Tote V Bookies ...Customer Service

There is continued complaints ranging from shoddy to bad to non existent with regards to the customer service offered up by the Tote Operators but very few specifics, I would like to know where and how bookmakers are better or worse , not an invitation for mud slinging but rather an opportunity to voice grievances and where we believe improvement is needed...

Truth of the matter imo is that the more you loose the better you get treated by your bookie,....have a sustained winning streak and see how quickly that "service" quality diminishes...

I get treated like a King Titch :evil:

Titch wrote: Truth of the matter imo is that the more you loose the better you get treated by your bookie,....have a sustained winning streak and see how quickly that "service" quality diminishes...

could not agree more. My bookie that I am slowly moving away from offers a very shallow type of service but puts it out that they are the leading operator. I beg to differ.


Tote facilities are often very untidy and actually filthy. I am yet to get bad service though in all fairness I hardly use them.

Dave Scott wrote: I get treated like a King Titch :evil:

You and me Dave

Dean321 wrote: Tote facilities are often very untidy and actually filthy. I am yet to get bad service though in all fairness I hardly use them.

Absolutely agree on this point,that really needs to be sorted..I use Club Tab in durban which I believe sets the standard for how a Tote outlet should be..

The Tote should give the punter back more than the bookie simply because their profit margin is far greater... Do they ?

I've had numerous offers of outings and VIP service from bookies ..do the tote do this?

I get free bet offers and money back promotions from bookies... Does the tote do this ?

I don't play with bookies as I am not a big punter as stated before.

This does not mean that I cannot comment on bad service.

Although I am fairly content with the general service I will give you a few prime examples of really shoddy service.

- The dial in service lines is of a very bad quality with break ups experienced all the time when phoning in for scratchings and updates.
- The same applies to the telephone betting service where the quality of the line (consistent break up) requires frequent asking of bets read back to be repeated
- The staff at the telephone betting centre does not listen to the bet you are placing as they are always asking for information that has already been provided (Double taken 5 times, how many times would you like it sir)
- You phone in for results of a local meeting only to discover some arbitrary results on the same line and at a time that you are expecting to get the results you are looking for.
- Course changes are mostly only provided at the last minute.
- Drawing money is such a nightmare that you end up rather leaving it in your account
- The general friendliness of staff often lacks and you end up not feeling like a customer
- No thank you for your continued support

You will probably say that all this information is available online somewhere but phoning in is quite convenient for me.

I have been told categorically that the bricks and mortar operation is still the prime focus yet you are expected to use the non-focus areas for most of the information required.

Just a few as I can think of many others but it's pretty clear that there is ample room for improvement.

Bob that is one of the legalities I have encountered with my online application, returning money based on turnover is considered "enticement" which baffles me but it is a Gambling Board ruling, so strictly speaking bookmakers who offer this are breaking the law :S

They don't return money

Point taken LSU.. The telebet staff need to have refresher courses at least bi annualy to keep them up to scratch, course/venue changes I believe should be sent out per sms on request (even results should be on request) with regards to drawing money from the account I have found that it is far easier doing this online and worth the time taken to pop online and do it..
Sadly the telebet staff problem is not confined to the Tote

Bob Brogan wrote: They don't return money

some bookmakers do return clients a % of turnover by way of a credit which I believe is only fair and as it will in most cases be reinvested it becomes a win/win scenario..