Consumer complaint received 2018-02-16
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: NC
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement
Sub-issue: Credit card company isn't resolving a dispute about a purchase on your statement

Complaint:
I am writing to you today about extreme concerns I have with a company you are all too familiar with : XXXX. Because theyre are virtually the only primary ticket seller, they continue to operate as if they are above the law. Their deceptive practices are never going to cease unless serious is taken against them. 

About a month ago, I received an email from Citibank, with whom I have a credit card, advising me of a presale for an event called " XXXX : THE CONCERT. '' About the time these tickets were promoted by Citibank, the band was publicly talking about the possibility of a 30 yeary reunion in XXXX XXXX. Naturally, I assumed these tickets were for that concert tour, as they were labeled. I was thrilled to find excellent seats were available for the show in XXXX New York for {$99.00} each ( the total was actually {$230.00} once they added their surcharges ). As I expected tickets to sell rapidly, I bought those tickets without delay and was very pleased with my purchase. It was only moments later that I realized I had been duped. The concert was not going to be performed by the band XXXX, but by a cover band playing their hits in the style of XXXX. I immediately called XXXX and told them that their promotion was misleading and that I had bought tickets thinking it was the real band. Their response to me was that all sales are final and that no refunds or exchanges would be given. My only option was to dispute the charge with Citibank, the credit card company that I used for the transaction. Interestingly, it was Citibank who had promoted the concert to me. My dispute with Citibank is perhaps best set forth in a separate letter. However, they are clearly complicit with the fraud perpetrated by XXXX. Citibank investigated my complaint and denied it relying solely upon XXXX 's reiteration of their no refunds or exchanges policy. Numerous telephone calls to both companies have been fruitless. 

XXXX unfettered control of the ticket sales industry is a foregone conclusion. The company 's fraudulent and underhanded tactics seem to be standard operating procedure for them. I offer the following as proof that XXXX intended to pass these tickets off as if they were to genuine XXXX concert. 

The title of the XX/XX/2018 show for which I bought tickets for is " XXXX : THE CONCERT. '' It is alternately listed as XXXX : The Music. '' There is simply no mention on the XXXX page that this is a cover or tribute band. By clicking on the " details '' link labeled " XXXX the Music, '' you are taken to a page that appears to show the real band, and no disclaimer. By clicking on the " See Tickets '' link you are taken to a XXXX XXXX page which is titled, " XXXX : The Concert '', containing the same photo. An icon labeled " more info, '' when clicked takes you to a page entitled, " Event Info '' and discusses ticket and venue information, but once again fails to disclose this is not actually the band XXXX. 
By doing a search for XXXX On XXXX, Several different shows are listed, many of which have the word Tribute in their name. XXXX simply chose not to warn the public that this show was in fact a tribute band.

In fact, some of the concert dates ( not the one I purchased ) contain a logo of the performers showing a silhouette of the singers with the words centered on the logo in large blue capital letters, " THE CONCERT. '' Directly below that are centered the words " XXXX IN CONCERT '' in a prominent, but slightly smalller font, in white. Then below that, off to the right, in by far the smallest and thinnest font on the page, appear the words, " a tribute to '' and then an increase to the previous font size, in bold, the name " XXXX. '' It is clear, the intention of XXXX in changing font and sizes and boldness of the words was to deemphasize the fact that this was merely a tribute band. Interestingly, this logo was not even included on the page for the tickets I bought. 
Some of the listings for the shows on XXXX actually contain the logo but intentionally redact the tribute language. It is unclear why XXXX is so inconsistent in the way they promote these shows. What is clear is each method demonstrates their intent to deceive. 


XXXX has refused my requests for a refund and responded directly to Citibank, denying their insincere attempts to seek a refund for me. This " concert '' if still three months away and XXXX still has the opportunity to to resell my tickets but knows It will be unable to do so because its fraudulent advertising has already been exposed. 


I am therefore requesting you investigate XXXX and Citibank for their fraudulent behavior, both individually and collusively, and that they are fined or otherwise penalized for their actions. I am further seeking your assistance in compelling them to compensate me and all others harmed by them, for damages, including but not limited to treble damages and any other relief as you deem appropriate. 

I am attached hereto all evidence of fraud as referenced above. Thank you for your time. 

Yours truly, XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief