Concert goers have been warned by the Queensland and NSW governments to be "very cautious" about ticket resell website Viagogo.
The Queensland Office of Fair Trading (QOFT) has received 49 complaints from consumers about Viagogo, with 43 coming in the last 12 months. While the NSW Fair Trading had received 187 consumer complaints, and 237 enquiries, about the Swiss-based ticket exchange platform this year alone.
“Complaints to date have included delayed delivery, events being cancelled, heavily marked-up prices, hidden fees, and failure to provide refunds,” NSW Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.
“With most complaints relating to two or more tickets, [NSW] Fair Trading has estimated around 600 consumers have been ripped off at a cost of almost $130,000," Mr Kean said.
While QLD Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said Queensland consumers have raised concerns that tickets they have purchased are provided with incorrect names, are fake or are not provided at all. “Claims of hidden fees and charges are common,” Mrs D’Ath said.
“Consumers also often report not being aware they were dealing with a secondary ticket seller.”
Queensland consumers have complained about purchasing tickets for Adele, Midnight Oil and Paul McCartney, recent sporting events including State of Origin and the Jeff Horn bout, and Queensland Performing Arts Centre productions.
To date, Viagogo has refused to engage with the QOFT and has made no attempt to resolve complaints from Queensland consumers. “The number of complaints received and the failure of Viagogo to attempt to resolve them is very concerning,” Mrs D’Ath said.
“Viagogo’s conduct to date shows they have little interest in resolving consumer complaints and are unwilling to act in good faith if something goes wrong. Until such time as Viagogo improves its business practices, I urge consumers to think twice before dealing with them."
While Mr Kean said NSW Fair Trading had made more than 194 attempts to contact Viagogo to discuss the complaints, which had gone vastly unanswered.
Viagogo, headquartered in Switzerland, promotes itself as a ticket reseller to major events including concerts, sporting events and theatre. It is currently selling tickets for Falls Festival, The Ashes, AFL Finals and A Day On The Green as well as Stevie Nicks and Paul Kelly shows.
