Viagogo tickets

[ChiaraRimini]

I bought some tickets today from Viagogo, in a hurry, and since then realised they have a terrible reputation for fakes etc.
The event is in a few days time and hasn't sold out. I spent £100 on the tickets, a bit less than face value. Is there any way of checking if they are real? If I try and resell them I'll lose money but I'm wondering if I should do that and rebuy the tickets from an official vendor :(

They are not all fakes - I have sold tickets on there before for a concert that I ended up with 2 pairs of tickets for (I bought 2 tickets, DP bought 2).

I'm not sure how to check whether they are real or not though, are they actual tickets rather than an email? Has the seller included the receipt that they got when they were originally purchased?

They are e-tickets with another persons name on. They were emailed to me through the site.
As the event hasn't sold out and I paid less than face value it seems less likely to be a scam?
I didn't realise until afterwards they are a reseller, I don't do this very often!

They are truly awful - totally scammed my DH's brother and his wife out of tickets for a concert. Just admitted two days beforehand that they had oversold and didn't have tickets to give them.

I would contact the venue and check their policy as lots of them won't accept re-sold tickets (I.e. They will insist that the person who made the booking is there to collect the tickets). If they refuse to accept them you can try getting a refund from viagogo but not sure it will work.

Their tickets aren't always fakes so you might be fine, but they're a totally unscrupulous and untrustworthy company.

I've bought through them before - got e-tickets with someone's name on. Paid through the roof and was nervous about getting in but tickets were real.

If its for ed sheeran they probably won't let you in with someone elses name on them.

I used them for a very in-demand concert on Saturday, all was fine. There was a name on them as there always is now but I've yet to be anywhere that checks that. They were online tickets, nothing to collect.

Is it a concert? if yes the venue is usually not at all interested, it's the promoter that manages the concert.

TheShapeofEwe did your brother-in-law get his money back? Over selling is not a scam, just ask airlines. The biggest problem with Viagogo is the fact they are part of Ticketmaster and often tickets are there barely seconds after sales open, generally at demented prices.

If it’s Ed Sheeran you have to repay at the door if they have been re sold

It's not Ed Sheeran, it's a gig in London. As tickets are still on sale through normal channels seems unlikely to be an organised scam. Just bricking it as I don't want to be turned away!

I bought tickets from there for a festival I went to just this weekend. Paid a 20% markup which I wasn't happy about but I guess people want to make money. They are legit though, just awful reputation for customer service and dramatically overpricing ticket.

Have you been sent the e-tickets?
Phone the venue or official ticket site & ask them to verify your tickets using the code printed on them.

i am having an issue with them at the moment where they say they sent my tickets in january but I didnt receieve them. They just keep fobbing me off.

@InspMorse but if I phone the promoter then won't they just realise tix have been resold and cancel them?

Oh dear I've bought Beyoncé tickets through them and the gigs in Paris!!
I'm sure I've used them before though although it was years ago? What problems am I likely to face?

I used them last year before I knew how bad they were. Paid about three tines the face value of the tickets but they were genuine and we got in with no problems.

I wouldn't attend on the off chance you'll get in. I'd phone the venue or the promoter and check.

Don’t panic, they’re not all bad. We got tickets for Adam Lambert and Queen in December just gone. It had sold out but we reeeeally wanted to go (we paid well over the odds of course), e tickets and a gig likely to attract scammers. I nearly strangled DH when I found out where he got them, and yet it was fine, genuine tickets and a superb time had by all.

Hope it's ok, OP.

Slight hijack but same topic- If my DDs have Ed Sheeran tickets in a different name will there be a problem? They were a gift and are in my friend's name but she won't be with them.

@InspMorse but if I phone the promoter then won't they just realise tix have been resold and cancel them?
No, most venues don’t—care— mind about resale. I’m not sure if calling them will help anyway because they’re etickets, they will know if the code is genuine but they’ll have no idea if they’ve been copied and sold on more than once. In fact, I’m pretty sure our etickets had the proviso that in the event of two people turning up with the same ticket, the one arriving first will be admitted and the other turned away because the venue can’t determine authenticity in those circumstances. So turn up early!! This isn’t meant to worry you btw, as I said I went to an eminently scammable gig and it was fine.

I wouldn't use them but I realise it's difficult to know if it's a secondary ticket site if you're not an experienced ticket buyer online. I hate with a vengeance all these sites - so many scammers especially when they ask for 5x more than face price. I know that's not your situation. But I really don't know how you can tell whether the tickets are legit and/ or you will be let in.

Sorry to tell you that the reviews are poor uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.viagogo.co.uk

It looks like the tide is definitely turning against them (thank goodness)
www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/viagogo-ticket-sales-asa-prices-fees-costs-worst-digital-minister-margot-james-a8375706.html

theimpossible
Get her to check the t and cs of the vendor and/or venue. Sometimes you can print off an online voucher for tickets bought as a present to be submitted along with the tickets. Or sometimes the person who purchased the tickets just have to write a letter authorising them to use the tickets. Sometimes (sorry) the purchaser does have to attend with ID. I know this because I had to do it for DDs on Sunday for a Vip package I bought them. I had to turn up with photo ID then they were allowed in alone.

@theimpossiblegirl

I think your DDs might have a problem-

amp.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-news/buying-tickets-for-ed-sheeran-you-need-to-read-ticketmasters-important-guidelines-for-fans-35904950.html

This says that the ticket buyer must be present with ID. Get the buyer to call ticketmaster?

Thanks- looks like a photocopy of the credit card (or the card itself if she'll let them take it) and a cover letter should suffice as they were a gift. We'll just have to be super organised as the concert is in Cardiff and the giver is not.

@theimpossiblegurl we went to see Ed Sheeran last weekend and despite dire warnings about id and original credit cards they didn't ask for anything from us or anyone in the queue. I assume they just do spot checks or maybe certain tickets are flagged as likely to have been bought by touts. Ask your friend for a photo of her card and booking email and it should be fine.

Thank you, such a relief- it's a post-GCSE treat and the girls are really looking forward to it.