Theatre Ticket Agencies Still Breaking Their Own Code of Practice - Hidden Fees

secretarybirdextraordinaire

I used by Blue Light Card to get a discount on tickets for the London Palladium and their website redirected me to London Theatre Direct. The tickets weren't discounted - in fact they turned out to be £1 more than Lyric Theatre (but I only found after booking). However, I didn't realise and booked two seats for Hadestown at the Lyric. The price for each seat was £70.50. Being late at night and feeling bleary with a cold, I used Apple Pay and double clicked before spotting that the total price was £156.50. Caveat Emptor. Felt sick. An extra £7.75 per ticket. An extra 10%. It was too late at night to contact the agency so the next day I emailed both London Theatre Direct and Blue Light Card. The agency said that was the booking fee. I argued that the receipt didn't show this nor was there any mention of booking fees during the transaction. I forwarded my complaint to STAR which is the organisation for all theatre ticket agencies and their code of practice says that fees should be shown. They replied that the agency wasn't acting fraudulently. I disagree. I have copies of all the screenshots of the booking receipt email and the advertised prices on their website. I have trawled all through London Theatre Direct's website to see how much they charge for commission. It isn't stated anywhere. Surely this is against their own code of practice. I know this is all my fault but I have never booked through an agency before - I had assumed that Blue Light Card had given me their own advertised discounted prices!! I feel sick.

born_again

When you are on the booking site mentioned

1 Ticket

Total:£67 including all fees

T/C you agree to on purchase. You did read them?

Price and payment

The price of the Ticket shall be the price set at the time We accept Your order. All prices set are inclusive of our booking fee and any applicable taxes. No order will be accepted until We have received full payment. Other requirements regarding the need for clear and transparent pricing information to be supplied at the time of sale, including booking fees, are covered in the STAR Code of Practice.