So here's a rant: Entry at BE events

rotters13

rotters13

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So I have two horses entered at an event. One goes lame (with vet certificate) and I ask to move the other horse (SAME CLASS) into that horse's slot. Firstly I am told that this will cost £12. Since I have the times already I cannot believe that I am causing a HUGE uprising, I have two slots and I don't believe that switching the horses round is worthy of paying a £12 fee. At an event last week when the same thing happened, I got my entry fee back, and my times changed and there was no mention of admin fees or we'll keep your money anyway.

Also, despite the event BALLOTED they didn't hold a waitlist. So whilst no doubt the withdrawn horses space will be filled, I cannot be given back my entry fee which I thought I would be able to as I was able to produce a vet certificate. Apparently, even if I can provide my slot to someone else, I still won't get my money back.

Quite frankly: I'm going showjumping.
Am I overreacting?
 
Sadly one needs to check individual events' T&Cs for entries and refunds policy. Not all are the same. If more people checked up and voted with th

Difficult in a year like this one where one's grateful for any chance to get out though.
 
No you are not. IMO swapping times should not incur the admin charge and all events should have to hold a waitlist - it should be compulsory. They should also have to keep accepting entries after the closing date even if they go onto a waitlist because then if you w/d you have the chance of a run.

Pontispool did this to me this year - I w/d, they'd balloted a couple of pros from the class but were not running a waitlist, so even though the pros were desperate for a run and had other horses there the same day, pontispool would not let one of them take my space do I did not get a refund.

It's Pure laziness IMO, and all it does is make me enter elsewhere if there is an alternative.

Considering we do 90% of what the entries secretaries do in terms of inputting data now that entries are done online I do think they should put that saved time towards things like this!!
 
If you can prove you were replaced then you should get the refund wait list or not well that is how I read the rules. Feeling I can guess which event as same sec who runs several other events did same to me few months back in terms of no waitlist and withdrawing with a vets cert but no refund!!
 
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Totally agree with all of the above.

It is one of (if not the) biggest issues with BE and their 'attempt' at fixing the problem with the new rules over the last 18 months is a farce as they have left the less scrupulous events/secretaries a huge loophole to jump through (with all the extra entry fees!).
 
I moved days recently to a less busy day (Sun to Sat) for an event and was not charged. The secretary Miranda Collett was wonderfully helpful and I will be eternally grateful.

For me the worst thing about BE is that there are no set jurisdictions in place with how events operate their entries. They seem to be able to dictate tack colour but not about setting a FAIR and CONSISTENT policy for withdrawals. BTW I think SC policy would work and is fair to all sides.
 
I was having the same prob with BCA and Rackham refusing to give me a refund even though they had clearly replaced me from the entry lists and I'd provided a vets cert. In the end they both had to cancel so I got more of my money back than if they'd just given me a refund. I wish you could avoid the event organisers that dont play fair but the same few seem to organise everything round here.
 
Star - you need to send that evidence to both ERA and BE. Events should not be allowed to get away with blatantly breaking the rules like this. Heaven knows if we did it they'd make the mother of all fusses about it.
 
rotters13 said:
Also, despite the event BALLOTED they didn't hold a waitlist. So whilst no doubt the withdrawn horses space will be filled, I cannot be given back my entry fee which I thought I would be able to as I was able to produce a vet certificate. Apparently, even if I can provide my slot to someone else, I still won't get my money back.

Quite frankly: I'm going showjumping.
Am I overreacting?
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I do think this is particularly mean. If they fill the space with someone else, they're not losing any money so why shouldn't you get the entry fee back. In fact they're MAKING money on your horse being lame, so you might as well not bother withdrawing in advance and simply not turn up so your space cant get filled...!

Then again, I dont see why they shouldnt refund your money if you provide a vet cert ANYWAY, let alone if they can fill it or not - you have a genuine reason why you cannot compete so why should you pay to do something that you're not?! This is a major annoyance of mine...
 
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Vet certs are a total waste of money as there is no requirement for one.
I have had a horse killed and the first words from the secretary when withdrawing was well you wont get a refund!
When will BE sort this.
I can only guess at the event the OP is talking about but if its the one at the end of the week that will be the riders rep again and only to be expected!
 
I think thats appalling, its not like its just a £5 you can write off is it?

Really BE should concern themselves with making the entries system fair rather than distracting members by making up rules unimportant rules about tack colour. I bet most BE members wouldn't give a fig what tack someone was wearing if you knew the rules regarding refunds etc.
 
Santa_Claus said:
I suspect its the one on now knowing secretaries ;)
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Well that is why I was cautious as I dont know the Sec at that one ,but I am sure it would be the same at the other one .
It is to common I am afraid BE left a loophole (get out) that tends to be exploited by the more popular events.This was voted in by our esteemed rider representative who also runs several events with a no refunds under any circumstances policy.
 
This entire issue is at the top of ERA's agenda at the moment. We will be formally raising the matter again at the August Sports Committee meeting.
We are working on a survey, to be filled in anonymously, to collect details of events at which you have had Waitlist/Substitution/Refund problems. We will then present that information to BE.
Please stand by for details of that.
 
I had to swap horses for MK1 about a week beforehand and was spared the £12 admin fee as the programme hadn't been printed yet! Buying the additional day ticket for the new horse sadly cancelled that out though...
 
Unlike most of the rest of you I have a happy tale to tell re a BE secretary - I was entered for a CIC* this last weekend but had to withdraw after my mare was lame behind after her last fast work. I withdraw by email on the Thursday (dressage was on the Saturday morning) and didn't expect to hear any more although i did have the vet out and could have produced a certificate.

HOWEVER this morning I received an email saying that my account had been credited with a sizable amount of the entry fee less the overnight stabling costs. Have to say, I was amazed - I had written the whole lot off due to the late withdrawal - I think I got about £105 back out of about £148 spent so am not complaining at all! So some BE Secs obviously understand our plight!!!!
 
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