Fraudulent websites – police operation
The Police and Trading Standards have been working together to crack down on ticket fraud and have recently been involved in an operation to close down fraudulent ticket websites.
The sites - based all over the world - have been advertising tickets for sale to Premier League and Football Association UK-based matches; duping unsuspecting fans into buying either fraudulent or non-existent tickets at a reduced price.
Unfortunately for individuals who have fallen foul of ticket fraud the prospect of getting their money back may be slim. Whilst consumers have the rights associated with a 'normal' contract, see our information here. The people behind the 'businesses' generally have no intention of providing either the tickets or consumers their money back and may be hard to track down so that consumers can obtain a refund through normal routes of redress, for example court action.
If the goods or services you have bought cost over £100 and you paid by credit card, you may be protected by The Consumer Credit Act. This states that the credit card company is equally liable for any problems. Therefore, should a problem arise, you can claim either from the trader or from the credit card company. In situations where making a claim against the trader is not a feasible option purchases protected by The Consumer Credit Act can be a saving grace. More information about buying on credit.
If you paid by debit card you are not covered by The Consumer Credit Act and there is no legal obligation on the card provider to reimburse you. You may though be able to ask for money back under the 'chargeback' procedure operated by members of the Visa and Mastercard schemes - speak to your bank to see if this is possible.
If you are unsure about your next course of action or whether the Consumer Credit Act might apply to you contact Consumer Direct for further advice.
