Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames take a stand against online ticket scalpers

Protecting consumers against the auto industry The provincial government has proposed a bill designed to increase transparency within the auto industry. Kathy Le reports.

The Oilers and Flames, longtime rivals in Alberta, put aside their differences on Thursday to cheer on the provincial government after it announced new laws to prevent the activities of ticket ‘bots’.

Bill 31, also called A Better Deal for Consumers and Businesses Act, would make it illegal for companies to use software to snap up large amounts of tickets to many different events, including concerts and hockey games.

The law is similar to the one that Ontario introduced in October following an outcry from fans of the Tragically Hip who said they weren’t able to get tickets to the band’s final tour from official avenues.

If the law is passed, then sellers, like Ticketmaster, would be required to cancel any tickets purchased by bot software.

They would also need to step in and provide direct refunds to consumers who bought their tickets from a secondary market when the ticket is cancelled or found to be counterfeit.

After that, Ticketmaster would have the right to pursue legal action against the corporation using the software or face a $300,000 fine themselves.

“There is widespread feeling among Albertans that the ticketing system is rigged against them. We believe fans deserve a fair shot at tickets to see their favourite artists. And they deserve to feel confident that when they buy a ticket, they are not getting gouged or scammed. So we are putting fans first by banning bots to build a trusted marketplace for fans and entertainers,” said Service Alberta Minister Stephanie McLean.

Ticketmaster and Stub Hub, a popular ticket reselling website, have not yet commented on the new legislation, but McLean says she’s only had positive feedback so far.

Consumer protection for auto repairs

The same bill also introduces a new policy aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the auto industry, particularly when it comes to vehicle repairs.

If passed, it would require repair shops to provide customers with a written estimate and get customer approval before any work is done, avoiding any dispute over the final cost of the job.

There must also be a minimum warranty put in place for vehicles that have been fixed.

Steve Cooper, who's worked in the auto industry for 17 years, says that Integra Tire, the shop where he works, is always honest with customers.

"Anything misleading is not the way it should be done."

The bill also targets sellers who try to cloud the history of a used vehicle they're trying to sell and provide greater oversight of the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC).

Under Bill 31, the seller must provide the vehicle's history and a standard bill of sale.

"This legislation is about filling in the gaps," said Jeff Kasbrick with the Alberta Motor Association. "The gaps that might stop some people from being confident about the vehicle that they're buying, the work they've received or the amount they've been charged."

If the bill passes, it could come into effect in the spring.

(With files from Kathy Le and CTV Edmonton)