- Report: #502002
Complaint Review: The Online Ticket Exchange - London Internet
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Author Not Confirmed
Why?
The Online Ticket Exchange
85/87 Borough High Street London, SE1 1NH Internet, United States of America
Phone:
74038914
Web:
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The Online Ticket Exchange - theonlineticketexchange.com Company failed to supply tickets, ignored phone calls and emails chasing. I only obtained tickets by turning up on their doorstep a day before the concert. London Internet
I ordered x2 very expensive (over twice face value) Bruce Springsteen tickets for Hard Rock Calling at Hyde Park in June 2009. The tickets were ordered six months before the concert. A week or so before the concert the tickets hadn't arrived.
I sent several emails, all of which were ignored. I made numerous phonecalls none of which were answered. I only got my tickets by turning up at the registered office unannounced (a day or so before the concert) and stating "I had come to collect" tickets in a friendly manner that suggested it had been arranged, rather than I had a complaint/was demanding tickets.
I was met by a young man and given a pair of tickets. As soon as I had my hands on the tickets (which were printed-off Ticketmaster PDFs) I quizzed the young man. I was asked why I had had to turn up and why I had not been contacted. I was told they had only arrived that day. I was also told that the phonelines had been down which is why I my calls and emails had been unanswered (I did not beleive these explanations; the site was up and running and no doubt taking people's money. I had dug fairly deep on this internet and I had already seen that this excuse had been used before).
I asked who was in charge and was told that it was Geert van Meel, Dutch, BD: 19 july 1957 2 Elm place London SW7 3QH. From my research, I knew that he had been resigned as a director of the company recently. He was arrested for a ticket scam allegation last year:-
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2008/11/arrests-made-in-olympics-ticke.html)
and there is an ongoing Serious Fraud Office enquiry in relation to this:
http://www.sfo.gov.uk/news/prout/pr_601.asp?id=601
Obvioulsy I got my tickets in the end and I went to the concert. This was only as a result of turning up at their registered office. Otherwise, I would have lost out.
I would advise anyone else who is in the position I was to do the same. Turn up and ask for your tickets. Yes, you can try and sue the company down the line but (a) you won't get to see the concert and (b) you may not get your money back if the company goes pop [which will presumably happen eventually].
Anyone who does not get their tickets should report the company to the police, Serious Fraud Office and Trading Standards. If this is happening to lots of people then someone needs to stop it. This will only be done if people speak up.
