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, VisitLondon, 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 a 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.