Ticketline And Incorrect Pricing

[smiley1]

Hi. I bought two tickets to see a show at Bath Forum through Ticketline on 3/12/19 at the advertised price of £36 plus £3.50 booking fee, I received an e mail confirmation that the sale has gone through the same day and my account was debited.

Today I have received an e mail from Ticketline to say the advertised price was wrong and should be £60 plus £5 booking fee. They then go on to tell me my tickets are currently invalid and that I need to pay an extra £25.50 per ticket if I want them.

As they accepted my original booking can they legally do this?

[Mamyalynne]

We reserve the right to change the price of tickets following purchase, before or after they have been despatched to you, if we become aware that the tickets were listed at an incorrect price, including typographical errors or due to inaccurate pricing information received from the Event promoter or organiser. If this occurs, we will notify you by e-mail or telephone as soon as we become aware of the error. If you do not confirm within 14 days that you wish to purchase the tickets at the revised price we will cancel the tickets and re-credit to your account any sum deducted by us from your debit/credit card in full as soon as possible but in any event within 21 days of your order. We will not be obliged to offer any additional compensation for disappointment suffered.


Source

https://www.ticketline.co.uk/info/terms

[JimF]

Yep! Them's the infamous "Ts & Cs" to which the OP doubtless agreed as part of the online process.

[bookbinder]

I don't think they are entitled to do this. As I understand it, they are legally obliged to sell the tickets at the lower price, even if they have made a mistake. I once bought a lawn mower from B & Q. It was the last day of their sale, and the stack of mowers was priced with the (lower) sale price. At the checkout, I was asked to pay a higher (normal) price, which I queried. Apparently, the higher price should have been stuck on the stack of mowers, as it was the last day of the sale, but it was the store's mistake, and I was entitled to have the mower at the lower price. Stick to your guns. You are entitled to pay only the lower price, as it's part of a legal agreement.

[smiley1]

Thanks, I'm sure that there are many others who are in this boat from this event. This has increased the ticket price so much not sure we will take the tickets now

[Mamyalynne]

I'm sure you won't be alone, make sure you let them know and get your refund.

[Maydup]

Thats a shocking example of ticket agents at their worst. Check the event on the official website for the venue and see what the true face value of the tickets is.

https://www.bathforum.co.uk

That price will help you decide whether to cancel and rebuy from the venue site or whether its a genuine mistake and your tickets are still good value at the higher price.

[Buenchico]

^^^ Maydup:
Ticketline is the authorised seller for Bath Forum. i.e. if you go to the Bath Forum website and click on 'Book Now', you'll be taken to the Ticketline website.

It seems likely that Bath Forum provided Ticketline with incorrect information, so it's probably not Ticketline's fault that the wrong price was shown. If Bath Forum are now saying that they won't admit anyone who hasn't paid the full price for the show, there's nothing that Ticketline can do other than to advise customers of that information.

So any complaints should be addressed to Bath Forum, rather than to Ticketline. However that's not easily done, as the only phone number shown on their website is for "the call centre" (which probably means Ticketline's one) and there's no email address. Calling 01225 443114 should get you through though.

As the contract really relates to actually being admitted to the show (rather than just being provided with tickets for it), it's likely that a court would rule that The Forum (and/or its accredited agent) is entitled to change the price if they become aware of an error in their advertising prior to the actual performance date. It's similar to seeing something advertised on Amazon for £10 that should have been shown at £100. If Amazon spot their error before actually sending the goods out (even if they've sent you an email confirming your order) they're entitled to void the contract. 'Sending the goods out' in that example is equivalent to 'letting you in the through the door' at the Bath Forum.

[Maydup]

Yes you're quite correct I didn't go far enough on the venue booking process to see that ut takes you to the same place. Write a strong complaint to them.

[woofgang]

bookbinder, a shop doesn't have to sell you an item at the ticket price. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/somethings-gone-wrong-with-a-purchase/if-something-is-advertised-at-the-wrong-price/

[Mozz71]

Completely legal, but really crappy customer service.