10pc fee added on to all bookings at Wolverhampton Civic
A 10 per cent booking fee has been added on to tickets for all gigs and outdoor events in Wolverhampton for people paying with cash.
Until now anyone using cash in person to pay for tickets in the city would not have to shell out a fee.
But bosses say the charges have been brought in as the venues face cuts to funding because Wolverhampton City Council has to slash its budget.
The charges apply to the Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Slade Rooms and the council's outdoor events, such as Wolvestock and the Steam and Vintage Rally.
The standard 10 per cent charge will also be applied to phone and online transactions.
Before the changes, booking fees for online and phone purchases were charged on a sliding scale depending on the cost of the tickets.
Civic Hall spokesman Jonn Penney said some people booking by website or phone would actually end up paying less under the new rules.
He said bosses were trying to create 'a level playing field' and had to cope with an expected reduction in funding in the coming years.
Mr Penney said: "It's the way the industry is going and we are not the first to do it. Even though there is not a credit card company involved in the cash-only transactions we still incur costs for having someone there to take the cash off the customer and in these times of austerity our funding will get tighter as we are council-run venues.
"If we are to keep bringing quality acts to the venues we need to tighten our belts and make ourselves more efficient."
Before September 1, booking fees for tickets costing up to £15 were £1.55 over the phone or in person with a credit card, and £2.35 online.
For tickets between £15.01 and £19.99, the phone or in person card charge was £2.05 and online bookings cost £2.90.
Tickets from £20 to £29.99 incurred a £2.60 charge for phone or in person card bookings, and £3.40 online. Anyone buying tickets over £30 faced a 10 per cent charge for all purchases apart from cash, with an extra 80p fee added for online bookings.
Mr Penney said: "Some people will notice that they will actually be paying a bit less than they were before."
John Darby, aged 58, of Parkfields, who goes to about 25 gigs a year in the city, said: "This would make me think twice about going to some gigs. The charges add up through the year."
