- CASE reports 538% increase in entertainment complaints in 1H2024.
- Singapore Sky Lantern Festival issues lead to surge in complaints.
- E-commerce complaints rise by 53% due to online ticket purchases.
Consumer complaints in Singapore’s entertainment sector have skyrocketed, raising concerns about event management and ticketing practices.
Sharp Rise in Entertainment Complaints
In a press release by CASE, a significant increase in entertainment-related complaints was reported for the first half of 2024.
It received 670 complaints in the entertainment sector during 1H2024, up from 105 in the same period in 2023.
This marks a staggering 538% increase in entertainment-related complaints.
The surge was mainly due to issues with the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival.
Overall, the association recorded 7,721 complaints in 1H2024, up 6% from 7,316 in 2023.
Here are some key highlights to note:
- Prepayment-related losses increased by 312%, reaching about S$1,246,500.
- It secured refunds of about S$20,450 for affected consumers from the Sky Lantern Festival.
- E-commerce complaints rose by 53%, from 1,703 in 1H2023 to 2,611 in 1H2024.
Major Concerns in the Entertainment Sector
According to its President Mr Melvin Yong, “CASE is deeply concerned in the rise of entertainment complaints.”
The Singapore Sky Lantern Festival was poorly executed, leading to many complaints.
Asian Couture and Boutique, the event organisers, failed to secure necessary permits.
Complaints against ticket resellers included 4% of total entertainment complaints related to invalid tickets.
There are concerns about ticket scalping and the need for better consumer protection.
Take a look at this quick table for a clear overview:
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Entertainment Sector | 670 |
| E-commerce | 2,611 |
| Invalid Tickets | 4% of entertainment-related complaints |
| Total Complaints | 7,721 |
Consumer Protection Measures
The association plans to expand its CaseTrust accreditation for e-businesses to improve consumer trust.
The sharp rise in prepayment losses has highlighted the need for stronger prepayment protection.
It is studying how other countries tackle issues related to events and concerts.
Consumers are advised to be cautious when making prepayments and to check the credibility of event organisers before purchasing tickets.
