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Original poster

Is this theft?

19 replies

squally · 30/12/2006 12:53

hoping for some other opinions on this as i'm pretty cross about this.
My DH who is a lovely trusting bloke, owns a season ticket to a premiership football club. He sits next to his "mate" who lives nearer the club than we do and also has a season ticket. Last season, whenever DH couldnt get to a match this mate tried to find someone to go on the understanding that they would pay DH for the ticket. This mate took one particular bloke three times who promised to pay but never has.
DH has tried to contact him on numerous occasions and this bloke has avoided paying. He now says that DH should just forget it and he shouldnt be calling in such an old debt!
The "mate" works with this bloke and has done nothing to help.
Do we have a leg to stand on legally? I know it seems petty but I feel that he has stolen money from us.
You wouldnt go to a restaurant or a concert and not expect to pay for it so why should this be any different.
any thoughts from DPs/DHs would be good. Thanks

OP posts:

Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 30/12/2006 12:57

I'm not sure it would be worth going down the legal route.

Unfortunately, I think you have to just put it down to a bad experience, learn from it and never hand out a ticket again without money upfront.

Sorry this guy has been such a shit

Aimsmum · 30/12/2006 12:58

Message withdrawn

LorinaLovesSprouts · 30/12/2006 12:58

I'm not sure about this.

I dont think you can lend some else your season ticket.Its against the rules isnt it ?

Also it hasnt actually cost you anything because the season ticket had been paid for upfront regardless of whether anyone used it or not.

It is pretty annoying when someone says they will give you something/some money and then they dont. I can see why you are cross but I dont think you can do anything. Sorry.

Judy1234 · 30/12/2006 12:59

Why not write him a letter demanding the money? I think the friend arranged the arrangement with the other person on your behalf. Presumably he told him he would have to pay? Is there any way to check that first? If he did then the friend has to pay. If he wasn't told he had to pay then your complaint is against the "mate".

Judy1234 · 30/12/2006 13:00

good point on lending the season ticket - is it like a train pass you're not allowed to pass on in which case the whole arrangement breached the season ticket rules in the first place so you're not likely to get anywhere unless the man who should have paid simply pays up if you write to him I suppose.

LorinaLovesSprouts · 30/12/2006 13:00

Oh gosh do you think the freind took the money off someone else and just isnt handing it on to your Dh ? Because that is awful. he isnt a friend at all.

Tinker · 30/12/2006 13:02

Don't think it's theft, just dishonourable if offered to pay. Agree that you've already accepted potential loss by buying a season ticket without being certain you can attend all games. In fact, think it might even be cheeky to ask for payment in first place.

LIZS · 30/12/2006 13:05

Sorry your dh has been let down but I suspect the season ticket would be non transferable anyway so him letting someone else use it would be dodgy in itself.

Original poster

squally · 30/12/2006 13:07

I don't know the rules about passing on your ticket but I assume its okay as long as the person entering the ground has the ticket with them. Its not so much about the money, as I know DH pays upfront in the summer for the whole season so if he doesn't go he loses that portion anyway. Its more that I hate seeing people take advantage of his good nature and this bloke was definately told that he would need to pay to go to the match.
If it was a good mate of DH he would probably not ask for the money anyway. Its more the principal that this man thinks its okay to behave like this IYSWIM

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 30/12/2006 13:13

you can lend your season ticket to other people (normally the only time you can't do this is if it is in the family stand where normally, the season tickets have a photo of you on them for security reasons)

you just have to be upfront with whoever you give the ticket to - next time, your dh will have to take responsibility for placing the ticket if he can't go and that way, he can make sure he's selling the ticket to someone he knows will give him the money.

I'm afraid I'd write this off as a lesson learned (and be quite pissed off with his mate).

foxinsocks · 30/12/2006 13:16

it's also not cheeky to ask for payment - it's a valid way of getting a ticket to a game. Although we normally use our season tickets, for many premiership clubs, it's the only way you can guarantee you'll have a ticket for every home game (and can apply for the away/European games). Most of the tickets you see for sale (that aren't through the club) are people who've bought season tickets and then sell the games off one by one.

Original poster

squally · 30/12/2006 13:21

Thanks foxinsocks
I don't particularly like this mate anyway, he was an usher at our wedding and hardly spoke to me but that's another story!
I think we will do as you suggest from now on. I would rather lose the money than have the mickey taken. Also I think that DH is a bit hurt that his mate won't get involved even though he made the arrangement. Will be more circumspect in future.

OP posts:

Freckle · 30/12/2006 13:22

I'm surprised that your dh lent the ticket out more than once when he hadn't received payment for the first time.

Also, just as an aside, they did enter into a legally binding contract - the other chap agreed to pay £x to your dh in return for the loan of the season ticket. He is now in breach of that contract. However, to enforce that would probably involve legal proceedings which I suspect you won't want to issue.

I would also get dh to speak to the "go-between" and make it very clear that no such arrangement will be entered into as neither he nor the other chap can be trusted. If I were the one who had arranged it, I would be mortified if my friend reneged on the deal.

kiskidee · 30/12/2006 13:26

agree that he has to put it down to a lesson in life. it would make me dubious about his 'mate' too.

kiskidee · 30/12/2006 13:28

my grandad, a craftly old businessman, said he never gets angry with the man who cons him. because there is one less con that someone will put over him.

Original poster

squally · 30/12/2006 13:54

Freckle - unfortunately mate had posession of ticket as DH had knee surgery and couldn't get out for a couple of months. But this is what i mean about him being too trusting...after the 1st two times mate said "its okay he is definately sending you a cheque" and of course DH believed him. I am much more cynical i'm afraid and would have asked for money up front. second baby due on Jan 20th (day of chelsea match) and mate definately NOT getting the ticket for that one even if i'm in labour!!!

OP posts:

Tortington · 30/12/2006 13:56

i dont understand the knicker twist.

someone said they would pay for it - and they didn't - so dont do it again.

he's only a mug if he lets himself be a mug.

on the reality side - supposing somene said "yes this is theft"
would you go to small clams cour?

your dh has been took for a ride. hard shit - leave it - move on live and learn.

Freckle · 30/12/2006 14:04

Then "mate" should pay up. He lent the ticket assuring dh that his mate was sending payment. If he has any moral fibre, he would pay dh and try to get the money back from his mate.

It is not theft. It is, however, breach of a civil contract.

Earlybird · 30/12/2006 14:05

Agree with custardo. Your husband has learned a hard/unpleasant lesson about his mate. But, I wouldn't let things get too ugly with this mate if your husband wants to enjoy attending matches in future. Wouldn't be too nice to sit every match right next to someone with whom you'd had a huge row/falling out.

Just make sure unused tickets are disposed of differently in future.

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