The safest way to buy
When buying tickets, think Ticketlink
Ticketlink is the only authorised ticket seller for Council venues including Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Munro Martin Parklands and other events and venues in Cairns. Trusted since 1995, Ticketlink is a local ticketing service operated by the Cairns Regional Council and provides an in-person and telephone service, 6 days a week.
Tickets purchased from unauthorised sales channels may result in you being denied entry into one of our venues. Stay safe online and only purchase through authorised ticket sellers like Ticketlink. That way you know you are guaranteed entry and can enjoy the event.
The recent emergence of re-seller channels of event/entertainment tickets online is something impacting ticketing agencies and the live performance industry nationally and internationally.
Many of these sales channels such as Viagogo, eBay and Gumtree, are aggressively competing for event-related search engine keywords to entice consumers to their sites for the purchase of tickets, often at highly inflated prices and with little authentication processes to ensure the validity of tickets being sold.
There is great risk for purchasers as these sites are being utilised by scammers who at times are:
- re-selling the same ticket/seat to several consumers
- making the original purchase with a stolen credit card
As a consequence, any tickets purchased through unauthorised sales channels may be seized or cancelled without refund or exchange and the bearer of the ticket denied admission.
Why isn’t my ticket valid?
Your ticket was purchased from a ticket reseller, not an official ticketing agent. Unfortunately, ticket resellers often sell the same ticket multiple times, and venues cannot accommodate multiple people in the same seat. In this situation, tickets are cancelled in accordance with Ticketlink’s Terms and Conditions of Sale.
What can I do to get my money back?
Initially, you should contact the website where the tickets were purchased. You will probably need to do this by email. Let them know that your tickets were not valid and they did not give you access to the event, and ask for a full refund.
If you do not receive a satisfactory outcome from the ticket reseller, contact the Queensland Department of Fair Trading and lodge a complaint. They will assist you in obtaining a refund of your transaction.
www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/lodge-your-complaint
If you paid by credit card, you can also try contacting your card provider. Tell them that you did not receive the goods that you paid for. They may be able to assist.
How can I avoid this problem in the future?
Ticket resellers are becoming quite cunning and often make their websites look very official. They also pay to have them appear at the top of website search results. To avoid this type of fraud always check on the event venue or the event website to see who the official ticketing agents are, and only purchase your tickets from them.
Ticketlink is working with industry counterparts and the industry body, Live Performance Australia, in addressing relevant updates to the ticketing code of practice as well as implementing processes that educate consumers about the risks involved with purchasing tickets from a reseller or an unauthorised ticketing channel.
Further information including a Safe Tix Guide can be obtained from the Live Performance Australia website.