The Oakland Football Marketing Assoc. has "quietly changed
its no-refund policy" and returned about $280,000 for deposits on
Raiders PSLs, according to Renee Koury of the SAN JOSE MERCURY
NEWS. Ezra Rapport, the Oakland city official responsible for
marketing the PSLs, said the policy was changed in November to
allow refunds for fans that had not paid the second installment
on their PSLs or passed on buying tickets last season. Among the
300 reimbursed were those who complained to the Alameda County
District Attorney's office and an acquaintance of a marketing
employee who erased his purchase from the computer. Rapport, who
admitted "the story will get everyone all riled up," on why the
reversal was never announced: "This is a business, not a public
agency." News of the deposit return surprised some fans who
encountered resistance when trying to obtain refunds last year.
Mark Stauffer, who fought for a $5,000 refund for tickets he did
not want: "They were playing hardball with us last summer. They
said, `Too bad, stupid, you bought too many tickets and now you
have to pay.'" In addition, ledgers detailing the marketing
group's expenses from last June through December include trips to
Lake Tahoe and Sacramento, Tiffany glassware and limousine rides
"to lure new customers" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 5/23).
