Lee Gallagher spent £140 for two tickets which never materialised
Lee Gallagher, 54, from Formby.
Lee Gallagher, 54, from Formby(Image: Supplied)
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A dad and son were left heartbroken after tickets they bought to this weekend's derby never arrived. Lee Gallagher, 54, and son George, nine, were gearing up for their first derby day together after believing they had secured tickets.
The pair, from Formby, were excited to be in the away end for the first Merseyside Derby at the Hill Dickinson stadium on Sunday, April 19. However, Lee said the tickets, which cost £70 each, never arrived. The website he used has also since disappeared.
Lee said he "wanted to do something special" for son George who is a diehard Liverpool fan, and recently enjoyed a Liverpool Women’s game at Anfield before meeting the players.
He told the ECHO: “A couple of days later, an advertisement for ‘VIP Seats’ popped up on Facebook. I checked the website and looked at the reviews.
"There were positive comments from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool fans saying the seats were brilliant and customer service was helpful. It sounded legitimate, and at £70 per ticket, the price seemed right for a couple of tickets to the derby.
Lee Gallagher, 54, from Formby
Lee Gallagher, 54, from Formby(Image: Supplied)
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"Customer service told me tickets would be sent via Royal Mail recorded delivery five days before the game, including tracking information."
Physical tickets are no longer available for either of Merseyside’s Premier League grounds. Both city clubs warn their fans about scam sites and direct buyers to official channels.
Lee waited, but the tickets did not arrive, and he now believes he has been scammed. By the time he contacted the ECHO (Friday, April 17), the VIP Seats website had been taken down.
A notice on the site reads “this website has been taken down” by the host’s “Trust & Safety team”. Users are asked to report suspicious websites that “attempt to steal data, impersonate others, or distribute malware” immediately.
Lee told the ECHO: “I sent multiple messages but received no response. I told George we had seats in Row 17 and he was so excited he was bouncing off the walls.”
The dad added: “I took him to a Liverpool vs Leeds match this year. Even though it was a 0-0 draw, he loved seeing the crowd and hearing the singing.
“We went to Anfield again to see the Liverpool women’s team. A steward saw George in his hat and gave us wristbands to meet the team after the game. It was amazing.”
The ECHO attempted to contact VIP Seats for comment.
The ECHO understands that Everton's move to fully digital ticketing, also used at Anfield, was made in part to reduce unauthorised resale. Everton publishes a list of websites selling unauthorised tickets to steer supporters away from those sites and towards official sources.
What are the warning signs?
Heavily inflated match ticket prices
Match tickets on sale many months before the date of match, unless purchased as part of a package from club partners.
Exact location of the seats are not confirmed (no stand, row or seat number)
Large volumes of tickets on offer for the most-high profile matches
Being required to collect tickets from a hotel, a pub or an alternative location
Being required to return the tickets/Season Tickets after the match
No statement on the website confirming the seller is affiliated to the Club or that they are an official source
Tickets sent via PDF or JPEG from an email address that does not match any affiliated source
Tickets being forwarded to you, as opposed to being sent directly
Tickets listed in the name of a third party
Visible amendments to the ticket
No name or price on the ticket
Someone posing to have a ticket on social media and asking you to deposit money into a bank account