Be Safe Buying Tickets
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Every event will use one or more official ticket companies. Until the event is sold out, these websites are where you should go to buy tickets. Because these tickets come straight from the event organiser, if you buy from here you are guaranteed to be sold a valid ticket at the right price.
To find the official ticket company, check on the promoter, artist or venue website. Avoid using internet search. You might be diverted to an unauthorised resale platform with prices way above a ticket’s face value.
Examples of official ticket companies include: AXS, DICE, Entradas.com, Eventim.de, OETicket, See Tickets, Skiddle, Ticketcorner, TicketOne, The Ticket Factory, Ticketmaster.*
*Not all sites operate in every country
Some event organisers use ticket companies that enable fans to use to resell their tickets. Because these services are handled by the official ticket company, if you buy from them you’re guaranteed to be sold a valid ticket and given accurate information about your seat.
In some cases, these ticket exchanges only open once the event is sold out. You should check on the promoter, artist or venue website to find out more information.
Examples of resale platforms run by official ticket companies: DICE Wait List, Skiddle Re:Sell, Eventim fanSALE, Resident Advisor Resale, Shotgun, Stade de France ticket exchange, Ticketmaster ticket exchange*
Some events will signpost you to a different platform that are ‘authorised’ to resell tickets for their show. Organisers have selected this platform as a safer place to get resale tickets, so there’s less chance you will be refused entry. Also, there is often a limit on the price a ticket can be resold for.
However, still be cautious — just because a resale platform has been authorised for a previous event does not mean it has been authorised for this one. Always look on the promoter, artist or venue website for a list of authorised ticket resale platforms.
Examples of resale platforms authorised for certain events: Tixel, Twickets (used by a range of artists for their tours), P1 Travel (used by AC Milan)*
In some countries, the only legal way to resell tickets is using a platform authorised by the event organiser. Find out more here.
*Not all sites operate in every country
Some resale platforms allow fans to resell tickets, but put a cap on how much they can charge, for example ‘no more than the face value of the ticket plus booking fee’. This means, as a ticket-buyer, you won’t be charged extortionate prices.
However, just because a platform’s prices are capped won’t guarantee that they are authorised by the event organiser. Always be safe and check on the promoter, artist or venue’s website to find a list of authorised ticket resale platforms.
Examples of face-value resale platforms are: DICE Waiting List (face value), Skiddle Re:Sell (face value), Resident Advisor Resale (face value), Shotgun ticket exchange (face value), Ticketmaster ticket exchange (face value + booking fee in the UK), Twickets (face value + booking fee).*
*Not all sites operate in every country
If you buy from the platforms above:
- You can be confident that you’re not going to be charged an extortionate or unfair price
- Tickets purchased are less likely to be invalid or fake, meaning you can be more confident that you will not be turned away
We Say Avoid...
Unauthorised resale is where a platform offers tickets for resale but does not have the event organiser’s permission to do so. These websites often let people resell tickets higher than their original price, meaning they attract predatory resellers, sometimes known as ‘touts’.
Always check with the official event organiser or on the promoter, artist or venue website to see if they have a list of authorised resale platforms for their event. If they do not, or if the website you are using is not explicitly listed as authorised, you could be using an unauthorised resale platform. Remember that, even if a resale platform was authorised for a previous event, it may not be authorised for this one.
If you buy from an unauthorised resale platform:
- You might pay significantly higher than face-value for a ticket
- The ticket you paid for might not exist — predatory ticket resellers are known to sell tickets they don’t even own
- Even if the ticket is real, you might be refused entry. Some event organisers cancel tickets sold by unauthorised resale platforms — this is to stop predatory resellers from operating and to protect fans in the long term
Examples of unauthorised resale platforms include: Viagogo, StubHub, Gigsberg, MyWayTicket, Ticketbande, Ticombo, VividSeats
In some countries, reselling tickets without the event organiser’s permission is a criminal offence. Find out more here.
When searching for tickets online, most people start by using Google. However, be careful. This can be risky as unauthorised resale platforms regularly advertise on search engines. This means that they pay to appear at the top of the search results above authorised resale platforms, and even the original ticket providers! These search engine listings often look official, but this can be deceiving.
Where possible, double-check on the promoter, artist or venue website to locate authorised resale platforms. If tickets aren’t available, contact the event organiser to ask where you can buy resale tickets.
If you search for tickets using Google, you run the risk of:
- Clicking on sites that look official, but aren’t
- Paying for tickets that are invalid or that don’t even exist
- Ending up on unauthorised resale platforms, like Viagogo, without realising
We all know what it’s like. You’re desperate to go to a show so you head over to the artist’s social media page for information. You see a comment under the artist’s post: “Two spare tickets for Friday night! Can’t go anymore! Message me if interested!”
This seems like your chance to see your favourite artist. However, it is very risky to accept offers like this and it leaves you with limited ways to get your money back if there are issues. Predatory ticket resellers often use social media to sell overpriced tickets, or tickets that don’t exist. You might also see ‘bot accounts’, fake profiles created to target unsuspecting fans.
Some predatory resellers will copy official branding to pose as legitimate, and some unauthorised resale platforms will buy targeted Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok and Facebook ads that look official. You must be extra vigilant. It is always best to avoid buying tickets through social media. Instead, check directly on the promoter, artist or venue’s website.
If you buy tickets from social media:
- You have no protection, or way to claim a refund, if there are any issues
- You have no way of guaranteeing that the tickets are real
- You may be refused entry to the event — some event organisers will cancel tickets sold on social media if they have been sold by predatory resellers
Be Safe Reselling Your Ticket
Sometimes, plans change and you can no longer attend an event — and that’s okay!
Here’s a quick guide to reselling your tickets safely, in a way that protects both you and the person buying your ticket:
- First, log in to the ticketing platform where you purchased your ticket (see ‘Authorised Resale’ here to find out more). Some ticket companies will have an option for you to put your ticket back on sale. They may also let you transfer your ticket to a friend or, in some cases, offer you a refund
- If you are transferring your ticket, some ticket companies will generate a secure link to your ticket. You can then share this with others in the knowledge that both you, and the person buying your ticket, are protected by the official ticketing company.
- If it’s not clear how to transfer or resell your ticket, check on the promoter, artist or venue website. If there is no information, you can contact the promoter directly via email or social media.
- If no specific resale platform has been authorised for the event, you should list your ticket on a face-value resale site like Twickets
Important note: When reselling your ticket, you should always check to make sure you do not break the law in your country. In some countries, like France, you can only resell your ticket through a platform authorised by the event organiser. It is also important to avoid violating the terms and the conditions of your ticket as set out by the promoter.
