Ticket resale websites need regulating, MPs say

Former_MSE_Michael

Second-hand ticket sales should be regulated so buyers know who they are purchasing from, a group of MPs say.

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Ticket resale websites need regulating, MPs say




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scotsbob

The government approved and passed a bill, with no debate, to prevent the resale of tickets for the Olympics.

They have passed laws preventing ticket touting for soccer matches.

Bearing the above in mind, why no laws regulating other ticket resales?

I'm sure that the lobbying powers and contributions to party funds by The Society Of Ticket Agents And Retailers has no bearing on the issue

Percy1983

scotsbob wrote: »

The government approved and passed a bill, with no debate, to prevent the resale of tickets for the Olympics.

They have passed laws preventing ticket touting for soccer matches.

Bearing the above in mind, why no laws regulating other ticket resales?

I'm sure that the lobbying powers and contributions to party funds by The Society Of Ticket Agents And Retailers has no bearing on the issue

It does seem odd how somethings are protected and other not, personally if I want tickets for something I generally get in early (with the touts) and get myself some tickets. The few times I haven't managed it I refuse to pay a penny to a tout so just don't go.

The problem is due to the touts buying large percentages of tickets between them they are in fact causing things to sell out much quicker which then leads to the demand/desperation which they feed off.

I do think it should be a universal rule of all shows and not just football basically.

Tombola591

I wouldn't want a total ban on reselling tickets. Why not just ban re-sales above face value?

People sometimes genuinely can't make a concert or similar event. They should be able to sell their no longer needed ticket to someone who, either wasn't able to get one when they went on sale or decided to go after an event sold out.

sb65

Already Rejected.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27155986

Percy1983

Tombola591 wrote: »

I wouldn't want a total ban on reselling tickets. Why not just ban re-sales above face value?

People sometimes genuinely can't make a concert or similar event. They should be able to sell their no longer needed ticket to someone who, either wasn't able to get one when they went on sale or decided to go after an event sold out.

How about tickets just get cancelled for a refund and then resold?

ECR

Personally I would hate to see onerous regulation imposed on ticket reselling. I've benefited both as a buyer and seller.

Occassionally I've found that I've not been able to attend a concert that I'd booked months earlier and I've been able to resell the ticket - I've always listed at face value our less. In the past I would have been left with the ticket, lost all the money and denied someone else the opportunity of going.

I've also bought tickets for sold out gigs, sometimes a little above face value and sometimes less. It is certainly much safer and less expensive than getting a ticket from a tout outside a venue.

scotsbob

Add another one to my list above, it is against the law to resell tickets for this years Commonwealth Games.

You see the government can do it when it suits them.

Percy1983

ECR wrote: »

Personally I would hate to see onerous regulation imposed on ticket reselling. I've benefited both as a buyer and seller.

Occassionally I've found that I've not been able to attend a concert that I'd booked months earlier and I've been able to resell the ticket - I've always listed at face value our less. In the past I would have been left with the ticket, lost all the money and denied someone else the opportunity of going.

I've also bought tickets for sold out gigs, sometimes a little above face value and sometimes less. It is certainly much safer and less expensive than getting a ticket from a tout outside a venue.

Why not just cancel tickets when you can't go (losing booking fee I suppose), and likewise if you can't get tickets for a gig there is a list you can join and you may get a ticket if there is enough cancellations.

As mentioned it seems it can be done when they want to so why not do it for everything.

I suppose I few benefits claimants may not get up early as often with no tickets to buy to scalp people for, but maybe they could put there efforts into genuine work instead.

Sir_Alan

I don't see that prohibiting the sale of a ticket for more than its face value would be an onerous restriction. Such a prohibition would have to apply only in advance of the event (so that tickets could be sold afterwards as souvenirs). Any commission on the sale price of the ticket would be paid by the seller, and a delivery fee and credit card surcharge of no more than the actual cost could be charged in addition.

This would prevent the touts from profiting, would make tickets more readily available when originally offered, and would eliminate any cosy arrangement which might exist between an event organiser and a ticket agency to sell blocks of tickets at grossly inflated prices and split the proceeds.

Beatlefan

Ticket sales for Kate Bush's residency at the Hammersmith Apollo this autumn stipulated that you have to show photo ID which must match the name on your ticket to be allowed in on the night.

Seems to be a new way to beat the touts.

Still lots for sale for silly money online though. Not sure whether people buying from the re-selling agencies are going to be denied entry when their photo ID doesn't match the name of the person who originally bought the ticket.