25 January 2012

Buying event tickets on-line

Although I've frequently conducted transactions on line, for the first time  I recently had to use the Ticketek website.  Perhaps the fact that Ticketek is owned by the Nine group got me off to a bad start, but their website particularly annoyed me.    In order to buy tickets (to an exhibition at a taxpayer-funded gallery, mind you), I was required to register as a Ticketek user.   This couldn't be done without providing (amongst other things) both my home and mobile phone numbers (although I admit that the possibility of entering wrong numbers did occur to me) and de-selecting numerous options along the lines of "let us keep you informed of future events" of various types.
When I came to the payment page, yes, I was aware from earlier screens that there would be a "booking fee" added on, but no-where was it stated that you had no option but to pay by credit card (direct debit wasn't available) - and, yes, there was a 1.5% surcharge for using a credit card! Is my impression correct that this type of undisclosed sting-in-the-tail is of interest to the ACCC?   But even if it is,  can I be bothered taking the matter further?  Or would it be that an organisation that as recently as December incurred a $2.5 million penalty for abuse of market power (see -http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1023878/fromItemId/2332) would have made sure that its practices were beyond question? 

5 comments:

  1. For Ticketek and many other sites when you register, your log-in is your email address. When I recently changed my email address, I forgot about changing my Ticketek registration. Your article has reminded me. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Last week I bought 2 tickets for NSW Art Gallery from ticketek ,who seem to have the monopoly, using a credit card. There was a $5 booking fee but no card fee so far- I have checked my account

    ReplyDelete
  3. And another thing. Try as I might to set comment time, this program locates me somewhere unknown. Where in the world is it 19 hours behind Melbourne time?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Isn't gxh's time setting? Or did he really post at 5.29 am?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I had a sleepless night, and the posting was in fact at 5.29 am Melbourne time. Apologies if this has caused issues re abg's location.

    ReplyDelete