Rocked by the web touts

Internet ticket agencies and "web touts" are charging fans seven times the face value of tickets to see acts including Queen, U2 and Eric Clapton. The agencies, which specialise in soldout events, have also introduced a hefty mark-up for this summer's festivals, with prices almost double the face value.

The Evening Standard tried to buy tickets for a string of major concerts and events from such agencies.

In one case we were offered a pair of tickets to see supergroup Cream featuring Clapton at the Royal Albert Hall for £1,500. At the box office a pair of the best seats in the house cost £250.

Another agency offered us 10th-row seats to see Queen and Paul Rodgers at Wembley Arena for £350 each. Top-price tickets cost £49.50 at the box office.

For U2's sold-out concerts at Twickenham stadium, we were offered a pair of tickets by an agency for £900. Best-price seats were £80 each.

Meanwhile, individual web touts were selling tickets to the same event on internet auction sites like eBay. One set of four tickets was on sale at £2,000.

Fans without seats are enraged at the prices they face to attend the shows.

But the agencies insist their prices simply reflect what the tickets are worth, as well as covering their costs of acquiring them.

One such firm, Splendid Tickets, offered a pair of Queen tickets for £700 - compared with a face value of £100.

Their sales operator said: "The front seats are £350 each and they are going very quickly. They are a lot over face value, to be honest, but as soon as we get any in they will sell out."

As well as the exorbitant cost of the tickets, consumer watchdogs are concerned that some agencies do not give accurate information to customers or fail to supply tickets.

There is, however, no suggestion that any of the agencies the Standard contacted has done this.

The Office of Fair Trading has announced plans to clamp down on rogue ticket agencies, which do not display all relevant consumer information, including the original price and full details of the seating.

Profiteering has plagued the entertainment industry for years, and concertgoers regularly encounter touts outside venues selling tickets for inflated prices.

However, the internet has opened up a whole new range of options for touts - either businesses or individuals - to buy up tickets as soon as a box office opens then sell them on through an anonymous home page or via auction sites.

Organisers of the Glastonbury Festival are so concerned about the black market in tickets, particularly those being sold on eBay, that they have taken action. All ticketholders will require picture identification matching the name on the ticket to prevent people from selling on their passes at premium prices.

Organiser Michael Eavis said: "Last year we attempted to tackle the number of people selling on tickets for profit by requiring you to show some photo ID at the turnstiles. It was very successful, so we are taking the next step and requiring you to provide photo ID this year.

"I really think this is a positive move forward to stop unscrupulous people and companies touting tickets."

An OFT spokeswoman said: "We welcome any initiative in line with our recent report, which found there are secondary market agencies who are not complying with consumer protection legislation.

"Along with Trading Standards, we are cracking down on these agencies."

A sales operator for one agency said: "Glastonbury tickets are very difficult to obtain this year because the tickets have been restricted." Other events such as the Carling Weekend Reading Festival and V Festival have yet to introduce the stringent measures. Reading tickets are on eBay for £399 a pair.