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Post by ponymum on Jul 21, 2011 13:43:44 GMT
I recieved my entry back today from PUK for the 13shp hoys class, Fortunately we qualified on Saturday at Arena uk , so wont be going, we would however like to swop another pony into this class as we have a novice and rather than waste the money , we thought we'd give it a shot....NO , We cant do that , all we can do is take the already entered pony and enter an open class , so my question is how many people think it would be fairer to allow us to swop into another class than waste £55 which is the cost of the class.....How many people can afford to loose £55 ? Not me that's for sure
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Post by loopylouis on Jul 21, 2011 13:53:29 GMT
we tried to do this last year too, even offered to pay the £20 swap fee - they wouldn't have it!
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Post by everreadyteddy on Jul 21, 2011 14:12:59 GMT
But they are not the only show that do this. Obviusly not been around the showing world long, for years we have entered qualifiers with the knowledge that is we qualified at an earlier show and didn't want to show that pony which was entered we lost our fee. Is it not a condition of entry at most shows and Assoiciation that substitution of entries is not allowed and that refunds are not entertained. Read the rules of enty and small print before signing your entries.
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Post by mollymalone on Jul 21, 2011 14:22:38 GMT
Some shows are accomodating in allowing class/pony changes; in my expereince P(UK) are not backwards in taking your money. I like their shows, like the classes they run and appreciate the efforts an organisation such as this go to to provide events for people to go to but always find the financial side with them a huge negative.
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Post by ponymum on Jul 21, 2011 14:25:37 GMT
ERT - Im saying that in the current economic state , surely it would make sense to let us swop our entry? I understand it is a condition of entry ,But what would everybody say IF we still took our pony and 2 or 3 others took their who has also qualified and the ticket wasnt awarded? I would be mortified.....just tossing ideas around ....there must be a solution, a bit like declaring for workers , or something that wouldnt see so much money going to waste...
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Post by blackpony on Jul 21, 2011 19:49:23 GMT
I personally think they should be a bit more flexible and allow you to take another pony, as you say no-one can afford to lose that amount of entry fee, and in the long run they need to encourage as many competitors as possible to keep entering as in this economic climate when people are being careful with money, if the competitors dont enter in future there will be no shows or classes, and there are a lot of other associations to chose from, who may be more accommodating if they have to fight for competitors so am in agreement with you ponymum
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boomer
Junior Member
Posts: 122
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Post by boomer on Jul 21, 2011 20:58:15 GMT
It doesn't surprise me, PUK has really gone off... we are taking 7 ponies altogether and with the stabling, passes and sponsorship etc it has cost in excess of £2200.00, i emailed to say that I did't recive all the passes for the lorries especially the early entry ones only to be told that they had sent everything, argued with me and said basically they couldn't do anything and if I wanted it I had to pay the extra £10... I don't think with the class numbers this year that many people have paid this kind of money and then they are not prepared to send out another pass when it was missed out in the first place!!! I think after supporting PUK for over 15 years this year may be my last... very sad but I feel they are being very un-resonable these days...
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Post by ponymum on Jul 21, 2011 21:12:28 GMT
Poor you Boomer!! You would think PUK would look after there stalwart supporters , sadly not! I must admit I only entered as I was getting worried we might not qualify!!! So I will definately NOT put anymore money there way
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Post by bigmama on Jul 21, 2011 21:25:14 GMT
we did PUK for several years up until 2006 and by that time we'd had enough of the bureacracy
we swapped to Equifest in 2008 and have been every year since and it is a pleasure to deal with the officials there ~ nothing has ever been too much trouble ~ and it is much cheaper than PUK who seem determined to suck every penny out of the competitor
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Post by FF on Jul 21, 2011 21:35:52 GMT
£55 for ONE class. Seems like daylight robbery to me. I'm glad i'm not that into showing.....
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Post by jack009 on Jul 22, 2011 8:38:13 GMT
PUK are definately money driven. I signed the payment slip with my credit card details for £711 and they took £786!! When I asked them why they said I had made an error on the class entry fees. I also noticed I had paid too much for membership when I mentioned this they said they had noticed this too but took the money anyway and I have to claim it back in writing!! I have supported the show for 10+ years and have noticed a decline over the last couple of years or so. Its extremely sad to say but I too will be making this my last year.
