HARRISBURG – Attorney General Tom Corbett urged consumers interested in watching the Philadelphia Phillies defend their Major League Baseball World Series championship to be on the lookout for unscrupulous ticket sellers, questionable travel packages and possible counterfeit tickets offered in newspaper ads, on the Internet or outside stadiums on game days.
The 2009 World Series is scheduled to begin with games on October 28th and 29th, in either New York or Los Angeles, along with Philadelphia games scheduled for October 31st and November 1st, along with November 2nd, if necessary.
“Phillies fans’ hopes for back-to-back World Series wins increases the demand for tickets and the likelihood of scams,” Corbett said. “Fan enthusiasm can serve as a good cover for con artists who are trying to take advantage of consumers for financial gain, so it is essential that people know what to avoid and understand the law.”
The Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection offers the following tips to avoid ticket-related scams:
· Purchase tickets from a reputable seller (Preferably one authorized by Major League Baseball).
· Never wire-transfer money to individuals you do not know.
· Make sure the location of your seats corresponds with actual seat numbers, rows and sections in the ballpark.
· Understand the terms and conditions of the sale when purchasing tickets online or from ticket brokers.
· Consider using a credit card to pay for tickets (You can dispute charges on a credit card if the tickets are not delivered or turn out to be counterfeit).
· Tickets for Philadelphia home games cannot be sold for more than 25 percent or $5 above the face value, whichever is greater, unless:
– The tickets are sold by a Philadelphia-licensed ticker broker, or
– They are offered by an Internet reseller that has a Pennsylvania address and offers a money-back guarantee if the tickets are not honored or do not match their advertised de scri ption.
Corbett said that Phillies fans considering travel to away games should consider the following tips if they are purchasing a travel package:
· Pay particular attention to what the travel package does and does not offer (Do not assume that every package includes airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to get into the game).
· Get all the offers, terms and conditions of your package in writing, including the cancellation policy in the event that you are unable to make the trip.
· If the package includes airfare and a ticket to the game, federal rules apply. The travel agent must either have the game tickets in hand, or have a written contract to obtain the tickets before the agent can make the offer. If a ticket is offered, but never provided, you may be entitled to a full refund of the entire package price.
· Research the hotel and its location. In some instances, consumers have been told that their hotel is within walking distance to the venue, when in reality it was too far to walk and required additional expenses to either rent a car or pay for other ground transportation.
· Do not use cash or wire-transfer money.
· Be wary of unknown and private sellers who refuse to provide you with verifiable contact information.
· Be cautious of travel packages that appear to be extremely cheap or extremely expensive.
Consumers who wish to file a complaint or report illegal activity associated with World Series ticket sales or other consumer-related issues should call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555, or file an online consumer complaint online.