Does This Lady Have A Case??

[ABM]

OK, so I'm standing in the will-call line before last Saturday's game in Charlotte. While in line, I overheard an issue taking place in front of me. I think I got the crux of the matter. Here it is......and a following question:

The lady in front of me was explaining to the Bobcats agent that she had (weeks ago) purchased 6 tickets to the game from TicketMaster. She said she was sure the sale had gone through because it had shown up on her credit card statement. However, she had no receipt with her. Apparently, she had set-up the purchase to pick up her tickets at will-call.

However, the agent told the woman that there were no tickets in her name there.......and that, without a receipt, they couldn't help her as all ticket sales/issues were handled through TM.....and that the lady would have to take the matter up with them.

The lady said, OK, fine. I can do that. I'll go ahead and purchase 6 more tickets tonight. I need them all together. The agent responded (and here's the rub) that the arena was virtually sold out an that the tickets would be in sporadic locations.

The lady then got REALLY upset...telling the agent that they had traveled "HOURS!" to come to the game an that she wanted "SIX TICKETS TOGETHER!!"

At that point, the other agent handed me my ticket (trust me, hearing all this going on, I was getting a bit worried, as well, wondering if "I" had a ticket??....the one Mike Barrett said would be there for me. But, then whispered a little whew! when the other agent handed me the envelope.).......at that point I really couldn't stand around and watch the conclusion of this mess.

However, here's my question: If the lady and her party ended up having to sit all over the place, and she was then able to provide everyone, mainly TM, receipts that she had indeed paid for 6 tickets in a row, would she then have a case/suit against TM? If so, what type of "damages" should she go after?

The trip probably required a bit of organization to set-up. I'm sure none of them were excited to be sittting by themselves....yada, yada, yada. Therefore, I'm thinking the lady is entitled to a total refund of both sets of tickets, plus all associated travel costs. In other words, a free trip. I don't think it was "incumbent" upon the lady to provide proof of purchase if, indeed, she had purchased them. That's TM's issue with the arena.

What say you?

 

[MARIS61]

I buy Blazers tickets online, and I print them out and take them with me.

I would think it's all her fault for not bringing her receipt. Should they just hand tickets to anyone who says they paid?

 

[barfo]

Well, it depends.

If the contract that she agreed to with TicketBastard says that she has to bring proof of purchase to pick up the tickets, then I'd say she's SOL.

barfo

 

[ABM]

I buy Blazers tickets online, and I print them out and take them with me.

I would think it's all her fault for not bringing her receipt. Should they just hand tickets to anyone who says they paid?

If I'm not mistaken, there's an option on TM which lets you pick them up at will-call. I believe that's what she was indicating. Was it boneheaded of her to forget any type of receipt? Sure it was. However, I think she'd still have a case once she showed whomever the credit card receipt substantiating payment.

 

[MARIS61]

Receipt wouldn't show what tickets the purchase was for, just an amount.

Could be tickets to anything, anytime, anywhere.

 

[ABM]

Receipt wouldn't show what tickets the purchase was for, just an amount.

Could be tickets to anything, anytime, anywhere.

....or the online receipt from TM themselves. I always save those as PDF documents. Ya never know.

 

[STOMP]

If I'm not mistaken, there's an option on TM which lets you pick them up at will-call. I believe that's what she was indicating. Was it boneheaded of her to forget any type of receipt? Sure it was. However, I think she'd still have a case once she showed whomever the credit card receipt substantiating payment.

How many times a day do you think TicketMaster deals with this exact issue? I'd imagine they have their bases covered.

STOMP

 

[Ed O]

Receipt wouldn't show what tickets the purchase was for, just an amount.

Could be tickets to anything, anytime, anywhere.

What? That's not a receipt.

A receipt is something that shows the time and amount of the purchase, as well as what WAS purchased.

Otherwise a receipt is useless.

I would imagine that the woman didn't bring the receipt, as she was supposed to, and maybe didn't even have the credit card she used to purchase the tickets (which might be able to be cross-referenced by the club tapping into TM's computers).

IF she did everything she was supposed to, and they just dropped the ball? And neither TicketMaster nor the club were willing to take care of her from a customer service perspective?

I would guess that damages would be limited to the price of the tickets. She'd get her money back for tickets she was not given. Maybe if she bought the same type of tickets at a premium (like from a scalper) she could get the difference there, too (assuming it was a legal transaction).

Associated costs like travel and stress associated with their flub probably wouldn't be actionable... further, TicketMaster probably has an element in their terms of service that claims specifically what they would or would not be responsible for if a mistake is made on its part.

Ed O.

