Who should pay what in this situation?

[payingdilemma]

NCd for this just in case!

I had tickets for an event recently with two friends, A and B. They were expensive, about £200 each for an event we'd been looking forward to. Friend A unfortunately had an unavoidable work trip come up last minute and couldn't attend the event. The tickets were non-refundable but for a fee (about £60) you could transfer them into someone else's name and they could use the ticket.

Friend B then said his partner could come along - stupidly we didn't discuss in advance who would pay for what and we're now in a bit of a limbo situation where friend B and partner have paid the name change fee, but Friend A has still paid for the ticket.

Because I am the link and point of contact between these friends, they're now asking me what should be done but I'm not entirely sure what to suggest, other than asking them to work it out themselves.

On the one hand, I feel like Friend A wouldn't have got a refund anyway, so someone may as well have made use of the ticket. But equally, Friend B and partner have used and enjoyed it so should pay (perhaps taking off the cost of the name change they had to pay).

Just wanted to canvass some opinions on what is fair!

I'd let them sort it themselves tbh

It should have been worked out at the start but here is what I think.

If friend B's partner only went because it was free or cheap (and £60 is still a lot) then they shouldn't have to pay.

If your friend A could have sold the ticket then she should get £200.

Friend B only came because tickets became available otherwise they would have not gone, if they were told they had to pay full price for them I doubt they would have gone, but because it was last minute and they were going to go to wasted Friend B has said they will go thinking that they will just go to wasted it not, asking friend B to pay full price for them is wrong I would say, just the name fee and a bit of a extra to friend a would be enough

Not the point I know, but why are they allowed to charge £60 just to change a name on a ticket? That's not reasonable to me.

Could person B say they are person A? Perhaps borrowing a piece of non-photo ID ('O' level certificate or court summons or something?)

B should pay £200, A should pay the £60.

Friend B should pay the face cost of the ticket, so £200. They have already paid the name change fee of £60 so they should pay over the remaining £140 to Friend A.

The only person then “out of pocket” is Person A by £60 which is better than being out of pocket by £200 had they not been able to transfer the ticket.

I agree the position is different if B’s partner only took the ticket to stop it going to waste as opposed to because they really wanted to go and would have paid £200.

I think a small contribution from B’s partner to A (given they’ve paid the £60 already) would be fair.

I bet you feel properly awkward caught in the middle of this, it’s not fair on you at all

It's for A and B to sort out. Why are they dragging you into it?

Friend b pays minus the name change cost.

Friend B should have discussed with Friend A what their partner was willing to pay for the ticket I would have suggested that Friend B paid the £200 face value and Friend A the name change fee.

It depends what was discussed beforehand.

I've got a spare ticket if you want it, it would go to waste otherwise

is very different to

I can't make it now, ticket is £200 plus a name change fee

I've had both situations in the past. I've taken up a free ticket when offered, it would usually be an event that I'm not that interested in.

Friend A should have said they would see the ticket and pay the fee to have it changed to whoever bought it.

Then when B expressed an interest it would be clear that they'd be paying. But I wouldn't expect them to pay the name change fee, that's on A, I wouldn't book expensive tickets for something unless I was sure work wouldn't get in the way

SELL the ticket, not see 🙄

Friend Bs partner only went because it was going cheap. Otherwise they probably would not have gone. I can't see anyone thinking they should pay more than the face value so that would be £200. I think most people would agree that as A couldn't go, they need to accept a loss. So at a push I would say partner of B pays the £60 fee plus a gesture to A but A must know that their change of plans comes with a loss for them

@growandhope so A should basically just gift the ticket, that doesn't make sense
Well yes as they can't sell it according to the OP and it's non refundable so they may as well gift it. They are the ones who changed their plans. If Bs partner didn't want to go, it would just go to waste

But they are paying. They are paying £60 for something they didn't sound desperate to go to but thinks they may as well if it's going cheap. If you buy a non refundable ticket and then change your plans, you accept you will lose money.

I agree

I think as it wasn't discussed beforehand, it should be left as it is.
I do see it from all angles though, but it's too late.

B pay for change and offer A £100 so half price of ticket. B will still of paid £160 when only going to help A out.

Are you able to tell us what the ticket was for OP? I can't think of what would be so expensive, and have a high fee for name change. Unless it's a flight maybe?

To follow up my previous comment as I’ve only just twigged - £60 to change the ticket - is this “event” actually a flight/holiday? If so, has A checked that they aren’t actually covered by travel insurance? A lot of people get insurance through their bank account and forget it, for example.

I think what has happened is the right thing. Friend A wouldn’t have received a refund. Friend B paid the (considerable) fee for a name change.

I suppose to really even it up, Friend B could repay Friend A the ticket cost, less the £60 name change fee.

@commonsense61 but if friend b pays £140 and the £60 name change, they're still paying £200.

They should have sorted this out beforehand. If you are not either party, OP, then tell them to sort it out themselves. Its probably not going to end well!!