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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I should be entitled to my money back?

114 replies

hooveringhamabeads · 09/12/2018 22:25

I took my daughter and her friend to an event yesterday. A couple of days before the event I decided that I would go with her as she was anxious about going without me. By this point tickets had sold out, so I bought one on a site for buying and selling event tickets.

I was a bit worried about this, as the system is that the seller uploads their emailed ticket, and then upon payment the buyer is emailed the ticket by site (not the seller directly). It did occur to me that there was nothing to stop people from doing this, but still attending the event themselves, but just making sure they got there really early so they were still likely to be the first one to use the ticket. Tickets are scanned when you get there and obviously each barcode can only be used once.

We got to the front of the queue yesterday at the event, and I gave the security man the three tickets. He scanned the one I’d recently bought first, and the scanner made a no sound. At the moment, the man got distracted by something his colleague said to him, and then he turned back to the scanner and looked confused and said “have you already been in and come out again”. I said no and he said “oh, I must have done something wrong there”, then scanned my other tickets and let us in.

I could tell from the noise the scanner made that the first ticket had already been used. I got an email today from the site I bought it from asking if everything had been ok with it, and I chose the ‘no’ option. I then had to fill out a form where I honestly said what had happened, but that we still got into the event.

The seller messaged me back to say he was sorry, but he had uploaded the wrong ticket to the site, and used the one he’d uploaded by mistake. Now this is possible, but on the other hand he could have been planning to scam me all along.

AIBU to think I should be entitled to get my money back, as what I bought was a valid ticket to the event, but that’s not what I received? I’m not sure how far I’ll get as I’ve already told the site I still got in, but that was a complete fluke.

Sorry that was long 😂

OP posts:
WhatsUpHun · 10/12/2018 07:10

Of course she should get a refund

Seller should have been more careful, the ramifications of op not getting in could have been really really bad

If you're feeling generous give it to a charity, but definitely get a refund

M4J4 · 10/12/2018 07:12

Ask seller to send you the correct ticket to give you peace of mind that he didn't scan you.

dippledorus · 10/12/2018 07:14

It’s usually against t&c to resell a ticket so you knew what you were doing.

You got in. You can’t morally ask for a refund. You’re being greedy

Workreturner · 10/12/2018 07:15

I would absolutely get money back

And then donate entire amount to charity

Workreturner · 10/12/2018 07:17

Then seller doesn’t benefit
You don’t benefit

A charity does benefit

mummmy2017 · 10/12/2018 07:19

Your ticket failed to work.
You get a refund.
Seller admits wrong ticket was uploaded, the ticket you purchased was used by him before you arrived.
The security guard let you in on goodwill.
Get your refund, as the seller was at fault.

PattiStanger · 10/12/2018 07:20

I'd explain to the site what happened and let them follow up with the seller. Who knows if there was a 2nd ticket that the seller actually used, asking for a copy of an eticket wouldn't prove anything.

On balance I'd assume a mistake

brizzledrizzle · 10/12/2018 07:36

I don't believe the seller for a minute, he's trying to scam people so yes, you should get a refund.

MsHopey · 10/12/2018 07:37

Never seen one this split on AIBU.

Even if he wasn't trying to scam you (big if) an error on his end meant you might not have gotten in.
Imagine paying for train and hotel and ticket and then the ticket not working, being turned away and then he admits he used the ticket himself.
Sheer fluke you managed to get in but I can't see why he should keep the £50 over the OP tbh.

Someone is going to be left off balance either way and up money.
Scammer/shitty mistake person shouldn't be up more than the OP in my opinion.

MadeleineFenner · 10/12/2018 07:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SoupDragon · 10/12/2018 08:28

the ramifications of op not getting in could have been really really bad

Except there were no ramifications as she did get in. She has lost nothing whatsoever.

SoupDragon · 10/12/2018 08:30

I can't see why he should keep the £50 over the OP tbh

Because the OP doesn't deserve it having got what she paid for and no one has any proof that the seller is a scammer.

SoupDragon · 10/12/2018 08:34

If we are basing this what ifs and speculation, what if the seller needs that money for Christmas?

When people start threads about "should I sue?" The question is always "what have you lost?". This isn't suing, obviously, but what has the OP lost? Nothing. There wasn't even any hassle whatsoever and the OP was let in without any fuss at all.

hiptobeasquare · 10/12/2018 08:44

You would be in a position of betterment if you got your money back, all the what ifs are irrelevant. You paid the seller, you got into the event. It maybe worth reporting the seller to CItizens Advice as they collate information for trading standards as I do think it sounds dodgy.

Sindragosan · 10/12/2018 08:46

What you purchased was not as described / fit for purpose, so yes, you should get your money back. The fact that you got into the event is irrelevant, the seller did not deliver what was agreed.

If they really needed the money for Christmas or whatever speculation is going on, they'd have taken care to upload the correct ticket.

Hundredacrewoods · 10/12/2018 08:51

Ye you should get your money back! Otherwise there's no disincentive for this person to continue the scam!

differentnameforthis · 10/12/2018 09:20

You managed to enter the event anyway, why are you entitled to your money back?

differentnameforthis · 10/12/2018 09:32

The fact that you got into the event is irrelevant, the seller did not deliver what was agreed. He did. He sold a ticket that would get her into the event, that's what she got.

Yes, it was sheer luck. But with a dd with anxiety that bad, surely op should have been better prepared and bought three tickets originally

Original poster
hooveringhamabeads · 10/12/2018 10:40

Are some people just really thick? Confused

He didn’t sell me a ticket that would get me into the event, that’s the point. It was complete luck that the security man got distracted by his colleague and I got in. In any other case where you receive an item that is not as described, or defective, you would be entitled to a refund. Why is this different?

Not that I have to justify myself to you, but the reason I didn’t originally get a third ticket was that dd and her friend wanted to go without me. I’m all for encouraging her to be independent, so the original plan was to take them right to the door, and wait somewhere nearby to be there when it finished. But as it drew closer she started to get wobbly about going alone, so I bought a ticket the only way I could as they had sold out.

OP posts:
dippledorus · 10/12/2018 10:41

What age is DD?

How can you morally ask for a refund when you got in to the event?

Original poster
hooveringhamabeads · 10/12/2018 10:49

Dd is nearly 15, and her friend is already 15.

Morally I could ask for a refund as the ticket he sold me was not valid.

OP posts:
dippledorus · 10/12/2018 10:51

But you obtained entry to the event.

Were you really going to let 2 15 year olds go and stay in a hotel overnight on their own?

mimibunz · 10/12/2018 10:57

Just let it go, ffs! You come across as grabby.

hiptobeasquare · 10/12/2018 10:59

If you are that determined OP call citizens advice and find it what your consumer rights would be in this case. The fact you attended the concert will make it harder to argue your point. The trader could reasonabley argue that you got into the event so would be in a position of betterment if he refunded you. Use any correspondence you have to back up your side of the story as the burden of proof may lie with you.
See if the ticket sellers are a member of STAR (society of ticket agents and retailers) as they maybe able to help you.
If you think the company is a scam call action fraud to report it.

Satsumaeater · 10/12/2018 11:04

I don't think you are morally or legally entitled to a refund.

You got into the event.

You suffered no loss.