 

[DaRizzle]

when ive done will call with ticketmaster they ask u bring your ID and the CC you used...thats it

 

[crandc]

Unlikely, because she had no legal guarantee of seats together. If she could prove the original purchase she'd be entitled to a refund on the second purchase. She'd have to show real harm by not having seats together, for example, a member of the party being a small child or a person with special needs who could not sit alone. Even then the burden of proof would be on her to show that she did indeed purchase the six tickets together and that TicketMaster was negligent.

In other words, ABM, if you're an out of work lawyer, find another case.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

you're supposed to bring your order confirmation. they all have an order confirmation number

 

[ABM]

Even then the burden of proof would be on her to show that she did indeed purchase the six tickets together and that TicketMaster was negligent.

That's what I'm saying.

I'm fairly certain she purchased these tickets on-line, with the request to pick the tickets up at w/c. That being the case, I'm certain she knew the "exact" seats she was getting at the time of the on-line purchase. TM sends specific reports of such -- including the assigned seats and purchase confirmation -- via e-mail. That's the receipt she "should" have brought with her.

However, that's not to say she doesn't have that confirmation at home.......which is what I'm suggesting could be used in any effort to get refunded or compensated, otherwise.

 

[ironcrotch]

TM emails you like a billion receipts and confirmations whenever I do an order online. I always die a little inside from seeing all the fee's they tack on. But her not getting ANYTHING from TM is a little sketch. Every online retailer is supposed to email you a receipt.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

ticketmaster sucks ass.

 

[Stevenson]

Ticketmaster breached the contract. They need to "make her whole". Likely it would be the cost of the tickets and the cost of the trip - so that she is out nothing out-of-pocket as a result of their breach.

That's my legal take.

 

[ABM]

Ticketmaster breached the contract. They need to "make her whole". Likely it would be the cost of the tickets and the cost of the trip - so that she is out nothing out-of-pocket as a result of their breach.

That's my legal take.

Thank You.

That's the way I approached it, as well.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Via Ticketmaster website:

Most venues which sell tickets via Ticketmaster offer what is called a "Will Call" window at their Box Office, through which you can pick your tickets up right at the event prior to the show. If you were able to choose Will Call for your ticket delivery, then it is available for your event. Box office rules and hours vary. Some may not be open until an hour prior to event time, while others may be open during regular business hours every day. Some buildings advise patrons to arrive very early to pick up tickets to avoid long lines. In the United States, most venues will not let you pick up your tickets from will call until the day of the event. In Canada, many venues will let you pick up your tickets before the day of the event--see below if you plan to pick up your tickets at will call in Canada before the day of the event.

In order to pick up your tickets, you may be required to present:

* Your valid state (if a resident of the United States) or government issued (if a resident of Canada or other country) photo ID, driver's license or passport. A valid ID must be duly issued by a government agency and include a photo and a signature.
* The credit card you used to purchase the tickets.
* Your Ticketmaster order number.

The box office will not release tickets if the name on the ID and credit card does not match the name used to purchase the tickets from Ticketmaster, or if the photo on the ID does not appear to be the photo of the person retrieving the tickets. To find out what other types of photo ID are acceptable at the venue's Will Call, please contact the venue directly.

If you decide to pick up your tickets at will call before the day of the event (and the venue allows you to do so), you may not be able to do so until more than 2 business days after you have ordered them. For example, if a ticket is purchased on Saturday (i.e., not a business day) the ticket cannot be picked up until the following Wednesday. This restriction does not apply if the event is occurring during that time.

Please note that if you are attending an event in Canada, even if you selected will call as your delivery option you can still pick your tickets up at a Canadian Ticket Centre.

 

[barfo]

So, if she didn't have her ticketbastard order number, and it sounds like she didn't, she doesn't have a leg to stand on.

barfo

 

[ABM]

So, if she didn't have her ticketbastard order number, and it sounds like she didn't, she doesn't have a leg to stand on.

barfo

Not necessarily. I'm thinking the understaning above is that the tickets are "available." The fact that they weren't might be a whole 'nother story altogether. Heck, I don't know.

I can tell you this, though, the Bobcats Arena claimed innocence all the way around. I'd seriously be interested to know how they would have handled this situation had the lady been able to present her TM receipt. Could you imagine them kicking the people out of the same seats the lady had purchased? I wonder if these things actually do happen?

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Yeah, there is absoultely zero proof that she has the tickets. Just because she says she bought them doesn't mean its true. Bobcats arena is completely exonerated it seems, they are the third party to an issue between Ticketmaster and this woman.

Its the woman's responsibility to ensure the transaction went through and her being charged on her credit card isn't enough.