And she underlined that, while in the first instance industry should come up with the solution, if it fails to do so, Government would not rule out legislating.
The Government is concerned that genuine fans are being priced out of the market by ticket touts who often charge as much as 10 times the face value for tickets for the most popular sporting and entertainment events.
Following a summit with industry leaders today, Ms Jowell and Creative Industries Minister Shaun Woodward spelt out an action plan to tackle the issue, consisting of:
- A DCMS-led public consultation to establish the views of consumers and industry on what action is necessary.
- An industry agreement to introduce a returns policy whereby fans can return tickets at face value to the original sellers if they are unable to attend an event.
- A website being set up by the Concert Promoters Association where fans can exchange tickets at face value.
- A drive to work with the Office of Fair Trading to draw up terms of conditions and kite marks for ticket sales websites, so that consumers know they are buying from an approved agent.
- A pledge to continue working with the industry and OFT to draw up an over-arching code of practice for both primary and secondary tickets sellers.
Where appropriate, Ministers will now be looking to industry for details on how they can deliver this in practice.
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Tessa Jowell said:
"The innocent victim of ticket touting is the fan who has to pay through the nose for a vastly over priced ticket to see their sporting, stage or musical hero. These are the people we must protect.
"I have met with the industry three times now and good progress is being made – the steps I am setting out following today's summit show that.
"But the industry should consider itself on notice – if it hasn't come up with a workable solution to stamping out the most unscrupulous touts by next summer, where there is clear evidence it's needed, we may consider targeted action and changes in legislation to ensure genuine fans are protected from exploitation."
Notes to Editors
- Those attending the ticket touting summit at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in London included the Rugby Football Union, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Concert Promoters Association, the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers, the Millennium Stadium, UK Sport, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the National Arenas Association, Ticketmaster, the FA Premier League, the Society of London Theatre, See Tickets, The FA and Ebay.
- It was the third ticket touting summit. The first one was held at DCMS in November 2005 and the second in April 2006. Attendees are expected to reconvene before the end of the year to update ministers on progress.
