Festival Ticket Issue

Okell

PHK said:

Invader75 said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

I don't see you have any right to a refund.  Their re-selling policy was clear, and it doesn't matter whether it was strictly adhered to in practice by other people - the fact remained that selling them privately may have resulted in your customer being refused entry.  Insurance was available but you were advised not to take it by other customers, not the retailer.  And not getting a doctor's note blocked that route to a refund.

I can't immediately see what Trading Standards would look into, either.  There's no automatic right to be able to re-sell tickets.  Have they complied with their terms and conditions?

I think you're left appealing for goodwill, I'm afraid.

Just seems a bit out of order that we paid for them, but don't own them enough to sell elsewhere. We had friends who wanted them but weren't able to buy them as the resale site wouldn't provide us with a direct link. 

I've been to plenty of festivals, most of them bigger, in my time since the 90's. Never had this hassle before. 

The fact they wouldn't assist us in any way even though we'd paid for them is harsh IMO. 

The thing is, this is not a physical item (that you sell on) but payment for a service to be performed. In this case you wanted to withdraw. You don't generally have a right to resell access to a service. 

Hmmm....

I've never looked at it like that before

swingaloo

Could you friends not have used them giving your name and details?

born_again

PHK said:

The thing is, this is not a physical item (that you sell on) but payment for a service to be performed. In this case you wanted to withdraw. You don't generally have a right to resell access to a service. 

Could be viewed as a physical purchase, you pay for the ticket (like Groupon Voucher) which then gives you a right to redeem as access the festival?

Okell

born_again said:

PHK said:

The thing is, this is not a physical item (that you sell on) but payment for a service to be performed. In this case you wanted to withdraw. You don't generally have a right to resell access to a service. 

Could be viewed as a physical purchase, you pay for the ticket (like Groupon Voucher) which then gives you a right to redeem as access the festival?

Might give the original purchaser a right to access the festival, but not a subsequent purchaser if the T&Cs forbid unofficial resale?

Okell

swingaloo said:

Could you friends not have used them giving your name and details?

Yes.  I don't really understand how this "tickets are not transferable" or "tickets are not for resale" works in practice.

My gig going days are long over but we did go to Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023.  Those were e-tickets and we had to bring photo ID with us.  The photo ID was given a cursory inspection but there was no evident comparison made between our IDs and who the tickets had been issued to.

Similarly we've had tickets for other events and had to bring photo ID but it's never been checked

born_again

Okell said:

swingaloo said:

Could you friends not have used them giving your name and details?

Yes.  I don't really understand how this "tickets are not transferable" or "tickets are not for resale" works in practice.

My gig going days are long over but we did go to Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023.  Those were e-tickets and we had to bring photo ID with us.  The photo ID was given a cursory inspection but there was no evident comparison made between our IDs and who the tickets had been issued to.

Similarly we've had tickets for other events and had to bring photo ID but it's never been checked

Been to some where you have to produce the card used for purchase.

In reality for online tickets it is easy. You would just need to bring proof or address that the tickets were sent too.

swingaloo

I buy theatre tickets for my stepdaughter and her partner every Christmas and just email the confirmation to her. Not had a problem yet.

powerful_Rogue

swingaloo said:

I buy theatre tickets for my stepdaughter and her partner every Christmas and just email the confirmation to her. Not had a problem yet.

Theatre tickets are a bit different from festival tickets.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Okell said:

Yes.  I don't really understand how this "tickets are not transferable" or "tickets are not for resale" works in practice.

The CMA has said any such term can be scrutinised for fairness but would depend upon the exact circumstances with some criteria they feel may be reasonable but ultimately there is little case law so until it goes to a higher court there isn't a specific answer. 

Not in relation to the OP, it is however illegal to use "bots" to purchase more than the maximum number of tickets the event holder stipulates may be purchased by each individual. 

RefluentBeans

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Okell said:

Yes.  I don't really understand how this "tickets are not transferable" or "tickets are not for resale" works in practice.

The CMA has said any such term can be scrutinised for fairness but would depend upon the exact circumstances with some criteria they feel may be reasonable but ultimately there is little case law so until it goes to a higher court there isn't a specific answer. 

Not in relation to the OP, it is however illegal to use "bots" to purchase more than the maximum number of tickets the event holder stipulates may be purchased by each individual. 

Also, practically speaking it would be kind of disastrous if the way they handled scalpers/touters was to refuse the customers who paid for the ticket on the door. Especially at a festival where people have travelled to, many by prearranged transport. Could end up with a lot of people stranded. 

It is, though, such a profitable business that no matter what vendors do, it will be almost impossible to stop. I know The Cure did try and prevent it.