Advice for buying tickets

We've all heard disaster stories about people paying money for tickets that didn't turn up, or came too late, so what can you do to protect yourself, and your money?

The following advice has been issued by Consumer Direct, which is a telephone and online consumer advice service that is operated by the Office of Fair Trading. What do they advise?

• It's often advisable to buy through primary ticket agents – these are the official agents who act on behalf of the event promoters or venues.
• Be wary of fraudulent online ticket sites. If you buy online, you may want to use a well known and well established site and don't be fooled by a site which looks professional. Other things to check are the company's geographic address and contact number and if you're worried, you may want to look at internet forums to see if others have had bad experiences.
• Before you buy, make sure you have information about the face value of the tickets, how much you will pay in additional fees, including booking fees, transaction charges and postage, where the seat is, and whether it has a restricted view
• Read the terms and conditions so that you understand how you are going to receive the tickets, what will happen if they don't arrive, what will happen if the event is cancelled, changed or you have to cancel.
• If you are buying through secondary agents, be aware that prices can sometimes be at a premium when demand is high so it can be worth shopping around. Again make sure you know the face value, seat location and any additional fees. People should also be aware that Consumer Direct receives more complaints about secondary agents than official primary agent sellers.
• Be aware that there are risks of buying tickets through internet auctions and from street touts.
• When booking online check that the payment pages are secure by looking for a padlock symbol
• If you're buying tickets costing over £100, consider using a credit card. In the event of the tickets not turning up, you should be able to get your money back from your card provider.
• If you need advice, contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk