NCL cautions consumers to beware of purchasing tickets on ScoreBig – National Consumers League

October 7, 2016

Contact: Carol McKay, NCL Communications, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL), America’s pioneering consumer and worker advocacy organization, is urging consumers who purchased or are considering purchasing tickets via the ScoreBig live event ticket exchange to be aware that tickets bought on the exchange may not be honored at the gate.

According to multiple press reports, ScoreBig recently experienced a liquidity crisis and has ceased compensating sellers of event tickets. While many sellers have suffered financial loss and the National Association of Ticket Brokers has issued a guidance to its member companies to honor tickets, there is nonetheless a risk that some fans could be left with invalid tickets when they arrive at an event. In addition, it appears that ScoreBig is continuing to sell tickets through its exchange, despite reports that the company’s assets have been seized by its creditors and that it has little or no way to compensate the sellers of those tickets.

The following statement is attributable to John Breyault NCL’s vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud:

“October is one of the busiest months on the sports calendar — with the MLB playoffs kicking off, the NFL and college football seasons in full gear, and the NHL getting under way. Unfortunately, fans who purchased tickets through ScoreBig may be turned away at the gate through no fault of their own and be out hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent traveling to an event only to be unable to attend it.”

“This is an unacceptable situation, and consumers should steer clear of ScoreBig until this situation is resolved. We would urge the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to investigate whether the company is selling tickets in violation of its own 100 percent money-back guarantee policy and federal and state consumer protection statutes.”

For fans who purchased or are considering purchasing tickets through ScoreBig, NCL is offering the following tips:

  1. Avoid buying tickets from ScoreBig until the current situation is resolved. Tickets bought on ScoreBig are currently at risk of not being honored at the gate.

  2. On September 30, ScoreBig emailed ticket buyers with the contact information of the ticket sellers who sold ScoreBig their tickets. Customer should promptly reach out to the ticket seller and make arrangements for obtaining a valid ticket. ScoreBig customers may also have received additional communications from the original ticket sellers after September 30. Ticket buyers should be sure to check email SPAM folders for this important information if it did not arrive in email inboxes. Consumers may be asked by the original ticket seller to purchase a new ticket because of this situation.

  3. Consumers who paid for ScoreBig tickets via credit or debit cards and/or were refused entry to an event should dispute the charges with their credit or debit card issuer.
  4. Consumers who purchased a ticket through ScoreBig and who were refused entry to an event should consider filing a complaint with the FTC at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.