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Post by holly1 on Jul 22, 2011 22:11:20 GMT
ive had the opposite with them, after doing entries and stableing we cant take 1 of ours, i rang them up and the refunded stable and full cost of the entries all that they asked for was that i put it in writing, didnt even need a vets cert! but yes i think they should swop your entry.
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Post by Oaktrees on Jul 23, 2011 18:48:53 GMT
Same here, they were very reasonable with me, we can't go now, pony lame but have been refunded less an admin fee, which I can accept. Hopefully we'll try again next year.
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Post by Team Fenton on Jul 24, 2011 19:27:01 GMT
I too have managed to change ponies and classes etc. one change was done only a few days from sending entries and the other changes were done with a £10 admin fee but it meant that i did not waste over £200 on a pony that could not go .
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Post by kathryne on Jul 25, 2011 22:16:51 GMT
they have been good with me too we sold our pony before the winter champs and we got a credit which we put towards the summer champs with no problem and got refunded our stabling for the equestrian ctr.
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Post by heath on Aug 5, 2011 17:42:38 GMT
What a great idea! There are many reasons you cant make it to a big show that you have entered months in advance, pony/jockey injured etc. How good would it be if the big shows allowed you a credit for the following year? That way they dont lose out and we will support them again in the future which you are reluctant to do if they cant be flexible to help you. Im all for that! Many a time you enter in March for a June show not having any idea how your pony will be going by then, especially after the winter we had. If its not ready its not right to take it!
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kates
Full Member
Posts: 491
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Post by kates on Aug 11, 2011 17:54:31 GMT
£55 a class!!! i remember when it was £26!
I gave up PUK long ago...sadly its not what it used to be and if they can get away with charging for it then they will...to the point u get the horsebox pass but not a vehical pass, so if you havea trailer you have to buy both! WTF?!!?
I'm off to equifest next year purely because people have raved about it.
Friend was there today and said it was so quiet it was like nothing was going on!
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Post by sometime on Aug 14, 2011 0:52:18 GMT
Simply cant afford it anymore and I got sick of the money grabbing and lack of respect and support for their members. I hope everyone had a good time but it will be a cold day in the other place before I would pay for them to be as rude as they are. Equifest and Highland pony show for us once we get back to going again.
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Post by plinketyplonk on Sept 7, 2011 19:42:30 GMT
If you are wondering where the costs are going at PUK, particularly with HOYS class costing £55 per class (!), apply to Companies House for a copy of their accounts which are available to anyone for a very nominal fee, and you will be able to see. The expenses column makes illuminating reading.
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Post by ponymum on Sept 8, 2011 9:12:39 GMT
Meaning what? Plinkrtyplonk??
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Post by mf on Sept 8, 2011 10:36:21 GMT
regardless of all the other issues at least puk refunded people's stabling when they couldn't use it - a lot of shows won't. And someone above had entry fees refunded it appears - equifest and BSPS won't. A friend lost over £500 in entries when her pony went lame (and she still had all the vet bills as well to pay for)
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Post by heath on Sept 10, 2011 11:31:44 GMT
Thats why the suggestion above was so good. That if you cant make it and have a vets or Docs cert. why cant the show (by this I mean any show where the entries close weeks in advance) offer you a credit note for the entries for the following year.
This is from one with first hand experience of a jockey with broken arm one season followed by broken elbow the next and losing lots of money in entry fees!
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jillyj
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by jillyj on Apr 2, 2012 9:58:30 GMT
It would be interesting to know if PUK are more helpful to the professionals or the Lee Smith members. I bet I know the answer. Those of you who could get refunds are no doubt mere mortals, whereas the people who find them helpfum would be VIP's or sponsors.
Let's face it the motto on the bottom of the membership letters that claims they are trying to make showing more rewarding applies to sponsors and professionals.
If you're a mortal noboby PUK couldn't care.
As for expenses as a charity they cannot take dividends but I bet they claim high salaries as directors. I keep meaning to get a copy of the accounts. They must raise huge sums form sponsorship as the list of sponsors is long as mentioned on the website. There's also some big spenders presenting prizes in the championship classes they support. So if PUK isn't raising funds that way where's the money going?
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