With the summer music festival season fast approaching and New Year’s Eve just around the corner, the NSW Fair Trading Commissioner has issued a warning to punters about the risks associated with popular “mystery parties”.
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said Fair Trading received numerous complaints earlier this year about a failed NYE 2014 mystery party that failed to deliver on promises and was eventually shut down by authorities.
“While a mystery party may sound spontaneous and exclusive, consumers should be very wary of buying tickets to mystery events where the promoter’s details and event locations cannot be readily identified,” he said.
NSW Fair Trading have urged partygoers to only purchase tickets from reputable ticketing outlets, avoid buying tickets via social media, and to use credit cards where possible in order to take advantage of bank security measures.
“It is an offence under the Australian Consumer Law to accept payment for goods and services if those goods and services are not supplied,” Mr Stowe said.
“However, it can be very difficult for consumers to obtain a refund and regulators to pursue rogue traders in these cases as those traders are often unable to be identified or located.”
The event that prompted the warning was advertised back in November 2014. The mystery New Year’s Eve Mansion Party was promoted via Facebook, with materials including a short video showing a mansion on the Sydney Harbour foreshore.
Hopeful punters bought tickets ranging in price from $99 to $199, which covered entry to the venue only. Vouchers for alcoholic drinks were available at an additional cost of $10 per drink with a minimum spend of $50.
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Ticket-holders received emails on New Year’s Eve with advice about the location of the party, a property in Rose Bay, as well as instructions on how to get public transport to the event.
However, once punters arrived at the venue, it was clear the promoter had oversold the event, with approximately 700 ticket-holders swarming the location, resulting in insufficient seating, amenities, and security.
Consumers also complained that the venue was not the same venue promoted on social media, as it had an obstructed view of the harbour and punters were unable to redeem their pre-paid drink vouchers.
The pool had also been partially covered with a dance floor leaving the uncovered area presenting a health and safety risk. “The promoter subsequently closed his business and reportedly moved overseas,” Mr Stowe said.
