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Anger at 'outrageous' Olympic Visa tie-up
Sports fans wanting to buy London 2012 tickets with a debit or credit card will only be able to use Visa under controversial deal.
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Olympic sports fans wanting to buy tickets for London 2012 with a debt or credit card will only be able use a Visa, the tournament’s organisers have announced.
In a move that has angered some consumer groups, the event’s organisers will turn away prospective purchasers with Mastercard and American Express cards, and instead push them towards taking out a Visa debit or credit card to pay for their tickets.
‘In recognition of Visa's support of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, London 2012 is proud to accept only Visa payment cards (debit, credit and prepaid), along with cash and cheques,’ the tournament’s website says.
‘Sponsor support is crucial to the staging of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the operation of organisations throughout the Olympic Movement.’
The move affects only UK-based residents; overseas purchasers will not be subject to the restriction.
According to Which?, more than 40 million UK residents own a MasterCard, against 28 million Visa cardholders and four million Amex customers.
‘We think it's outrageous that some UK sports fans should be discriminated against in this way,’ says Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?.
‘We want the London 2012 Committee to take steps to ensure there's a level playing field and that UK consumers have equal access to the Games, whether or not they are Visa cardholders. If it doesn't, we'll call on the government to step in.’
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9 comments so far. Why not have your say?
michael coxson
Jun 24, 2010 at 20:47
Just get a mate who has a visa card to pay , after he has your money in his palm, easy . Dont even think about getting a card to use for this reason , you will keep it and use it for other purchases . That is why they do this , stuff them they have just cost us billions , the BANKS you understand ?
report thisDisgusted of Haywards Heath
Jun 25, 2010 at 12:20
Who wants to sit among the sweaty thousands anyway?
Watch the bits that interest you on the telly, and to blazes with them (the banks and the organisers).
report thisMike the red
Jun 25, 2010 at 12:20
Quelle surprise. The best response is not to buy at all and leave all the grandees with egg on their faces.
report thisDAVID ROBERTSON
Jun 25, 2010 at 12:32
Everything boils down to money. Is that what the modern olympics stands for?
report thismultiscan
Jun 25, 2010 at 12:38
Boycott the games. Sit at home with a drink and buy the biggest hd screeen available. Better view better commentary,no travelling, no agro, no worries.
report thisStephen Roach
Jun 25, 2010 at 12:49
Can't say I have any sense of loyalty to any credit card/bank any more than they have for me. But if Visa are the ones handing over the cash to support the event then surely they'll want something in return which is commensurate with the amount they are paying.
report thisG Withers
Jun 25, 2010 at 13:16
Huge PR disaster for VISA and 2012. Ridiculous behaviour by both organisations. Not the way financial services firms should operate and not consistent with the Olympic principles. I am sure this will be ammended and apologised for, but shame on those that proposed and approved this policy.
report thisMalcolm
Jun 25, 2010 at 15:57
Presumably, Which will be actioning with the competition commission
http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/about_us/index.htm
report thisthe Mekon
Jun 25, 2010 at 18:14
The Olympics organisers should have thought this through rather better. They are annoying people like me, who don't have a Visa card. I say humbug to them, their decision will mean that some people who would have bought tickets won't. (I am one such - they will only get me along on MY credit card). Would you go to the fag of changing your credit card just to watch the Olympics? As others have said, you see much more on the telly anyway. On a personal note: I do feel that The Olympics has pretty much lost its way. It's just a vast machine to make money - more like Coca Cola than a sporting event.
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