By CHRIS DANIELS consumer reporter
An unexpectedly expensive trip to see Barbra Streisand has landed ticket agency Ticketek in trouble with the Commerce Commission.
An Auckland woman bought two tickets to hear the singer at a Sydney concert last March .
The woman was told by Ticketek that each ticket would cost $747,
but not that this was Australian, not New Zealand dollars.
The case comes as internet shoppers are being warned to pay particular attention to the currency being used.
The Streisand fan was horrified to find, on her return, a charge for $1900 on her credit card, instead of the expected $1500.
Ticketek will not be taken to court over the incident, but has reached a settlement with the Commerce Commission, admitting that it broke the Fair Trading Act.
The commission said one of its investigators also rang Ticketek and asked about prices for the concert.
A Ticketek staff member told the investigator that the prices quoted were in New Zealand dollars, which was not true.
In its settlement with the commission, Ticketek promised not to do it again, and put in audit procedures for its advertising.
Liz Stretton, manager of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs consumer information service, said it was important that people checked what currency was being quoted for goods, particularly when shopping on the internet.
It was easy when using the net to overlook details of likely currency conversions.
Christmas internet shoppers are being advised to shop only at sites that show a physical address and phone number, and have a clear privacy and credit card security policy and a policy on refunds and returns.
