Rugby fans warned over World Cup ticket website

a TICKETING website which claims to sell tickets for sold-out matches in the Rugby World Cup is offering deals which are “too good to be true” and could be scamming customers, a consumer watchdog has warned.

The 2015 Rugby World Cup Final will be held at Twickenham. Picture: Getty

Which? claimed that consumers who buy tickets from GetSporting.com are unlikely to receive their order - or could even be sent fake tickets which would not allow them access to the match.

It said the site, which is selling tickets for the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham in October for up to £1,795 each, is not registered as an official Rugby World Cup 2015 re-selling site. It is also operating against the ticketing policy for the tournament - allowing people to buy up to 10 tickets at once instead of the official allowance of four.

The law states re-selling sites need to outline to consumers which standing or seating area the tickets relate to and the original face value. GetSporting.com is doing neither of these things.

Which? said it also had concerns that GetSporting.com, which is selling tickets for the Six Nations match between Scotland and England at Murrayfield in February for up to £300, is offering a discount for people who pay for their tickets through wire transfer - a method of payment which means it is almost impossible to get money back if something goes wrong.

Richard Lloyd, executive director at Which?, said: “With fans trying to get last minute tickets to Rugby World Cup 2015, it’s an ideal time for ticket scammers to try to make a fast buck. We expect the authorities to take swift action against dodgy sites and we advise people to keep their wits about them. If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

Angry sports fans have slated the website on reviews site Sitejabber.com. “I bought tickets from GetSporting website, now their phone’s been terminated,” said one user.

Which?, which has raised its concerns with trading standards, added that it also believes that the company never had a physical office at the London serviced- office address that was listed on its website.

One of the phone numbers listed online for GetSporting has been cut off, with a recorded message from the phone service provider explaining that the user had committed “a potential breach” of its “terms of service”.

The Scotsman’s calls to the number currently listed on GetSporting.com’s website rang out to voicemail and messages and emails were not returned.

Fraser Sutherland, spokesman for Citizens Advice Scotland, said: “It’s really important that people are sceptical about online offers. The internet is the scammers’ best friend, as it has allowed modern day scammers a new tool which not only widens their net of potential victims but makes it extremely easy to target a large number of potential victims at extremely low cost.

“It also allows for scammers to avoid speaking to their victims, which some experts believe makes the fraud much easier.”

Jonathan Brown, chief executive of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers, said: “Customers should always keep their eyes open when buying tickets and ensure they are buying from a safe and reputable seller.”