Festival fans beware - how to avoid dodgy tickets this summer
The leading consumer protection body for the ticket industry is warning festival fans about dodgy websites offering rip-off tickets.
The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) is issuing advice for consumers on how to avoid falling victim to rogue ticket sellers.
Jonathan Brown, Secretary of The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers explains: "Festival season offers rich pickings for unethical ticket sellers, as they know people are desperate to get their hands on tickets. Every year, opportunistic websites pop up offering tickets for sold out events at extortionate prices.
"It's very easy to create a website that looks classy and reputable - but that doesn't mean it's law-abiding or will definitely supply you with what you think you are buying. People need to be vigilant in the run up to the festival season.
"Look for the warning signs, and if in doubt, make sure you buy from a member of STAR. If you see the STAR mark, you can expect excellent service, transparent pricing and an independent means of redress if anything goes wrong."
The warning signs - what to look for:
Official channels - If the company is not listed on the promoter's or venue's advertisements and official websites for an event, then you really need check out the seller more thoroughly to avoid any problems or disappointments.
Company contact details - Is there a physical office address for the company? Or, is it only possible to contact the company online, eg through a contact form or by e-mail? If there's no postal address or phone number, they are already trying to make things difficult for you!
Comprehensive ticket details - The description of the tickets you are buying should include: the dates of the festival and the number of days you have entry for; the venue or location; description of seating or other arrangements where relevant (eg general admission, camping); the face value of the ticket and details of any booking fees.
Secure payment - You should see a padlock at the bottom of the screen when you are filling in the payment details. If the total amount you are paying is over £100, consider putting it on your credit card rather than debit card, as you will get a better level of financial protection if things go wrong.
Membership of STAR - Buying from a STAR member ensures you have an independent means of redress through a recognised self-regulatory body should anything go wrong. You can cross-check that the company is a member of STAR at star.org.uk or ask the STAR helpline on 0844 879 4272.
Is it too good to be true? - If you know the tickets have sold out, or that the tickets are not on sale yet through official channels, be very cautious. If an event has sold out, check if the promoter or venue has an official resale partner, and see if you can buy tickets from them. Also, beware of websites selling tickets at less than their face value - this means the seller won't be making any money from the sale, so it's possible the seller doesn't actually have any tickets to sell and is planning to pocket all of the money you pay.