How to Buy Wimbledon Tickets Safely

Step 1: Check Companies House Registration

All legitimate UK ticket businesses must be registered with Companies House.

1. Visit Companies House register
2. Search for the company name
3. Verify:
   • Company is active (not dissolved)
   • Directors are listed
   • Registered address matches website
   • Company has been trading for reasonable time

Step 2: Read Trustpilot Reviews

Genuine customer feedback is invaluable for assessing legitimacy.

• Search company name on Trustpilot UK
• Look for consistent reviews over time (not all recent)
• Read negative reviews carefully - how did company respond?
• Minimum 50+ reviews for established sellers
• Overall rating should be 3.5+ stars
• Check reviews mention actual ticket delivery

Step 3: Google Search for Scam Reports

Search for:

• "[Company name] scam"
• "[Company name] reviews"
• "[Company name] fraud"
• "[Company name] complaints"

Look for reports on consumer forums, Reddit, Twitter, and news sites.

Step 4: Check Official Wimbledon Partnerships

The All England Club lists official partners at wimbledon.com

Official partners include: Ticketmaster UK, Keith Prowse, Seat Unique

Step 5: Test Customer Service

Legitimate sellers have responsive customer service.

• Call the listed phone number - does anyone answer?
• Send an email - do you get a professional response within 24-48 hours?
• Try live chat if available
• Ask specific questions about delivery, refunds, and buyer protection

Step 6: Verify Website Security

• Check for SSL certificate (padlock icon in address bar)
• URL should start with "https://" not "http://"
• Use WHOIS lookup to check domain registration date (avoid very new domains)
• Verify domain name matches company name (not suspicious variations)

✅ ALWAYS USE Credit Cards

Credit cards offer the best protection under UK law.

Section 75 Protection: For purchases between £100 and £30,000, your credit card company is jointly liable if something goes wrong. This means you can claim a refund from your card issuer if:

• The seller goes bust before delivering tickets
• Tickets never arrive
• Tickets are fake
• The seller breaches contract

How to claim: Contact your credit card provider within 120 days and file a Section 75 claim with all documentation.

✅ PayPal (Goods & Services)

PayPal offers buyer protection for goods and services.

• Always select "Goods and Services" (not "Friends and Family")
• Buyer Protection covers items that don't arrive or aren't as described
• You have 180 days to open a dispute
• PayPal may refund you if seller doesn't respond

Warning: Never use "Friends and Family" option for buying tickets - this removes all buyer protection.

⚠️ Debit Cards (Limited Protection)

Debit cards offer less protection than credit cards.

• No Section 75 protection
• May be covered by Chargeback scheme (not guaranteed)
• Money leaves your account immediately
• Harder to recover funds if scammed

Recommendation: Use credit cards instead for ticket purchases over £100.

❌ NEVER USE These Payment Methods

• Bank Transfer: No protection, impossible to recover funds
• Western Union / MoneyGram: Untraceable, no recourse
• Cryptocurrency: Irreversible transactions, no buyer protection
• Cash: No paper trail, no proof of payment
• Gift Cards / Vouchers: Common scam method, no protection
• PayPal Friends & Family: Removes all buyer protection

⚠️ If a seller insists on these payment methods, walk away immediately - it's almost certainly a scam.

Step 1: Stop All Communication

• Do not send any more money
• Do not click links they send
• Do not provide more personal information
• Save all existing communication before they delete it

Step 2: Contact Your Bank Immediately

If paid by credit card:

• Call your credit card issuer's fraud line (on back of card)
• Request to file a Section 75 claim
• Provide all documentation (emails, receipts, screenshots)
• You have up to 6 years to claim but act quickly

If paid by debit card or bank transfer:

• Contact your bank's fraud department immediately
• Request a chargeback (not guaranteed but possible)
• Ask bank to attempt recall if very recent transfer

Step 3: Report to Action Fraud

Action Fraud is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime.

• Phone: 0300 123 2040 (Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm)
• Online: actionfraud.police.uk
• You'll receive a crime reference number
• This is required for insurance claims and bank disputes

Step 4: Report to Additional Authorities

• National Cyber Security Centre: Report suspicious emails
• Citizens Advice: Free advice on consumer rights
• Trading Standards: Report to your local Trading Standards office
• All England Club: Email security@aeltc.com to warn them of fraudulent sellers using their name

Step 5: Warn Others

• Leave reviews on Trustpilot warning others
• Report the website/social media account to the platform
• Post on consumer forums (Reddit, MoneySavingExpert)
• Contact us at info@squareseat.co.uk so we can warn readers

Step 6: Monitor Your Accounts

If you shared personal information or payment details:

• Check your bank accounts daily for unauthorised transactions
• Consider placing a fraud alert with credit reference agencies
• Change passwords for any accounts that used the same password
• Monitor your credit report for suspicious activity

Keep these documents for every ticket purchase to protect yourself and aid recovery if scammed:

Pro tip: Create a dedicated folder on your computer or email for each ticket purchase with all documentation. This makes filing claims or disputes much easier.

Consumer Rights Act 2015

When buying tickets from a UK business, you're protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015:

• Goods must be as described: Tickets must match the listing (correct date, section, seats)
• Fit for purpose: Tickets must allow entry to Wimbledon
• Satisfactory quality: Genuine tickets in usable condition
• Right to refund: If tickets don't meet these standards, you can claim a refund

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act

For credit card purchases between £100 and £30,000:

• Credit card company is jointly liable with the seller
• You can claim from card issuer if seller breaches contract
• Covers purchases made in UK or abroad
• Up to 6 years to make a claim
• Full refund possible if goods not delivered or misrepresented

This is why credit cards are the safest payment method for expensive tickets.

Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013

For online or distance purchases:

• 14-day cooling-off period: Usually you can cancel within 14 days for a refund
• Exception for event tickets: Many event tickets are excluded from cooling-off rights if date is fixed
• Check seller's terms: Some sellers offer voluntary cancellation policies

Getting Help with Consumer Issues

• Citizens Advice: citizensadvice.org.uk - Free, impartial advice
• Which? Consumer Rights: which.co.uk/consumer-rights
• Resolver: resolver.co.uk - Free tool for raising complaints

Remember: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Face value Centre Court finals tickets (£280) rarely appear on resale markets below £400-£500.