Crunched: Theatre-goers hit by 'rip-off' ticket charges (From Echo)

Crunched: Theatre-goers hit by 'rip-off' ticket charges

8:20am Wednesday 14th January 2009 in

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THEATRES in Southend have been criticised for increasing credit card charges on ticket sales.

Cliffs Pavilion and the Palace Theatre, both run by HQ Theatres, have imposed a 6 per cent charge on credit card sales booked by phone.

Online ticket sales will incur a 3 per cent charge, although for cash sales at the box office there will be no extra fee.

One pensioner has described the fees as a rip-off.

However, theatre management claim the new charges are to make it cheaper to book online and to help generate revenue for the theatre’s running costs and maintenance.

Maureen Taylor, 66, said: “A pensioner like me, buying a ticket over the phone, cannot book a ticket at the face value. I cannot buy it by credit card at the box-office either.

“The only way to pre-book a ticket at face value is to go to the booking office with cash. The purpose of a concession ticket is completely annulled by the cost of another journey.”

Mrs Taylor, of Rectory Avenue, Rochford, also criticised the theatre for not passing on the Government’s cut in VAT, from 17.5 to 15 per cent.

She added: ”In this climate they should be trying to get people to go to the theatre, which is a bit of a luxury anyway. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot.”

However, management claim the credit card fee change brings them in line with other HQ Theatres Theatre director Ellen McPhillips said: “It’s not going to be popular with everyone, but will make online sales cheaper than the box office. Previously it was expensive to book online, but we want people to use it as it’s 24-hour.

“The fees will be contentious, but they are a necessary income stream.

“We decided, like nearly every theatre, not to adjust the VAT on ticket prices because the vast majority of income, about 75 or 80 per cent, raised by shows goes back to the promoter and not the theatre.

“For HQ Theatres to succeed in its aim to invest and improve the theatres, funds must be raised. But we will be holding prices back as we set prices for shows.”

Improvements already made include £250,000 spent on redecoration of the Maritime and Admirals rooms.

Group bookings for 12 or more will not be charged booking fees.