Tickets for Peter Kay cancer charity event in Leeds being resold at almost FOUR TIMES value
Comedian Peter Kay is bringing his sold-out Dance for Life show to the First Direct Arena in May, with all profits going to Cancer Research UK.
Tickets originally cost £28.50 but are selling for as much as £100 on the secondary ticketing website Viagogo.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAnd its customers are being stung with booking and handling fees that total more than the original ticket price.
Paul Bunton, 52, bought two tickets for his wife’s 50th birthday present at £100 each – but it was only when he received his credit card bill that he realised he had been charged another £112 in fees.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I thought it must be a mistake.”
Mr Bunton, of Primley Park Road, Alwoodley, asked for a refund but was told his only option was to resell the tickets.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTo recoup all the money, he would have to sell each ticket for six times its original value.
Mr Bunton, who is taking legal advice, said: “If you buy something, you should be able to get a refund.”
He admitted he should have checked the small print but said he felt pressured to buy quickly.
“You’ve got about five minutes to buy your ticket and they show all these messages about how many ticket have sold,” he said.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“I’m sure there will be other people in Leeds who have been hoodwinked.
“I consider myself a pretty savvy online shopper but it starts to put doubts in your mind.”
It is not until customers have completed several stages of the buying process that the exact amount in fees is shown.
By this time they have already entered personal details and a delivery address.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdPrior to that, it simply details the ticket price and says a booking fee, handling fee and VAT will be added.
Viagogo, which is based in Geneva, did not respond to a request for a comment.
However, its website explains the booking and handling fees cover the cost of ticket verification, secure delivery and customer service.
Its general notes also say that prices set by sellers may be higher or lower than the face value of tickets, and all sales are final.