Released 09/04/2018
Minister for Consumer Affairs Shane Rattenbury is urging Canberrans to do their research before buying tickets to concerts or sporting events so you can have confidence your tickets will you to the game or to the show.
“Unfortunately each year many Canberrans fall victim to dodgy ticket re-sellers and the financial cost can be significant, particularly if the event is interstate – with losses incurred not only on tickets, but on travel and accommodation costs,” Mr Rattenbury said.
Noting this, and the number of re-sellers increasing through online and social media, jurisdictions across the country have joined together to highlight the issues around buying second hand tickets to raise awareness with consumers.
“Locally many Canberra venues and sporting codes have joined us to spread the word, including the Raiders, and Canberra United and our biggest venues in town; the Canberra Theatre, Manuka Oval and GIO Stadium,” he said.
“It is often the venues that see the disappointment first hand when consumers turn up with a ‘ticket’ purchased online only to find out at the door that it is not a valid ticket.
“With Canberra attracting more shows and events than ever before we want to ensure consumers know what to look for and how to buy their tickets safely and securely.”
Some key tips:
- check the artist or event’s official verified pages for the authorised ticket sellers
- if you search for the event online, look out for advertising that often sees ticket resellers appear before the link to the official ticket seller
- If you are buying a ticket from a reseller, you should double check that:
- the price is in Australian dollars
- you know where your seat allocation is (if applicable)
- the final price compares to the official ticket price for the same tickets – watch for any extra fees at checkout.
- as always, read the terms and conditions (the fine print!) before buying tickets to any event; and
- if it sounds too good to be true it probably is (such as discounted tickets or many tickets being available when the event is advertised as ‘sold out’).
Canberrans are encouraged to report any cases of dodgy ticket resellers to Access Canberra on 13 22 81 (Monday to Friday), and visit www.act.gov.au/fairtrading for further information.
- Statement ends -
Shane Rattenbury, MLA | Media Releases
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