Gig-goers 'cheated by booking agents'

Which? has urged sellers to be upfront with their charges after it was discovered that one agency slapped a whopping 38 per cent increase on the price of tickets to see Jimmy Carr at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall.

The ticket was being sold by agency See Tickets and saw customers charged a £3 booking fee and compulsory £6.50 delivery on top of a £25 ticket.

But research found that eight in 10 event-goers think compulsory ticket fees are a rip-off. And almost half of audiences say that extra charges have put them off booking tickets online.

Midland Box Office controversially introduced a 10 per cent booking fee in September for concerts at the Civic, Wulfrun Hall, Slade Rooms and City Council outdoor events.

It said it did so to cover the cost of processing booking through ticket software.

Next month comedian Jason Manford plays the Civic but the venue is charging a £2.25 booking fee on top of the £22.50 ticket price. There is also a £2.50 charge for recorded delivery of tickets.

Manford has been a critic in the past to additional charges on his gigs.

He took to his Facebook site earlier this year to complain of a £9 booking fee added to the price of his ticket by Oxford New Theatre. He went on to describe ATG, which owns the venue, as 'parasites'.

In February rock metal legends Motorhead will perform at the venue and will see customers have to pay a £2.70 booking fee on top of the £29.70 ticket value.

Fans hoping to see Miley Cirus at the NIA in Birmingham in May will pay as much as £61.75 for a ticket, booking directly through the venue.

However, they can pay as much as much £150 for a ticket to the show via Ticketmaster, which includes a £13.50 service charge.

The Ticket Factory, which is the booking agent for the venue as well as the LG Arena, includes a £2.50 'fulfilment charge' and a 70p renovation levy in the price.

But those coughing up to see Beyonce at the LG Arena in February will pay almost £100 for the privilege by the time added fees are included in the price. The agency say the fulfilment charge is the cost to deliver the tickets to the customer and that administration charges are agreed with the venue, artists and event organisers.

Managing director for The Ticket Factory, Stuart Cain, says Which? is right to slam agents who aren't clear on fees.

He said: "In most sectors promoters and event producers insist that fees are separated from the ticket price.

"So, the least agents should do is make them clear, simple and easy to understand. We're pleased to have passed the Which? requirements in line with STAR's (Society of Ticket Agents & Retailers) 'safe ticketing' approach to transparency.

"This report is a wake-up call to those who aren't doing their bit to help ticket buyers.

"We've improved the visibility of upfront fees in line with the new ASA guidelines on ticket fee presentation and do believe that people should know what's coming even if they don't like it."

Which? said of the 78 individual bookings looked at as part of the mystery shop, tickets were sold at face value in only two cases, with no additional fees such as booking or delivery charges.

It also found examples of consumers being charged to print tickets out at home or pick them up from the venue box office.

Its executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: "Consumers tell us they are feeling ripped off by the level of ticketing charges, and the lack of transparency means it is almost impossible for people to compare prices when booking online."