We prepaid $150 for VIP tickets through TicketZone for their NYE event which was to include some food, open bar and presumably entrance.
We arrived at 10:45pm. Were refused entrance and told to stand in the only line that wrapped around the block, which was mixed with people who had and didn't have tickets. The promoter (I assume?) was selling tickets to some larger groups in front of us who didn't have them, and then escorting them through the entrance. When we asked why we weren't being allowed in, he said we were only two people so he would need to find others to go in with us.
After almost an hour waiting outside freezing (and close to midnight) we asked the promoter what was going on. He apologized, and then suggested that we give him some cash to give the bouncer to let us in. Needless to say we left at this point and barely made it back to our hotel in time for midnight.
We've already reported the charge as fraudulent with our credit card and plan to do the same with other review services and consumer organizations. Would encourage others who were outside waiting with us to do the same.