Harpenden RFC Squash Club

What is the support email address?

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Prompt response probably, but remember this is done on a voluntary basis.

Is the new 'name your opponent' feature available yet?

Yes it is. After making a booking on-line, go back to the booking grid and click on the cell marked 'YB' - your booking. Then Click 'Invite a Member'. You will be able to find the member you want to contact via a provided a-z of surnames.

Can my family's squash be funded entirely from my account?

Yes it can. Please contact the support address to get this done.

I've heard the system has 'gone down' a couple of times. Is this true?

Yes - a couple of power outages appear to have caused the system to stop working and then not start correctly. The system can be re-started but you need a special key for this. If this happens to you, contact Steve or Ken and they will help you out. The vendor is helping us understand what has happened as the uninterruptible power supply should prevent this.

Update : We changed the router at the club and there have been no incidents since end April.

What if my opponent cancels at less than 72 hours notice, and I booked?

Good point. One member suggested the following elegant solution. You cancel, your opponent books the court then cancels himself. That way you're not out of pocket and he/she is if the court is not re-used.

I get warnings about page safety. Will I get a virus?

No. Some of the page suffices trigger these messages, though they are in fact harmless. Just click 'OK' or 'view page anyway' - that sort of thing.

How do I know when a slot has finished whether mine, or the players before me?

The lights will go out. The court controllers (outside the court entrance) will show clearly that another slot has started, as they show slot time remaining.

How do I share charges with my opponent?

The non-booking player should use their fob when entering the court to turn the lights on. Half the charge will be transferred from the non-booking player's account to the booking player's account at this time.

What if I want to practice on my own/play with my son/play with a guest?

Book the court, then use your fob when entering the court. You will then pick up the full charge.

Can I go on court before my booking slot starts?

Yes, if the slot has not been booked. You will be charged for this on a pro-rated basis. If you enter the court 5 min early (say) and fob the controller, the lights will come on, and you will be charged an extra 5/45 of the court fee. You can do this up to 15 min before your booking starts.

What if I booked, I'm early, or my opponent is late, and I want to get on court?

Use your fob, and sort the cash out with your opponent afterwards. Maybe they book next time?

Can I share this extra cost?

Only by the non-fobbing player paying you in cash. The maximum charge is £1.80, and usually less because of the pro-rating formula.

What if a slot has more than 15 min to go, and I've turned up at the club and want to play?

Book using the terminal. This will charge you a pro-rated charge.

What if I want to stay on court more than 45 min?

If the next slot is not booked, then when the lights go out, leave the court and fob the controller. You will get an extra 15 min play. You will be charged 1/3 of the court fee. This cannot be split in two, so players may wish to settle this in cash - either 90p or 70p depending whether peak or off-peak.

What if I've booked and want to cancel. Do I get my court fee back?

You can do this on the web, or at the club. If you cancel more than 72 hours in advance, your fee will be refunded. If you cancel at less notice, you will get your fee back if the court is re-booked

What if someone booked a court but didn't turn up to the club?

If the courtside controller is not fobbed within 15 min of a slot starting, the court is automatically released i.e. it becomes 'unbooked'. The remaining half hour can then be used if booked at the terminal.

What if I book it then the person turns up late and wants their booking after all?

Ultimately you have to sort this out between yourselves. The likelihood is, that if they're simply late, their opponent will be there anyway. Probably best if you give it up, and then apply for a refund via the support email address.

I've got children. I want them to have their own fobs, but funding each individual account is a bit of a nuisance. Can't I just fund my own?

Yes you can. Contact the support address saying which of your children should be paid for using your balance.

What about my husband/wife/partner? Can we do the same sort of thing?

Yes you can. Contact the support address as above with your request.

Does the club have to pay charges to PayPal?

Yes we do. They're approximately 3%. The club will absorb this. Court fees have gone up slightly, and hopefully usage will too, so hopefully this will even out.

Can this be avoided?

It can, if you pay by cheque/cash. In actual fact, we'd rather you didn't, as this means the Treasurer has more manual work to do.

Are the charges slightly less if a direct debit card is used?

We believe so. Credit cards are more secure though, so this is up to you.

I've forgotten my password. What should I do?

Email the support address. It will be re-set, and sent back to you.

But I want to book tonight!

You can go up to the club and use the terminal, as before, if it's a priority to book immediately.

I've lost my fob. What shall I do?

Email the support address, or call. We'll get one to you as quickly as we can. In the meantime, you can still book online, and share costs with your opponent that way.

Can someone spend all my money if they find my fob?

Not really. All they can do is book courts that will then show up under your name.

How much do fobs cost?

One pound. We'll probably replace lost fobs free of charge in the first instance. If it's a real problem we'll charge.

Those fobs are really small. I might lose mine.

Slip it onto a keyring, with your doorkey. That should work.

Are the fobs magnetic? Will they damage my bank card?

We're fairly sure the answer is no. They don't contain magnets as far as we know. Additionally, most bank cards are now chip and pin - the old magnetic strip doesn't get used much these days.

Could we control the door using fobs?

In theory yes, though we opted not to have this option, as it is quite expensive. If you have a view on this, mail the support address.

What about team bookings?

We can block book courts using an administrative option. Justin has kindly volunteered to do this. If he's not available, Ken can also handle. Email the support address. Bookings have been put in up to the end of December.

What happens if we end up with no courts because one person seems to be booking them all?

At present a member can book a maximum of four courts in any one week. The club coach is an exception to this rule. This rule is open to review if it proves unduly restrictive.

Will the heaters come on automatically?

You can turn them on and off when lights are on. You cannot turn them on when lights are off.

Does this mean we have access to the internet from the club?

It does indeed! If you come with a laptop, you can use the wireless network for free.

What if I have a suggestion relating to the new system - or indeed anything else?

Email the support address. The committee meets once a month and we're always interested to hear members' ideas.

I'd like to update my personal details - can I do this?

Yes you can. Log into the booking system, click 'Your Membership Details', edit your details (e.g. phone number / email address ) and then click 'Submit Changes'. We encourage members to keep their details up to date. An accompanying email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it would be appreciated, as a separate membership database is kept.

I booked a court, then tried to go on using my own fob and couldn't! Why?

There is a quirk in the system whereby if you do this, the system will transfer half the court fee back to you from your own account. This makes no difference to your balance, but temporarily debits you by 50% of the court fee, before creditting it back. This means that if your balance is lower than £2.70/£2.10 you will get a message saying "insufficient funds" or similar. Maybe just try and keep your account in credit by more than this amount. You can always get round this by putting coins into the kiosk.

Should I change my password from the default?

The worst that can happen is that someone books courts in your name, or cancels them, if they misuse your account. However it's always good practice to make sure that your password is secret, so for this reason, yes. You can change this on the "Your Membership Details" page.