MPs fail us on ticket touts

I SEE our highly-paid members of Parliament have managed to totally fudge an issue yet again - now there's a surprise.


This time they have rejected calls for a ban on Internet ticket touts, and recommended instead that artists and promoters should be given a share of their profits.


How in the creation of monkey nuts do they think that's going to work?


Some chancer gets £100 for his £20 ticket for an Arctic Monkeys gig which he's never had any intention of attending, and then sends Alex Turner a cheque for his cut? Come on, get real!


No, the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee has failed in its duty to everyone who has ever been forced to pay massively over the odds for a ticket for something they really want to see.


The committee has urged eBay and other websites to "clean up their act", especially over the "distasteful" sale of tickets for charity events such as Live8.


And it has called on promoters to provide refund systems so fans who genuinely cannot attend events they've bought tickets for are not forced to recoup their money through other channels.


The last part makes sense at least, but not tackling the rip-off culture which is prevalent in this country is a disgrace.


Demand is always going to outstrip supply for big events such as the FA Cup Final and gigs by such popstars as Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams.


But allowing the re-sale of tickets by those lucky enough to have got their hands on them is just fuelling this black economy.


It was simpler in the old days: if you wanted a ticket to see your favourite band you queued outside the venue and waited for them to come on sale.


If you were near the back you might be unlucky, but at least it was your own fault for not getting there earlier.


The Internet has changed all that of course. The whole sordid transaction can be done electronically at the click of a mouse, as long as you've got plenty of money in your Paypal account once you've outbid all the other poor saps who missed out on a face value ticket.


Anyone who sells tickets on the 'net for bumped up prices is no better than the vermin who skulk outside sold-out venues offering to "buy and sell tickets".


How they don't get arrested or at least moved on for causing a nuisance in the street is beyond me. I thought such blatant touting was illegal, but most venues seem prepared to tolerate it.


I know people who are quite prepared to pay over the odds for something they really want to see, but not me. I'd rather just wait for the DVD to come out.


And if I couldn't shift a spare ticket for face value (or less), I'd rather tear it up than sell it to a tout so he could rip off some poor mug.