Ticketing - Rights to a Refund

iritchie

Hello all,


I recently purchased tickets to a sporting event, at a cost in the region of £600 total.
Given the event was sold out, I ended up having to go the eBay route, but did my homework and made sure to use a registered Business seller, thinking that it would offer me a little more security than taking a chance on the average punter.

Unfortunately the event ended up being postponed by several months and the people I had arranged to go with cannont make the rearranged date, so therefore the rearranged date is no good for me either.
I contacted the seller, to enquire about a refund, but they have flat out refused to offer a refund and simply state that the package is valid for the new date and therefore if I don't like it, I can sell the tickets on myself...

To be honest, I have never dealt with someone so unprofessional and the level of rudeness and insults I had to put up with only made matters worse, so I don't see them staying in business for very long...

I was always aware of the STAR clauses which state that where an event is moved to a new date, the consumer is entitled to a refund of at least the face value of the tickets (and all official ticketing outlets, including the one used by the company I made my purchase through, have offered all customers a full refund...)

I am not sure if there is any legal standing to back this up, as I suspect this small ticketing business which I purchased the tickets from is not a member of STAR.

Obviously if the original event which I made the contract for the purchase on, had been advertised at the revised date, I would not have made the purchase.

Can anyone offer any advice?
eBay pretty much leave you high and dry after 45 days, and having been bitten several times in the past by eBay, it is definitely the last time I use it for ANY purchase...

Is there any recourse where I can get a refund or do I simply have to take this as an expensive lesson learned and move on?


Thanks in advance for any replies!

halibut2209

Just sell them on. You've already said it was sold out, so you should get most of the money back

System

Is this the David haye fight? You'll have no trouble shifting them.

iritchie

It is for the Haye vs Fury fight yes and I should have no trouble shifting them, even if at a small loss, but it was still frustrating to be left in the position where it seemed a seller could essentially do what they want - especially an official ticketing business...

I know official ticketing companies have to provide refunds in situations like this, so I was just more interested in whether there is anything legal to back this up or if it is just a "guideline"?

If it had been tickets I wasn't able to sell on, or if I end up making a heavy loss, then it isn't a great scenario really...

JReacher1

You could probably take them to court if you wish but as they sound like an unofficial ticket touting company it may be hard to do that.

This is why you shouldn't really buy tickets from touts.

iritchie

It is an official ticket selling business, so not your run of the mill touts or just punters, so there was an expectation that I would have a bit more protection...it doesn't appear so though.

I doubt I will take them to court as it seems more hassle than it's worth, if I'm able to get my money back or at least most of it, by selling the tickets on...but is there any real basis for taking them to court, is what I want to know?

Are they actually breaking any law by refusing me a refund?
Do I have any real rights to a refund in this scenario or have they pretty much got me over a barrel?
Bear in mind that this is a registered business and I would have thought that the contract agreed to in the original sale has been broken due to the fact that the terms have been broken - i.e. they failed to provide the agreed to package on the date agreed to in the contract?
I just want to know if there is any real legal basis to take them to the small claims court, as it will definitely be an option, if anyone is able to confirm that this is the case.

I suspect I will lose at least £100 plus any fees if I have to sell the tickets on, as they have already started undercutting what I paid, for their remaining tickets...plus I've got to go to the hassle of selling on tickets I shouldn't really have to.
I would have thought that the original contract should allow a return in the event of a rescheduling though?

earthstorm

iritchie wrote: »

It is an official ticket selling business,

Its not if they are selling on eBay. if the fight is sold out then those on eBay will be from touts who have bought bulk tickets to sell at an inflated price as official sellers would see through their official channels.

Just because they are an eBay business does not mean they are legit or an official ticket seller. Also official sellers would be a STAR member as promoters would not deal with them if they were not.

iritchie

OK event now cancelled...I contacted them for a refund, and they are now declaring that they are liquidating the company to avoid paying refunds...

I am absolutely livid and disgusted that someone can do this...

Is there anything I can do??
Company is not yet liquidated and does not even appear to be in the process according to companies house...

There has to be some form of recourse to stop outright scammers like this???

Valli

How is it a scam - they weren't to know that David Haye would sustain an injury.

You chose to buy from them and, one assumes, pay an inflated price. You were happy enough with the transaction when you thought you were going to see the event.
Whilever people are happy to buy from 'touts' they will continue to operate.

How did you pay? Maybe you can do a chargeback or a Section 75.
Alternatively contact ebay and see if they will help - especially since they are currently offering 'guarantees on their 'goods'.

iritchie

It is a scam because the company is attempting to liquidate to avoid refunding customers. And whats the bets they'll be up and running uner a different name within days/weeks...

I contacted ebay but they have a 30 day money back guarantee....as the tickets were purchased well in advance of the event, it was impossible...

I'll paid via paypal using a bank transfer...ill look into it with my bank but it doesnt look good...

paddyrg

It is time for legal advice, to see whether it is worth suing. Fact is the anonymity of eBay lets dodgy merchants have an easy time if things.

You say you've looked on companies house website, have you got the directors details, is he worth tracking down to ask for your refund? Or to see how many hundreds of phoenix companies he's set up in the past? Or to start selling legal advice to get him disqualified?