HASSRA is improving the way it handles applications for cinema and theme park tickets.
• From 1st April 2010 the processing of all ticket applications will be managed centrally by the HASSRA finance team.
• New standard prices will ensure that all members enjoy the same benefits.
• Payment will only be accepted by credit/debit card.
• Applications will be processed in two locations – Newcastle and Derby. Your home region will determine where you submit your application.
• We recommend you fax your order to us. If you do not have access to a fax machine, you can send your application by Royal Mail – please note we cannot accept applications via the courier service for contractual reasons.
• And we promise to process your application in no more than 10 working days.
What does this change mean for me?
For many of us there will be no change, and all of us will continue to enjoy access to heavily discounted tickets.
But we can no longer accept payment by cash or cheque – you must pay by credit or debit card – and applications must be made by fax or post.
Local HASSRA clubs which currently sell tickets direct to members will continue to do so as now.
Exactly as you do now by accessing your regional page on the HASSRA Intranet site.
• Start by clicking on your regional page
• Click on regional benefits and you will see a list of all the tickets we sell
• Click on the ticket you want to buy to see more information, including ticket price
• Now click on the booking form, print it off and complete all the information we need to process your order
• The form contains details of where to fax your order and who to ring if you need more information
• Your tickets will be posted to your home address by Royal Mail 1st class post. If the value of your order exceeds £80 we will send it out by Royal Mail Special Delivery
• We aim to process your order within 10 working days from receiving it
And because we want you to be able to take advantage of all our offers, wherever you may be in the country, we’ve included a full list of all the tickets we sell on the national membership benefits page.
• Enter the National Benefits page
• When you spot what you want just click on it and you’ll automatically be directed to the appropriate regional page
• Then follow the instructions as above.
We do not have the necessary accreditation to email credit card details neither internally within DWP firewalls, or externally. There are very strict banking industry rules around transmitting credit card details in any form, and they should be encrypted at all times. HASSRA aims eventually to put in place a ‘web shop’ which will, amongst many things, be encrypted to satisfy all industry rules. The DWP network was never designed with transmitting credit card details in mind and short of encrypting the entire DWP network, even if that was a remote possibility, it is unlikely to happen.
Yes. Transfer of personal information this way adheres to DWP security standards.
I am worried that my fax might be received in an open-plan office where it could be looked at by anyone. Do non-HASSRA staff have access to faxes received for HASSRA ?
Only HASSRA staff have access to the fax machines; none of the staff in the three sites work in open plan offices, and HASSRA fax machines are locked away securely at night.
The popularity of our discounted tickets has grown enormously over recent years. So we need a streamlined and efficient process for managing your applications and sustaining a quality service to all members. These changes will help us to cope with the growing volumes and ensure you continue to access to your favourite discounts.
Our ultimate goal is a HASSRA web shop to offer a fast effective and modern service to members. To help us towards that goal we are introducing a new Internet banking system to manage HASSRA accounts, and seeking the necessary assurances from our DWP Security colleagues to procure SAGE accounting software. These facilities, particularly SAGE, will facilitate an automated ticketing process through the use of an on-line ‘HASSRA web shop.’ Members will be able to purchase tickets from the HASSRA website on a secure web page using a credit/debit card. While development is ongoing there will be a phased approach to prepare the ticketing function for the lead into the launch of the ‘HASSRA web shop’.
If you want to know more you will need to contact your Regional HASSRA office.