About STAR
What is STAR?
STAR - the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers - was formed
in 1997 and is the leading self-regulatory body for the
entertainment ticketing industry across the United Kingdom, with
many of the biggest names in ticketing as members. STAR members
include major UK ticket agencies as well as numerous venues and box
offices in London and across the country. There are also associate
members in other industries (such as travel) where entertainment
ticketing forms part of their business and affiliate members who do
not sell tickets directly to the public but support STAR's work.
You can find the current membership list here.
What does STAR do?
STAR operates within guidelines supported by, amongst others,
VisitBritain, London & Partners, the Society of London Theatre
and the Office of Fair Trading.
As well as working with government and other bodies for the
benefit both of consumers and the ticketing industry, STAR offers
general advice and information on ticket buying and provides a
dispute resolution service for customers who have an unresolved
problem with their purchase from a STAR member.
In recent years STAR has been at the forefront of cross-industry
initiatives to improve consumer confidence and make ticket buying
safer, working with the Office of Fair Trading and the Department
for Culture, Media and Sport on ways of combating ticket fraud and
mis-selling and on the introduction of Model
Terms and Conditions of Sale.
Buying entertainment tickets from a STAR member - in person, by
phone or online - enables you to buy with confidence, as all
members sign up to STAR's Code of Practice, which
requires them to treat customers fairly and make all transactions
clear and straightforward.
Customers buying from a STAR member benefit from
- A means of differentiating reputable agencies and box offices
from potentially less scrupulous ticket sellers
- The STAR assurance on standards of service and information from
members
- Clear information about where and how to buy entertainment
tickets
- An independent dispute resolution service
How does STAR work?
STAR is funded by annual contributions from its membership.
Administration is carried out by the Council which, together with
the chairman of the Council, is elected annually by the membership
of STAR. Day-to-day functions are carried out by the Secretariat,
providing information and advice in relation to STAR and the
operation of the Code of Practice. Click here for a list of
STAR Council
members.
A sub-committee examines all breaches of the Code reported to it
and disciplines members if it considers it necessary, with
expulsion from STAR as a potential option in the most serious
cases. The sub-committee is made up of Council members and
independent people, with the latter always in the majority and
providing the Chair. Appeals against the sub-committee's decisions
are heard by the Council; any Council member with a business
interest in a case being considered by the sub-committee is not
eligible to vote on anything to do with that case at a meeting
where it is considered.
Click here for more on the history of STAR.
Click here for the latest STAR Annual
Report.