Spa ticket defaults

Anyone else standing to lose money on Spa tickets, with by the apparent default of The Ticket Enterprise: http://www.yallaf1.com/2012/08/13/bankrupt-company-leaves-6000-fans-without-tickets-for-spa/ ? We ordered tickets via Spa-tickets.be, which is apparently part of/tied in with this company; since we have yet to receive our tickets, I fear we may be among the 6,000 left out in the cold.

Not sure what to do at this point, as we've had (non-refundable) flights, rental car, and hotel booked for four months or so. I read about a similar thing happening for the Valencia race, but with a totally different company. Really bummed about this...

dn

 

PM sent, thanks again.

 

I appreciate this suggestion, will check out gptickets.at

David

 

Thanks, Ney; PM sent

dn

 

+1,000 to all the above!

 

I really appreciate your efforts, David. While I am still holding out hope it will be resolved, the lack of positive news, and inability to contact the promoters and/or ticket agency, is quite disconcerting. We may just have to show up, and hope that there are at least general admission tickets still available for the five of us. I suppose that in the worst case, we can spend three days exploring Liege, Brussels, and the surrounding areas, and watch the race on television from our hotel--certainly not a life-altering problem!

Once again, I/we are most appreciative, and will welcome any further updates you can provide.

David

 

Well, that's certainly the most encouraging news release yet--even if necessarily "taken with a grain of salt" as you suggest, Ney!

Thanks very much for the update,

David

 

...very nice gesture! Both Ney and Blulagos have been quite supportive and helpful, and I appreciate it very much. All the supportive postings in this thread, in fact, have been comforting, and reduced the stress I've felt from the uncertainty involved. Having myself and four close friends make travel and accommodation arrangements based on my ordering of tickets makes me feel an inordinate amount of responsibility, should we end up without tickets.

This isn't the only issue this forum has helped me deal with since I joined, but it certainly feels like the most emotional one--so heartfelt kudos to the FChat community...

dn

 

I'm happy to report that the promoter of the Spa GP sent an email, stating that they will make good on tickets purchased from The Ticket Enterprise. There are a couple of (very small) hoops to jump through, but it appears we will, indeed, be able to pick up replacement tickets when we arrive.

Thanks to everyone who posted supportive &/or informative comments here. Special thanks to Ney, who provided Fri/Sat child tickets (which his son was unable to use, and which we hope to pass along to someone who can, at the track); and huge thanks to Bluelagos, who spent considerable time & energy trying to work things out from Belgium. His direct e-mail appeal to the promoter, on our behalf, may well have helped influence the positive outcome!

Thanks again to all,

dn

 

Here's a link to a Web news article:

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/spa-grand-prix-aids-spectators-after-ticket-agency-collapse

The Spa Website itself doesn't seem to have any information, but the following is from a direct e-mail I received:

"Dear Sir or Madam,

Although not liable for any shortcomings of The Ticket Entreprise with whom you had chosen to order your tickets for the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix of August 31 and September 1 and 2, SPA GP has decided to resolve the problems encountered by purchasers wronged by this Dutch company and provide you with the tickets that you had ordered (with the exception of camping, overnight stays and other charges that SPA GP does not administer) under the following conditions:
1) As there is no longer reasonable time available for the dispatch of these tickets, you will have to come and collect them at the following "Pick Up Points" (see plans attached):
• From August 27 to 29 from 9am to 5pm at the SPA GP ticket office (Guichet) installed at the Barrière de la Source
• From August 30 to September 2 from 7am to 6pm at the Relais des Diligences.
2) During ticket collection, you must provide us with irrefutable proof of payment that you have made to The Ticket Entreprise (original of a bank statement or credit card statement), as well as a copy of an identity document of the person who ordered the tickets and effected the payment.

3) You must also return to us the attached document, duly completed and signed.

THE TICKETS WILL NOT BE SEND, YOU CAN ONLY FOUND THEM IN OUR PICK UP POINT
SPA GRANDPRIX S.A.
www.spagrandprix.com"

The e-mail included attachments of maps for the two pickup points (one for Mon-Wed, and another for Thur-Sun), as well as a brief form to be signed & delivered at pickup. If you PM me your e-mail address, I will be happy to forward the attachments to you.

dn

 

I'm pleased to report that the Spa promoters did, indeed, make good on the tickets ordered through The Ticket Enterprise. The tickets were even in our originally-requested grandstand (at Eau Rouge), and they were able to keep four of the five of us together. Plus, the "odd man out" seat was actually the best of the five, so it was all good in the end.

Thanks again for all the supportive comments, suggestions, and offers here. I was not able to pass along the Fri/Sat child's tickets kindly provided by Ney--everyone we approached entering the track already had tickets--but the offers were appreciated. And having those tickets in hand ahead of time certainly added a measure of comfort, in a troubling situation.

Finally, in spite of the miserable weather Friday, and the first turn debacle at the race start, it was a great experience to attend the Spa race weekend.

Cheers to all,

dn