A BIDFORD mum has warned against using Eventbrite following difficulties getting the online ticket platform to transfer money from ticket sales after a party for her daughter’s school friends.
Jayne Alexander’s daughter Rosie, 18, who attends an Evesham high school, organised the Halloween event on October 18 with fellow six-formers.
The students used the online platform on Jayne’s recommendation, but after the successful party at the Ambassador Snooker Club, it refused to accept the event was legitimate and transfer the £540 ticket sale profit.
To avoid fraud, Eventbrite rules state first-time event organisers have to wait for three days after their event has happened before getting any money from ticket sales.
But, despite emails from the DJ and club forwarded as proof to Eventbrite that it had taken place, plus a screenshot of the DJ’s payment, these were not deemed enough evidence to convince the company it had taken place.
Jayne told the Observer she received emails saying there was insufficient evidence to prove the party was a genuine event and the issue had been referred to the internal review team.
“Eventually, I said to Eventbrite, couldn’t they contact the DJ and everyone who attended – as they had their emails to confirm the event went ahead but it was falling on deaf ears.”
She added she was ‘banging her head against a brick wall’ at not being able to speak to anyone.
“Then I felt really guilty because I had advised her to use this platform. I wished I’d never had.”
The delay has left the school chums who had spent their own money to pay for the DJ and Halloween decorations out-of-pocket and frustrated.
Further emails from the DJ and snooker club explicitly stating the party had happened still were not good enough and it was only after Rosie, resent a link to an Instagram account promoting the event that Eventbrite finally agreed to release the funds.
Although this email was received last Saturday the cash had not arrived by Wednesday (November 6).
“I won’t use Eventbrite again, I don’t trust them and wonder if they saw Rosie’s group as a soft target as they were pupils organising an event just for themselves and didn’t think they’d fight back for the money. They didn’t count on me being like a dog with a bone.”
She added the incident had really affected and upset Rosie and that she may have to pay the girls out of her own pocket but luckily it did not reach that point.
She said there were other platforms out there and urged anyone planning events to do their research and use an alternative one.
An Eventbrite spokesperson said: “We can confirm that this event was under review for being potentially fraudulent.
“During the review, as a consumer protection measure, we held the ticketing proceeds to potentially refund ticket buyers.”
The platform said that after a thorough review of the documentation provided by Rosie and her mum, the funds were released on Monday (November 4) and could take a few days to show in their account.
