Association of secondary ticket agents
Encyclopedia
"The Association of Secondary Ticket Agents", or "ASTA UK", is the self appointed Regulatory Body of the Secondary Ticket Industry in the United Kingdom
. The Association was established in October 2005, and represents some companies engaged in the selling of tickets to entertainment and sporting events.
The ASTA UK is affiliated with the National Association of Ticket Brokers in the United States.
ASTA is recognised by some Government bodies as the representative body for Secondary Ticket Agents
Another body, the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers also represents Primary ticket sellers and resellers
ASTA-UK is a not for profit Organization. Formed in 2005 in response to the growing debates about secondary ticketing. There are currently 32 members with a combined annual turnover in excess of £60 million. The ASTA logo has quickly become a quality trademark that shows clients that the members subscribe to the highest standards of excellence and integrity in the secondary ticket markets.
ASTA has also become a source of news and advice with comments sought by local, national and international media. Whether this be newspapers, radio or TV.
Advertisements have been placed in The Sunday Mirror, The Jewish Chronicle and The Jewish Telegraph, warning of known scam websites that are targeting the consumers. Also BBC Local radio stations have taken up the fight to name and shame these fraudulent websites. BBC Radio Three Counties are one of the biggest supporters of the ASTA initiative to expose these scams for what they are.
Three key problem areas: -
1 A lack of transparency for the customer.
2 The lack of an easy way for customers to differentiate between genuine secondary ticket agents and fraudulent operators.
3 The failure of the industry as a whole to work together to drive out the criminals and put the consumer first.
CODE:
Tickets can be sold at any price selected by the seller, including below and above the face value but the face value MUST be shown to comply with consumer law. The price shown is the price to be paid, there are no hidden extras.
ASTA has indicated that the market price will reflect the day to day fluctuation due to the demand of certain events.
PARTNERS:
ASTA-UK has its own partners, these are, Live UK, The National Lottery, Sport for All, The Mousetrap Theatre and Sport England.
Seatwave, Viagogo and GetMeIn are NOT members simply because they are not Ticket Brokers.
ASTA has indicated they work closely with economists such as Dr.Stephen K. Happel whose research focuses on microeconomic issues and demographics. Dr. Happel has written two textbooks along with numerous articles in professional journals and popular outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Christian Science Monitor. His work includes arguments for free-market ticket trading (The Folly of Anti-Scalping Laws) and defense of tenure as necessary for free-speech universities.
BOND:
The Association has indicated it is in negotiations to implement a Bond scheme which will give consumers a guarantee and rights when buying their Tickets. ABTA/ATOL the Travel Industry have had a similar scheme for many years..
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Association was established in October 2005, and represents some companies engaged in the selling of tickets to entertainment and sporting events.
The ASTA UK is affiliated with the National Association of Ticket Brokers in the United States.
ASTA is recognised by some Government bodies as the representative body for Secondary Ticket Agents
Another body, the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers also represents Primary ticket sellers and resellers
ASTA-UK is a not for profit Organization. Formed in 2005 in response to the growing debates about secondary ticketing. There are currently 32 members with a combined annual turnover in excess of £60 million. The ASTA logo has quickly become a quality trademark that shows clients that the members subscribe to the highest standards of excellence and integrity in the secondary ticket markets.
ASTA has also become a source of news and advice with comments sought by local, national and international media. Whether this be newspapers, radio or TV.
Advertisements have been placed in The Sunday Mirror, The Jewish Chronicle and The Jewish Telegraph, warning of known scam websites that are targeting the consumers. Also BBC Local radio stations have taken up the fight to name and shame these fraudulent websites. BBC Radio Three Counties are one of the biggest supporters of the ASTA initiative to expose these scams for what they are.
Three key problem areas: -
1 A lack of transparency for the customer.
2 The lack of an easy way for customers to differentiate between genuine secondary ticket agents and fraudulent operators.
3 The failure of the industry as a whole to work together to drive out the criminals and put the consumer first.
CODE:
Tickets can be sold at any price selected by the seller, including below and above the face value but the face value MUST be shown to comply with consumer law. The price shown is the price to be paid, there are no hidden extras.
ASTA has indicated that the market price will reflect the day to day fluctuation due to the demand of certain events.
PARTNERS:
ASTA-UK has its own partners, these are, Live UK, The National Lottery, Sport for All, The Mousetrap Theatre and Sport England.
Seatwave, Viagogo and GetMeIn are NOT members simply because they are not Ticket Brokers.
ASTA has indicated they work closely with economists such as Dr.Stephen K. Happel whose research focuses on microeconomic issues and demographics. Dr. Happel has written two textbooks along with numerous articles in professional journals and popular outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Christian Science Monitor. His work includes arguments for free-market ticket trading (The Folly of Anti-Scalping Laws) and defense of tenure as necessary for free-speech universities.
BOND:
The Association has indicated it is in negotiations to implement a Bond scheme which will give consumers a guarantee and rights when buying their Tickets. ABTA/ATOL the Travel Industry have had a similar scheme for many years..
External links
- NATB and EUSTA & LIVE UK. EUSTA was set up using the ASTA template and has received Government recognition. The Sunday Mirror, Jewish Chronicle, Jewish Telegraph and BBC Three Counties Radio. Dr. Stephen K. Happel, Professor of Economics at the Arizona State University College of Business.
- ASTA Official website