TICKET TOUTS – How to avoid ticket touts and scams

Derby Arena

Derby Arena

Ticket touts – those pesky bots and scammers who buy up tickets only to resell them at inflated prices – are a problem for everyone.

While the use of bots for this purpose is illegal, scammers continue to operate, predominantly online, though they may occasionally be present outside venues.

Buying from resale sites or touts is risky: you might not get your money back if a show is cancelled, you could receive counterfeit tickets, or your tickets might not arrive at all, leaving you stranded outside the venue. At Derby LIVE, we're committed to helping you get the best seats at the best prices. And we continue to look for ways to make it more difficult for touts, including working with our event promoters and also other venues and authorised ticket agencies.

Want to snag event tickets at the fairest prices? Here are some tips for buying event tickets:

  • Call the venue directly: Even if an official agency shows an event as sold out, the venue might have tickets available. Buying direct often means lower costs.
  • Stick to official and fan-to-fan resale sites: Use authorised ticket sellers that have services to combat tickets touts and fan-to-fan resale platforms that cap prices at face value. If you need to resell tickets, contact the box office first.
  • Compare prices: Check the venue and artist websites for prices and booking fees, and double check the venue and dates including the year.
  • Mailing lists: Get pre-sale access by joining artist/venue mailing lists. At Derby LIVE, an up-to-date account can unlock priority booking, announced on social media.
  • Look for offers: Check event pages for deals like family tickets or early bird discounts. See our How to Book page for more info.
  • Consider group bookings: Group discounts or flexible booking options might be available.
  • Look at the seating plan: Understand seat locations relative to the stage, entrances, and aisles. At Derby LIVE, rows are usually lettered, and seats numbered (e.g., D22 & D23 are adjacent, D22 & E22 are on different rows). Seating plans may indicate accessibility information.
  • Contact the venue for access needs: Discuss any access concerns. Derby LIVE offers an Essential Companion Scheme, for example.
  • Check your email: Receive important event updates and pre-show emails. Manage your email preferences on your account page.
  • Join the waiting list: For sold-out events, contact our Sales and Information Centre to be added to a waiting list.

Need more help? 

If you have seen tickets for sale on a site, we might be able to advise if the tickets are genuine.

We do not advise buying at inflated prices on secondary ticketing sites. The FanFair Alliance has some really good advice on its website, as does the Citizen Advice Bureau.

If ever you are in any doubt, the Derby LIVE box office is available  Monday to Saturday and will happily help anyone that has any concerns. Our Terms and Conditions are here,