Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by the Association of Secondary Ticket Agents (ASTA)
Thank you for the time you set aside for us
in June. My appointment as Administrator to ASTA commenced from
the end of August, so my role in the organisation has had little
impact on the day to day affairs thus far but I am engaged as
the Administrator of the Association of Secondary Ticket Agents
Code of Practice to have a far reaching and hopefully, long lasting
impact.
My initial observation, and some practical sampling,
gives first impressions of:
1. a desire not to be referred to as "touts";
2. no apparent "regulated standards
of trade";
3. little or no public awareness about what
is a major consumer industry;
4. a lack of transparency in trading; and
5. an uncomfortable relationship between
the official Primary and Secondary ticket markets.
Points 2, 3 and 4 are in the process of being
resolved. Rather regrettably, the anachronym "tout"
is taken as a term of endearment! But it is clearly up to us,
as we go forward, that consumer awareness, presenting fair and
transparent standards of trade in the Secondary market, are central
issues to which we have a responsibility to tell our consumers.
The OFT is the pillar of consumer approval,
and we have applied for Consumer Codes Approval to:
— the ASTA Code of Practice;
— Membership Benefits of trade;
— Terms and Conditions of trade;
Taken together, a successful outcome will give
us a first base for "self regulation", and initial steps
toward an approved and professional work ethic.
Our Code of Practice provides member guidance,
and contains new and important disciplines as to how we will in
future deal with all consumers.
Point 5 gives me the newcomer some cause for
concern. Clearly there is some failure between Primary and Secondary
markets to always act with the consumers' best interests at heart.
We have on a number of quite recent occasions picked up consumer
discontent with tickets purchased from Primary suppliers, and
been left to resolve the problem with a degree of customer satisfaction.
From my perspective, this tells me that we as Secondary suppliers
must be "aiming in the right direction".
There is enough room in this huge industry and
quite sufficient business to satisfy more than one "approved"
player. Moving forward we hope for a better relationship from
the Primary supplier and the OFT approved and regulated Secondary
supplier.
Again, my own view would be to consider between
Primary and Secondary suppliers, what can we do together to address
the actions of countless other ticket agents, who are the "touts"
and not a term of endearment! obtaining tickets to sell.
We are well down the track of broadening the
"base of the Secondary market" developing for ourselves,
not a new, but additional approach to ticket sales. For the present
time this development remains confidential. If it is successful,
as is anticipated the long term interest of consumers will be
much enhanced.
I am pleased to Report that membership is ASTA
continues to grow, and it is hoped that if we can become a Consumer
Approved supplier our voice might be heard on a much broader foot.
November 2007
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