David Gill has admitted that the plc are exploiting fans euphemistically referring to the 3% as 'recovery' for the loss of TV revenue. IMUSA estimates this 'recovery' will cost fans £750,000 on top of the cost of season tickets, or the equivalent of the fee paid to Louis Saha's agent.
'The recently announced ticket price rises for next season are bad enough but the extension of the 3% 'ticket tax' to season ticket and LMTB renewals is a step too far,' said IMUSA Press Officer Mark Longden.
IMUSA has asked the club to drop the charge and extend the deadline but the club has refused. Now the fans' group is asking supporters to register their protest in anyway they can. The banks charge the club more for paying in cheques and cash than they do for payments made with plastic and some reds have already responded to IMUSA's call by paying for their renewal in pound coins.
With most Reds having only received their renewal notices last week and with the FA Cup Final this coming weekend IMUSA is aware that most fans will have to swallow the 3% ticket tax.
'We recognise that most fans will have no choice but to pay by credit card but we are asking those that can lay their hands on cash to join the protest at 12 o'clock today Monday 17th May at the ticket office,' said Longden.
Fans can also register their protest by paying for their renewal in multiple cheques, as the club has to pay bank transaction charges for each cheque that they bank.
With United's own fans' charter stating that 'no transaction charge will be levied for renewals made by credit cards and IMUSA has asked the Premier League and The Independent Football Commission to intervene and force the club to uphold the promise made by the plc.