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| London venue begins tickets probe | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| By Shari Vahl You and Yours, BBC Radio 4 | By Shari Vahl You and Yours, BBC Radio 4 |
| The O2 has hosted many high profile events since it was re-opened in 2007 | The O2 has hosted many high profile events since it was re-opened in 2007 |
| One of the country's biggest entertainment venues, The O2 in London, has launched an investigation into alleged ticket touting and says it will not be renewing a contract with a company run by the Newcastle United chairman Mike Ashley. | |
| An investigation by Radio 4's You and Yours programme has revealed that large numbers tickets originally bought by Exsports Limited - of which Mr Ashley is a director - were found for sale on the internet auction site eBay, at vastly-inflated prices. | |
| People who have bought tickets on eBay intended for use by Exsports now face having them cancelled. | People who have bought tickets on eBay intended for use by Exsports now face having them cancelled. |
| Last year, Teresa Callaghan from Essex found tickets for the comic Lee Evans on a website called Londonticketshop.co.uk. | Last year, Teresa Callaghan from Essex found tickets for the comic Lee Evans on a website called Londonticketshop.co.uk. |
| She spent £700 on six seats for a performance at the O2 on Friday, 3 October this year. However, despite booking a year in advance, the tickets failed to arrive. | She spent £700 on six seats for a performance at the O2 on Friday, 3 October this year. However, despite booking a year in advance, the tickets failed to arrive. |
| Just a week before the show, she discovered that the firm had been shut down in February 2008 by the Insolvency Service. | Just a week before the show, she discovered that the firm had been shut down in February 2008 by the Insolvency Service. |
| "I was beside myself and I didn't even think of the people who'd ripped me off, just all the friends who'd given me their money and who I'd let down by going to that website", she said. | "I was beside myself and I didn't even think of the people who'd ripped me off, just all the friends who'd given me their money and who I'd let down by going to that website", she said. |
| "I went to eBay and found loads of tickets for this event on there⦠I spent another £700 on six tickets." | "I went to eBay and found loads of tickets for this event on there⦠I spent another £700 on six tickets." |
| Four of those tickets came from an eBay seller called Royalalberthalltickets. | Four of those tickets came from an eBay seller called Royalalberthalltickets. |
| Valued customers | Valued customers |
| Despite claiming they have an exclusive relationship with the prestigious venue, Royalalberthalltickets is nothing to do with the Royal Albert Hall in London. | Despite claiming they have an exclusive relationship with the prestigious venue, Royalalberthalltickets is nothing to do with the Royal Albert Hall in London. |
| During the last three months, the seller has so far sold tickets worth £90,000 for venues all over the country. | During the last three months, the seller has so far sold tickets worth £90,000 for venues all over the country. |
| Mrs Callaghan is not the only one to buy these VIP club tickets from Royalalberthalltickets. | Mrs Callaghan is not the only one to buy these VIP club tickets from Royalalberthalltickets. |
| Another woman spent £147 on a ticket to see a Lee Evans performance, even though the seats should have cost £30. | Another woman spent £147 on a ticket to see a Lee Evans performance, even though the seats should have cost £30. |
| And one man paid £177 pounds for each of his Lee Evans tickets from the same eBay seller. These tickets were all in the same row. | |
| O2 says normally people holding tickets like this, bought from an unauthorised source, wouldn't be let in. | O2 says normally people holding tickets like this, bought from an unauthorised source, wouldn't be let in. |
| Performances by the comic Lee Evans were offered at vastly-inflated prices. | Performances by the comic Lee Evans were offered at vastly-inflated prices. |
| Exsports is a clothing company with two directors, Mr Ashley and another man called David Jarman. It is owned by Sports Direct, of which Mr Ashley is also a director. | Exsports is a clothing company with two directors, Mr Ashley and another man called David Jarman. It is owned by Sports Direct, of which Mr Ashley is also a director. |
| Exsports is a VIP member of the O2, which it uses to entertain guests, clients or valued customers. | Exsports is a VIP member of the O2, which it uses to entertain guests, clients or valued customers. |
| Each membership costs £3,750 for one year and entitles the member to options on a guaranteed ticket for every single one of the 150 concerts staged there annually. | Each membership costs £3,750 for one year and entitles the member to options on a guaranteed ticket for every single one of the 150 concerts staged there annually. |
| They are also granted advance access to them ahead of the public but at face-value price. | They are also granted advance access to them ahead of the public but at face-value price. |
| Included in the membership are ten free tickets a year. The VIP club seats are the best seats in the house. They would be highly prized by eager fans and would be worth a lot, but the rules of VIP club membership prohibit selling them on. | Included in the membership are ten free tickets a year. The VIP club seats are the best seats in the house. They would be highly prized by eager fans and would be worth a lot, but the rules of VIP club membership prohibit selling them on. |
| Exports has 30 of these VIP memberships. That means they have guaranteed access to 4,800 tickets at face value or free. | Exports has 30 of these VIP memberships. That means they have guaranteed access to 4,800 tickets at face value or free. |
| Contract cancelled | Contract cancelled |
| Some of those tickets have been sold on royalalberthalltickets for more than five times their face value. | Some of those tickets have been sold on royalalberthalltickets for more than five times their face value. |
| We asked Exsports how their tickets ended up for sale on this eBay seller's site and we are still waiting for a reply. We have also tried to get a response from royalalberthalltickets but have not yet heard from them either. | We asked Exsports how their tickets ended up for sale on this eBay seller's site and we are still waiting for a reply. We have also tried to get a response from royalalberthalltickets but have not yet heard from them either. |
| The O2 has told me it will not tolerate ticket touting of any form and has launched an investigation into the circumstances of this case. | The O2 has told me it will not tolerate ticket touting of any form and has launched an investigation into the circumstances of this case. |
| If they confirm Exsports' tickets are being sold in this way, they will cancel the company's contract and all the tickets the it has bought for shows over the next year. | If they confirm Exsports' tickets are being sold in this way, they will cancel the company's contract and all the tickets the it has bought for shows over the next year. |
| O2 says people who buy tickets from unauthorised sources like Royalalberthalltickets will be refused admission and anyone who is worried should contact its customer services department. | O2 says people who buy tickets from unauthorised sources like Royalalberthalltickets will be refused admission and anyone who is worried should contact its customer services department. |
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