Refunding Albert Hall event tickets

CNash

I've booked a ticket for an event at the Albert Hall, but due to unforseen circumstances I can't attend. The terms and conditions at the Albert Hall site state "Once purchased tickets cannot be exchanged, resold or refunded", and apparently I'm not allowed to sell it privately or even give it to someone else.

Given that I bought the tickets online, and they are a physical item that has been delivered to me, do I have any rights under the Distance Selling Regulations to return the ticket that would trump the Albert Hall's terms and conditions?

vuvuzela

No. Contracts for accommodation, transport, catering or leisure services, which are arranged for a specific time or date - for example, train, airline or concert tickets, or hotel bookings - are not covered by these Regulations.

browneyedbazzi

No, you can't return them under DSRs as there is an exemption - see section 6 (b) of the regs.

vuvuzela

However if you sell it privately, to a friend and not on eBay etc, they wont ever find out, unless your name is on the tickets and you have to show ID, which I doubt you will...

agrinnall

From the DSRs on http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/2334/regulation/6/made

Contracts to which only part of these Regulations apply

6.—(1) Regulations 7 to 20 shall not apply to a contract which is a “timeshare agreement” within the meaning of the Timeshare Act 1992(1) and to which that Act applies.
(2) Regulations 7 to 19(1) shall not apply to—
(a)contracts for the supply of food, beverages or other goods intended for everyday consumption supplied to the consumer’s residence or to his workplace by regular roundsmen; or
(b)contracts for the provision of accommodation, transport, catering or leisure services, where the supplier undertakes, when the contract is concluded, to provide these services on a specific date or within a specific period.
(3) Regulations 19(2) to (8) and 20 do not apply to a contract for a “package” within the meaning of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992(2) which is sold or offered for sale in the territory of the Member States.

CNash

Bah. Was a bit of a long shot anyway.

What about the terms and conditions, stating that "Reselling a ticket makes it void and the ticketholder may be refused entry" - I'm not sure exactly how they enforce this, given that the ticket doesn't have my name or address on it (the part marked with my address is detachable and states "THIS IS NOT A TICKET").

I know it's to stop rampant ticket touting, but I don't want to be stuck with a ticket I can't use. If I gave it as a gift to someone, it would not have technically been "resold", I suppose, but I'd rather try to make some of the price back from it.

Norfolk_Jim

Have a look at Seatwave.com, they are authorised to sell your ticket for you, they are used by many sellers of tickets that are not otherwise transferable, many football clubs use them for instance. Its not a perfect deal but you'd get something back.

I just checked and yes they do this for Royal Albert Hall events. I have used them myself.

Gavin83

Is it a popular sold out event?

CNash

Not exactly; a lot of the cheaper seats have sold out, though, and mine is one of them.

I'll check out Seatwave, thanks for the recommendation!

squeaky

Norfolk_Jim wrote: »

Have a look at Seatwave.com, they are authorised to sell your ticket for you, they are used by many sellers of tickets that are not otherwise transferable, many football clubs use them for instance. Its not a perfect deal but you'd get something back.

I just checked and yes they do this for Royal Albert Hall events. I have used them myself.

I've added this thread to our "Useful Threads" post in our ReadMe sticky.

Thanks Jim

Gavin83

I'd honestly put them on ebay if its sold out. You'll probably get most of your money back, if not all of it.

I've literally sold about 50 tickets on ebay for a range of events and never once have I had any problems with it. They have no way of policing it.