Few things are worse than saving up for a gig, turning up at the door and finding the ticket is not valid. Ticket fraud and heavily marked-up resale listings are a real risk when a popular show sells out, and the pressure to buy quickly is exactly what scammers rely on. The good news is that a handful of simple checks removes most of the danger.
This guide walks through those checks, and shows how the tools published by Eventim UK, a ticketing company that describes itself as an official ticket agent for many UK events, fit into each step. Everything attributed to Eventim below comes from the company’s own help and information pages, and event rules differ, so always read the terms for the specific show you want.
In this guide
- Step 1: Start With the Official Seller
- Step 2: Read the Event Terms Before You Pay
- Step 3: Know Your Resale Options
- Step 4: Compare the Ways to Buy
- Step 5: Check the Ticket the Moment It Arrives
- Step 6: Prefer Mobile Tickets Where Offered
- Step 7: Use On-Sale Alerts Instead of Panic Buying
- Quick Red Flags
- Before You Go
Step 1: Start With the Official Seller
The safest place to buy is the official seller for that event. That is usually the venue, the promoter or an authorised ticket agent named on the artist’s own website or social accounts. Before you pay, look for a link from the artist or venue to the ticket site you are about to use. If the link came from a stranger’s message or an advert you cannot trace, close the tab and start again from the official channel.
Some events print a warning in their terms that buying from an unauthorised agent risks refusal of entry. Eventim’s event terms for some shows, for example, state that it is an authorised ticket agent for that event and that unauthorised sellers carry a risk. Check the terms page on the event listing before you commit.
Step 2: Read the Event Terms Before You Pay
The small print can decide whether your ticket works on the night. Look for these points on the event page:
- Ticket limits: many events cap the number of tickets per person.
- Named tickets: some events print the buyer’s name on every ticket and ask for matching photo ID at the door.
- Resale rules: some events only allow resale at no more than the price you paid, and only on approved platforms.
- Delivery type: some shows deliver tickets to a mobile app only, instead of by post or PDF.
If a show uses named tickets, a second-hand ticket bought on an open marketplace may simply not get you in. That is one reason to treat resale with extra care.
Step 3: Know Your Resale Options
Sometimes you miss the on-sale and the only tickets left are from other fans. If the event allows resale, the safest route is the platform the original seller recommends. Eventim UK runs its own fan-to-fan marketplace, called fanSALE, and describes it in these terms:
- Only tickets originally sold through Eventim UK can be listed, and each listing is checked against Eventim’s ticketing system using the barcode on the ticket.
- Eventim says prices are capped. Its marketing pages mention a limit of 10% above the original purchase price, while a “Fair Deal” icon on a listing shows it is sold at fair value.
- A green tick on a listing means it has been verified against the Eventim UK system.
- Money only changes hands once the buyer has received the tickets, and delivery is tracked.
Resale rules can be stricter for individual events. One event’s terms published by Eventim limit resale to face value plus booking fee, for example. So the cap you see on one show may not match another, and the live listing is the final word.
Step 4: Compare the Ways to Buy
The table below sets out the main options and what to check with each. It is a general guide, not a verdict on any one seller.
| Where you buy | What to check | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Official seller or authorised agent | Link comes from the artist, venue or promoter | Fees and booking charges vary, so check the total before paying |
| Official fan-to-fan resale such as Eventim fanSALE | Green tick, Fair Deal icon, barcode check and tracked delivery | Event rules may limit or ban resale, so read the terms first |
| Open marketplaces | Seller history, refund terms, and whether the event allows resale | Tickets may be invalid, cancelled or priced far above face value |
| Social media or messaging sellers | Almost never worth the risk | No protection if the ticket turns out to be fake |
Step 5: Check the Ticket the Moment It Arrives
Do not leave this until the day of the show. As soon as your tickets arrive, check that the event name, date, venue and seat details match your order. On fanSALE, Eventim says the barcode numbers are shown to the buyer so they can confirm they match the listing, and that any mismatch should be reported within 48 hours of receiving the tickets, which pauses the payment to the seller while the issue is looked at.
Eventim also says that tickets originally printed by Eventim UK carry a watermark and a CTSEventim.AG hologram on the front. If you are unsure about a ticket you bought from Eventim, its customer service team can help verify it.
Step 6: Prefer Mobile Tickets Where Offered
Mobile tickets stored in an app are harder to copy than a PDF that can be sent to ten people. Eventim says that some events can be restricted to sale through its mobile app, with delivery limited to mobile only, so tickets live in the app or phone wallet. If you use a phone ticket, charge your phone, turn the screen brightness up, and save a screenshot or offline copy only if the organiser allows it.
Step 7: Use On-Sale Alerts Instead of Panic Buying
Much of the pressure to overpay comes from missing the on-sale moment. Eventim offers a TicketAlarm service that sends on-sale information so you can be ready when general sale opens. Setting alerts for artists you love, and knowing the on-sale time, means you are not tempted by a rushed purchase from an unknown seller afterwards.
Quick Red Flags
- The price is far above the face value shown by the official seller.
- The seller asks you to pay by bank transfer, gift card or a payment method with no buyer protection.
- The seller will not show the barcode, order confirmation or event details.
- You are rushed with “only one left” messages from someone you cannot verify.
- The website address is slightly different from the one on the artist’s official page.
Before You Go
Keep your order confirmation, photo ID if the event needs it, and the email or app containing your tickets easy to find. If a show is moved or cancelled, follow the refund instructions from the original seller. Details and policies can change, so check the current terms on the official event page at the time you buy.
If you want to see what is on at venues near you, browse the listings on the Eventim UK website, then run through the checklist above before you pay.
This article is for general information only. Ticket rules, fees and resale limits differ by event and can change, so always read the terms on the event page and the seller’s current help pages. Statements about Eventim UK and fanSALE are taken from the company’s own published information.
Theo Louse
I am Theo Louse. My skills are dedicated to the field of technology information and try to make daily lives more enjoyable. With more than 12 years of experience with BM, we are particularly famous for 100% self-developed ideas. Over these years, we have worked to make everyday life more convenient for the fast-paced world we live in.