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

 

I would hope BernieCo would step up and honor the tickets, even though it's not his doing. Get the fans to the race, then handle the legalities afterward.

 

FWIW, I had tickets to Bahrain last year which I had purchased from a third party company, similar to your situation. After the race was cancelled, I had a bit of trouble with them getting a refund. Ultimately, I contacted Formula 1 and they were very quick about refunding the ticket price. The airfare, well, that was another story

 

The closest thing to an official F1 ticket agency is www.gptickets.at in Austria, which has some kind of link with the Austrian-based operator of the F1 Paddock Club. The teams always refer sponsors needing non-F1PC grandstand tickets for their guests to this company (I worked in F1 for 15 years). So contacting them might be the best way to find out what's really going on with your Spa tickets and maybe even getting the ear of someone who could help find a solution... Good luck and hope you make it there -- the greatest F1 venue bar none.

 

Hello,

I live in Belgium, but apparantly this company is based in Holland.
If you send me your details via PM, I'll give them a call this friday.

Best regards,

David Joos

 

PM sent, thanks again.

 

I appreciate this suggestion, will check out gptickets.at

David

 

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/the-ticket-enterprise-not-bankrupt-but-working-to-solve-problems

Keep the faith. Spa may be able to sort this whole thing out yet.

If it would help to keep your trip from being a total bust, I have a grandstand ticket for both Friday and Saturday that I can send you, as our son will not be using it. They are for Eau Rouge Gold 4. PM me.

 

Thanks, Ney; PM sent

dn

 

David

Tickets sent.
According to www.spagrandprix.com, they are working to make purchasers whole for the ticket or reissue the tickets, so you may get your original tickets in the long run, but at least this is a safety net for two of the days.

Hope after all the frustrations, it turns out to be a great trip for you.

 

What a great gesture! Kudos to you sir!

As a pretty young kid (mid sixties'ish) I've never forgotten standing in line at Brands with my cousins to get into the Brit GP at Brands. A guy came over and gave my uncle three kids tickets that he couldn't use and wouldn't take a penny for them - I've always wanted to replicate that.

Cheers,
Ian

 

+1,000 to all the above!

 

Hello David,

I tried to contact their different numbers but they are disconnected.
I found an article in the Belgian press that states that the Francorchamps track director is waiting for news from the Dutch justice.
For the moment they have taken no concrete steps.

I tried to contact the different telephone numbers that are mentionned on the website of Francorchamps, but they are always busy.
I'll keep on trying and give you more information as soon as I can get hold of it.

I'm sure it will be sorted out, but it's a mess for the moment.

David

 

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

 

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/lawyer-tte-all-tickets-will-be-sent-this-weekend?

To be taken with a grain of salt....it is a statement by a lawyer.

 

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

 

Had to be said, that is a very nice gesture, nice one Ney.

 

...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

 

Fantastic news!

Appreciate the kudos and special thanks, but this was an easy decision as I had tickets that would not be used and when you first posted your predicament, I could only imagine how frustrating that was. I knew they would be a small consolation, but better that they provide you some hope of seeing the event than sitting in my bag unused.

I am thrilled and hopeful that you might be able to pass them along to a unsuspecting young F1 fan as Ian mentioned above.

Safe travels.

 

WOW . . . what an effort by all . . . nice to see good people doing good things

 

I've read the previous comments which have been of great help. I'm really starting to panic that I'm going to drive all the way to Belgium and not get in! This is my first Grand Prix and I'd be so gutted if it ended like this.

Just to clarify, having spent all this money, do I actually have a ticket?! If so, how do I get my hands on it!

Dave.

 

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

 

Very happy that it all worked out for you! I am sorry that we did not find each other. I was the guy in the Ferrari shirt ....perhaps you were too . You might just be somewhere in this photo!
Best
D
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