News »
Gigwise RSS Feeds Bookmark and Share

Government Rules Against Ticket Tout Legislation

But adds warning...

Government Rules Against Ticket Tout Legislation
Share

The Government has decided against making new laws to combat the problem of ticket touting in the United Kingdom.

Responding to a report by the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said that concert promoters and ticket resellers should instead work together on a voluntary code.

Although Burnham warned that legislation should be a “last resort”, he noted how ticket reselling, on what’s more commonly known as the secondary market, “doesn’t add anything to the cultural life of the country”.

Instead, Burham added, it “leeches off it and denies access to those least able to afford tickets."

The secondary market has exploded in the United Kingdom over recent years as online websites such as eBay and Seatwave have made it easier for touts to sell tickets.

The Government’s voluntary code will initially target major sporting events, such as Wimbledon and the World Cup, to prevent people from selling tickets on at inflated prices.

The Government will also work with the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) to limit the number of tickets sold to one person.

What do you think of the Government’s decision? Should touting be banned or do you support it? Have you sold tickets on – if so, then please let us know...
(7)
  • needs more options to poll ie sell on yes= sell on with excessive mark up fees = no no option , as it stands, means glasto extreme measures which means no swaps between fans or re- sell with face and booking fees only.

    ~ by big nose 4/22/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • If you cant make a gig or show and want to get your money back then reselling your ticket at face value is fine. It\'s when people buy tickets just for the purpose of making money out of them. Charging 3/4 times sometimes even more than the face value. Its unfair and makes me so angry

    ~ by L 7/4/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • I am sick of trying to get tickets to gigs and finding they have sold out within minutes and are immediatley available on ebay and various other rip off sites. This kind of touting should be banned, and the very obvious perpetrators punished (perhaps by sitting through a Backstreet Boys reunion gig!!)

    ~ by CB 10/10/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • Ticket touting makes me so angry - why can't the organisers of the gigs do something to stop this? Surely they can check credit card details upon entry (or something similar) to help prevent this?

    ~ by Laura 11/18/2008

    Reply to this comment

  • Don't get you moaners - if an entrepreneur takes the risk of buying tickets - he may make money, he may not - its his risk. Ford do not stop the sale of second hand cars. It is supply and demand and I bet lots of folk will make losses if an event is not popular. If you do not want to pay an inflated fee .....then don't go ....end of.

    ~ by Fred 3/14/2009

    Reply to this comment

    • God, do people like you really exist? This is a sad world.

      ~ by Lewis 10/30/2009

  • Fred that is shocking you have the cheek to call ticket touts entrepreneurs they buy up all the tickets for the most popular shows so they know they are going to sell them and rip people off like festivals and what have you..... You dont see people buying brand new cars just of the line and then selling them for double the price think about it ........ God people with your attitude make me very angry

    ~ by Matt 4/4/2009

    Reply to this comment


 characters left [+]  


Register now and have your comments approved automatically!

  • Am I the only one that remembers that Beyonce was in Destiny's Child? And that she was never cool? @Gigwise & @NMEMagazine
    VenusInfers on Wed Nov 25 20:46:05 via TwitterRide
  • Awful news RT @Gigwise: Reef To Reunite In 2010 For UK Tour: The band behind 'It's Your Letters'... http://bit.ly/6dXqoo
    thejonford on Wed Nov 25 17:42:14 via Seesmic
  • RT @Gigwise: via @melissacarissa YAY! Reef To Reunite In 2010 For UK Tour: http://bit.ly/6dXqoo <-- Used to be great live..l'm there.
    needlegroove on Wed Nov 25 17:23:03 via HootSuite
  • @achrisevans YAY! RT @gigwise Reef To Reunite In 2010 For UK Tour: The band behind 'It's Your Letters'... http://bit.ly/6dXqoo
    melissacarissa on Wed Nov 25 17:11:18 via web
  • Paul Weller Announces Two Royal Albert Hall Shows For May 2010: Get your tickets through @Gigwise... http://bit.ly/51tCVf
    icklepickle on Wed Nov 25 13:40:03 via web
Artist A-Z   # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z