Buy from official channels, watchdog says after Hong Kong family’s Coldplay ticket ordeal
Victim recounts multiple ‘misleading’ conversations with platform Viagogo, waiting in vain outside Kai Tak Stadium during concert
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has warned against buying tickets from unofficial resellers for major events after a local family’s “chaotic” experience spending more than HK$5,000 (US$644) on Coldplay concert tickets that were sent to a different address.
The victim, who only wanted to be identified by his surname Smith, said he had paid HK$5,379 for two tickets via US-based platform Viagogo to see the British rock band at Kai Tak Sports Park on April 11.
But he and his wife ended up waiting outside the concert venue on the night of the event for more than an hour, and eventually missed seeing the show – the culmination of weeks of what Smith described as “chaotic and distressing”.
The purchase was made through ticket exchange and reselling platform Viagogo, which has a registered company address in Delaware, United States, according to its website.
The website acts as an intermediary between sellers with extra tickets and potential buyers.
Both parties do not have direct contact throughout the transaction process, although suppliers are responsible for mailing physical tickets to their buyers’ provided addresses.