Service & delivery charges

ajd3

I have just booked a ticket (via Ticketmaster) to see Bill Bailey next month, the ticket was reasonably priced at £25.
The service charge is £3.75, I don't even know what this is for. I booked it online using a credit card so assume it is the cc charge.
Delivery charge is £2.25. I elected to print the ticket myself (posted was £2.75) from an email link so how is it possible, if I print the ticket using my paper and ink, to charge £2.25. I consider it to be a very high fee for 1 automated email!
I think it is time an ombudsman was looking into the fees added to event tickets, there seems to be an ombudsman for most things, is there one for this?
I nearly didn't buy tickets to see my favourite band this year because of the ticket fees but did so as they may not tour for much longer and I've been a fan for over 30 years.
I earn well below the average wage and with the rate of inflation and not having had a pay rise for 3 years I rarely go out and can't afford a holiday, which is why I've decided to go to the gigs, it works out at 4 for this year. I can't afford to have much of a social life.

eamon

Aside from having a rant there isn't much you can do except by buying your ticket at the venues box office as per this article
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/can-i-avoid-hidden-ticket-charges/
Unless you happen to live in a city that is on the live music circuit then of course that may also not be an option. An alternative idea is to try a music festival. Probably more expensive intially but if you break it down to live bands per £ then it makes more sense though you may have to watch/listen to music that might not even be on your radar. My friend has the opinion that there is no bad music only music that you haven't learned to appreciate yet. An interesting point if view if you are open minded. Of course there will be a booking fee & postage fee (even if its an e-ticket or print at home ticket).