Teen's dream gig ends in tears

Rachel and her mother, Debbie Plank. Photo / Janna Dixon

People who buy event tickets on Trade Me are being urged to check their authenticity after a teen's dream trip to see the Black Eyed Peas ended in tears.

Debbie Plank has laid a complaint with police after spending $455 on three tickets to the US chart-toppers' sold-out Auckland concert last week. She planned to take her daughter Rachel as a 16th birthday treat, but they were refused entry when they reached the Vector Arena.

"I just burst into tears, I was so upset. I got all dressed up for nothing," said Rachel.

Ticketmaster spokeswoman Hannah Kampf said the tickets were cancelled after the original buyer reported them stolen.

Kampf said the original buyer attended the concert and sat in the seats. The person selling them on Trade Me was not the original buyer.

Debbie has emailed the trader but received no reply. A mobile phone listed on their page has been disconnected and the seller's father said she had gone up north.

Trade Me trust and safety manager Chris Budge said it was not illegal to resell tickets online unless the event was covered by the Major Events Management Act 2007. Only three events, including the 2011 Rugby World Cup, had such status.

Budge said there was "zero tolerance" to fraudulent activity on Trade Me but it was up to buyers to verify the authenticity of tickets.

Debbie is also angry with the response of Vector Arena staff and claims she was told the original ticket-buyer had been refunded and the seats were empty during the performance. Arena chief executive Guy Ngata said it was against policy to re-sell the tickets.

After being contacted by the Herald on Sunday, the Black Eyed Peas' record company Universal Records said it would send Rachel some merchandise.