Victoria’s state government has reminded consumers to take precautions when purchasing tickets for events across the Australian summer.
The warning comes after Consumer Affairs Victoria received over 1,100 reports about event ticketing and resale during the 2021-22 financial year.
A number of Victorians reported to the consumer agency that they have overpaid for tickets on resale websites which they could have bought through an official ticketing outlet for a much lower price.
A release from the Andrews Labour Government in Victoria noted that one consumer lost more than A$600 (£341/€386/$409) after purchasing tickets from a resale website, which were never delivered and were also selling for a lower price through a legitimate reseller.
Other consumers have also reported being turned away from events as the tickets they purchased through a reseller were not legitimate.
Victorians that buy tickets to an event in Australia are protected by the Australian Consumer Law, which requires online ticket resellers to clearly disclose they are resellers and include the original price of the tickets on the listing.
The local government also reminded consumers to purchase tickets through an official ticketing outlet, as this is considered the safest way.
However, should a buyer wish to go through a reseller, the statement added that Victorians should keep electronic records of the purchase like receipts, emails and bank records in case a chargeback is required later; to read the terms and conditions of the website before biting the ticket; conduct research on the resale website and search the reseller’s Australian Business Number (ABN) to make sure it is a registered business.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Danny Pearson said: “I urge everyone to do their research to ensure resale sites are legitimate before purchasing tickets and avoid the pain of missing out on an event you’ve been looking forward to.
“All event organisers and ticketing agencies should have contingency plans and understand their obligations if things don’t go as expected.
“Victoria is the nation’s events capital – no one should miss out on our unrivalled offering for live sport and music because of a scammer.”
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