Ticket sales for Whanganui show affected by Viagogo ticket reselling website

Whanganui people should beware of ticket information on Viagogo about the Celtic Illusion show.

Controversial ticket reselling website Viagogo is disrupting ticket sales for a show at the Royal Wanganui Opera House.

The Celtic Illusion Irish dance show on September 9 is listed on Viagogo as sold out but there are still tickets available and the Opera House Facebook page tells ticket buyers to "beware of bogus Viagogo".

Opera House staff became aware of the issue when members of the public contacted them to check whether any tickets were available.

"Viagogo is not an approved ticketing agent for the upcoming Celtic Illusion show at the Royal Wanganui Opera House and tickets are still available for what promises to be a great performance," Whanganui venues and events operations manager Rachel O'Connor said.

"I recommend all patrons head to the approved ticketing website www.ticketek.co.nz or alternatively pop into our box office at 69 St Hill St to purchase tickets directly."

It was the first time a show at the Opera House had been affected by Viagogo. The website also claims tickets to the show have sold out in some other New Zealand towns.

The Commerce Commission announced on Wednesday, August 15, that it was beginning civil proceedings against Viagogo in the High Court under the Fair Trading Act for breaching consumer law.

It will seek an injunction to restrain Viagogo from further breaches.

The commission alleges Viagogo made false and misleading claims, acting as an "official" concert ticket seller when it was not, labelling tickets as limited or about to sell out and claiming consumers were "guaranteed" to receive valid tickets to events.

It also alleges Viagogo's ticket pricing was misleading, saying "headline" prices were unobtainable because of the addition of GST and various fees.

Since January last year the commission has received more than 400 complaints about the Swiss company and it joins a long list of international enforcement agencies who are bringing similar cases against Viagogo.