|
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS Code of Ethics
WHEREAS,
the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS is a national
organization representing firms engaged in the reselling
of tickets to entertainment and sporting events;
WHEREAS,
the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS requires its
Members to maintain the highest level of ethics in the
marketplace;
WHEREAS,
the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS has adopted a
set of standards and procedures that govern the conduct
of Members; and
WHEREAS,
the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS has
memorialized those standards in this document.
IT IS HEREBY AGREED
that the following principles are adopted and shall be
known as the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS CODE
OF ETHICS.
EACH MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF TICKET BROKERS (“NATB”) SHALL:
-
Maintain regular business hours from a permanent
business address, which is not a residence, excluding
a post office box or similar address, within the
United States or Canada, at which site the resale of
tickets will be a principal business activity;
-
Maintain a business telephone, with a published
number, at such location;
-
Maintain good character and reputation in the
community;
-
Disclose to the purchaser, prior to purchase, the
location of the seats represented by the tickets,
either orally or by reference to a seating chart;
-
Not
deceive, mislead, misinform or otherwise misrepresent
any information related to the location of the seats
represented;
-
Not
alter tickets sold in any detrimental way;
-
To the
best of its ability, ensure the tickets with
obstructed or limited view are marked as such, and
that purchasers are advised of this fact prior to
purchase;
-
Maintain complete and accurate records of all
purchases, sales and refunds;
-
At the
time an order is taken, the customer must be informed
if the order is not guaranteed;
-
If a
ticket is guaranteed, and the ticket is not delivered,
the Member shall provide a refund equal to 200% of the
contracted price for each guaranteed ticket not
delivered, unless non-delivery is due to causes beyond
the reasonable control of the Member including a
shipping error, natural disaster, Act of God, labor
controversy, civil disturbance, or armed conflict. If
a problem occurs and delivery of an exact ticket
location becomes impossible, no penalty shall apply if
the Member offers the buyer a comparable ticket at the
same or lower price as the contracted ticket. In the
rare instance that a ticket purchased by a Member for
a client is later found to have been stolen,
counterfeited or reported lost by the original
purchaser, and the Member purchased these tickets in
good faith, then the Member shall be responsible only
to refund the full contracted price;
-
Maintain a refund, rescheduling and cancellation
policy which shall be conspicuously posted at each
location where the Member does business;
-
Advise
all purchasers of its refund, rescheduling and
cancellation policy upon request;
-
Include, at a minimum, the following conditions in its
refund and cancellation policy:
-
All
deposits for tickets not delivered must be refunded
within 30 days of the event; and
-
If an
event is cancelled, the Member will follow the
refund policy of the original seller. This refund
may be monetary, a store credit, or a mutually
agreed upon ticket exchange.
-
Any
refund or other provision set forth herein shall not
limit the right of the NATB to enforce any other
sanction it deems fit;
-
Conduct
business professionally and ethically with customers
in compliance with the policies set out above;
-
Act
honestly with all other members of the industry, and
not deceive, mislead, misinform or otherwise
misrepresent to another broker information concerning
the availability of tickets or the location of seats;
-
Refrain from acting in a manner that is detrimental to
the ticket brokerage industry or the NATB including
the use of automated devices/programs for the purchase
of tickets;
-
Display
the logo of the NATB, if permitted, on all forms of
advertisements, including stationery, business cards,
flyers, whether buying or selling tickets; and
-
Pay all
undisputed invoices to fellow brokers in the agreed
upon time. If after 30 days from the date of the
purchase, funds have not been received by the seller,
the total amount due must be forwarded to the seller
within five calendar days of written notice (“Notice
Period”) either by bank wire or any form of shipping
for which a tracking number for the package is given.
After the Notice Period has elapsed a request via
telephone and facsimile must be made from the seller
to the buyer with a copy to the NATB. At that time a
call will be made and a facsimile will be sent to the
buyer by the NATB serving notification that the
outstanding undisputed invoice must be paid within
five days. If the five day period elapses without
payment, the Member who has not paid their outstanding
invoice will be warned and assessed a $100 penalty
payable to the NATB. More than one violation in any
NATB Membership year and the Member in question will
be removed from Membership and lose all privileges.
If full payment has not been made within two months
the Member in question will also by removed from
Membership. A one-year period must elapse before a
Member removed for violating this policy can seek a
new Membership.
This Code
of Ethics for Members of the NATB has been adopted to
promote and maintain the highest standards of conduct
among its Members. Adherence to the standards cited
herein is required for Membership in the NATB and serves
to assure public confidence in the integrity and service
of ticket brokers.
Amended December, 2006
|