, but if it was a chain of events that was beyond their control then it's just something that happens.

See above and please list the chain of events and then explain why people that drove to the game left hours later only to arrive hours earlier.If you can't your argument doesn't hold any credence.

If the club failed to have enough coaches turn up then that would be an issue for the club to sort out,

Why, if they had ordered them it wouldn't.That would also be the suppliers fault

but i would guess that what has been offered is what they can do,

Then your guess is wrong

they will have talked to people who know a dman sight more about these sort of proceedings than anyone on here,

Really? Who's that then

and mabye 10 pounds per ticket is all they can reasonably expect to get out of peter carrol, as well they are highly unlikely to sit there and just accept liability for this, so i would expect that the best the club could get was guarenteed free travel to another game for anyone who was inconvinienced or a portion of their ticket fee back.

That was what was immediately offered which in itself shows that liability is not in question

Unless that the club can Proove that the coaches were lost, which is kinda difficult as it's going to be word against word, then persuing this would be a further waste of time and money.

Don't talk piffle.If they missed the Police Pick Up Point (Which some did)If they stopped and asked for directions and bought maps (Which they did) If they tried to get to Millwall via Hammersmith (Which Some Did) and if people in cars left later and arrived earlier what possible alternative explanation is available??

If it's that much of an issue to you then you are more than welcome to take it to a civil court to get your money back, but in the end of the day city have no obligation to give you anything, as frankly they only provide a service to get coaches to ag at the time specified, after that it bcomes peter carrols responsibility, everyone got on the coaches on time so city have done all they offer to do, peter carrol ###### up and it's them you should be taking this up with.

Utterly incorrect and mind numbingly banal

[Bristol Boy]

Good points raised there Spud.

Really

Peter Carol will say that no coach was supposed to make it's own way to the New Den, they were to head for Blackheath where the police were to take over.

Fantastic.I don't care if the Met Police or Peter Carroll were responsible, that makes no difference as to the compensation that should be paid in terms of a full cash refund of coach travel as a minimum.

My understanding from reading what our supporters have written and speaking to one steward from an official coach, is that coaches missed the pick up point and therefore didn't meet the police on time or at all.Have you read what any of those people actually on the coaches have said or do you prefer to read the bilge from people defending a position who weren't? Or are all our fans lying??

The drivers were not provided with directions to the ground therefore if you made it to Blackheath then Peter Carol did their job and the fault then moves to the Met police who were supposed to wait until all coaches arrived.

Clearly they didn't.Peter Carroll were contracted to collect & deliver 17 coach loads of fans from AG, take them to Millwall & Back.On Time & Safely.What they arranged with the Met Police is a matter for them and that's why the club will offset what they give fans against their supplier and no doubt Peter Carroll will do the same with their sub contractors.

Did the police try and find out where the other coaches were? No they just took six to the ground and left the rest to fend for themselves. The police take much of the responsibility for this and that is who should be tackled, not the club.

And where does it say the club were responsible for the problems? Read & understand what's written.The salient point is:

The club have offered to pay refunds, but they are not equitable due to the discrepancy between cash & voucher.