Bates welcomes closure of rip-off merchants

Release/Rhyddhau: 08/02/06

Contact/Cyswllt: Ceirion Rees:
029 2089 8342/ 07733280105/ ceirion.rees@wales.gov.uk 

Mick Bates has welcomed a decision by the Department of Trade and Industry to close a rouge ticket agency.

The Montgomeryshire AM was a victim of the internet based company, "Get Me Tickets Limited".  It offered sought-after tickets to sold-out concerts and events at prices well above face value.

Mick, a dedicated music fan, had bought two tickets from the company to see Bob Dylan at the London Briton Academy last November.  However, though he paid for the tickets weeks before the show, was told on the day that they would not be available.

Unsatisfied, he contacted BBC Wales's X-ray programme and an investigation revealed that this was not a one-off occurrence.  Numerous complaints had been made against Get Me Tickets.  Complaints which lead to the DTI decision.

Commenting, Mick said:  "The decision by the DTI is a major victory for the consumer.  Rogue companies simply cannot be allowed to operate. 

"I know first hand the disappointment that is felt when tickets for shows do not appear.   Because of Get Me Tickets I missed my first Bob Dylan tour in the UK since the 1960's.  Thanks to the work carried out by the teams at X-Ray and Watchdog this company can no longer let people down.

"This issue goes beyond tickets.  There are numerous unscrupulous companies letting people down and ripping people off left, right and centre.  Since X- Ray helped highlight my case I have been contacted by a considerable number of people who have similarly been ripped-off, whilst these scam operators take people's hard-earned cash on a false promise.

 "It is clear that the governments in both Wales and Westminster aren't doing enough to protect people.  We need to tighten up our laws, find rogue companies and close them down. The nettle must be grasped now - Get Me Tickets and others like them will only want to take more people for a ride when the Olympics come to London.

"I am keen to hear from all people with consumer problems.  I want to build a campaign for consumer protection and influence the governments in Wales and Westminster.  If you have an issue you want to raise, contact me on mick.bates@wales.gov.uk and I will do my best to help secure more consumer victories."

Notes:

• BBC story on Get Me Tickets closure can be found at:

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4688808.stm

• X-Ray story on Mick and Get Me tickets can be found at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/x-ray/allarticles/stories/5p19_getmetickets.shtml

• Mick has tabled a statement of opinion on this issue: