Join STAR

If your venue or organisation deals with ticket-selling, either directly to the public or through other outlets, you should join STAR.

STAR - the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers

Founded in 1997, STAR is the representative body for the UK ticketing industry, encouraging high standards of service and reassuring the public that they are buying from a reputable agency or box office when they deal with a STAR member.

STAR has gathered widespread support from entertainment venues, promoters and producers and represents major UK ticket agencies and numerous ticketing outlets across the country, as well as having associate members from the travel trade and other industry representative bodies.

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 (DCMS) on ways of combating ticket fraud and mis-selling and on the introduction of Model Terms and Conditions of Sale.

STAR is recognised by the DCMS as the leading representative body for ticketing in the UK and has been nominated by it to take the main role in devising and promoting a new code of principles covering the sale of all UK entertainment tickets. This will build upon STAR's existing Code of Practice, the central element that distinguishes STAR members from ticketing outlets that may not offer customers fairness and transparency in their transactions.

STAR members benefit from

  • A common Code of Practice that provides reassurance and agreed standards of service to customers
  • Effective self-regulation of the entertainment ticket industry
  • Promotion of member companies through the membership list on this website and other material distributed to the public, to trade and consumer media and to consumer interest organisations
  • The right to display the STAR logo, an indication of confidence to the customer, on all products, websites, promotional and sales literature, including ticket stock
  • An industry discussion forum
  • Representation to government and other bodies on behalf of the industry
  • A free dispute resolution service
  • The opportunity to participate in a membership-led organisation which seeks to ensure the highest levels of consumer care and industry regulation
  • The opportunity to seek election to STAR's governing Council
  • Occasional seminars on key topics and newsletters updating members on matters of concern and interest to the industry

Ticket-buyers benefit from

  • The STAR assurance on standards of service and information from members
  • An independent dispute resolution service
  • Clearer information about where and how to buy entertainment tickets
  • A means of differentiating reputable agencies and box offices from potentially less scrupulous ticket sellers

Membership

STAR aims to expand its membership across the UK, to help raise standards in the entertainment industry and campaign on issues such as touting, internet scams and ticketing rip-offs. As the representative body for the ticketing industry, STAR is a prime point of contact for regulatory and statutory bodies when consulting on issues such as unfair terms in contracts, advertising standards and consumer care.

Full membership is open to agencies and box offices operating in the UK and selling to the public directly or via sub-agents; associate membership is open to organisations (such as travel operators) whose business involves elements of entertainment ticketing. There is also an affiliate category of membership for companies connected with the industry but not selling tickets directly to the public and who wish to support STAR's work.  A copy of STAR's Memorandum and Articles of Association can be downloaded here.

You can find full membership details here or e-mail info@star.org.uk or phone 0844 879 4272 for more information. An online application form can be completed here.