THE firm that runs Bournemouth’s Pavilion and BIC has been blasted for charging people to print their tickets at home.

The £1 charge is payable despite customers having to use their own computer, ink, paper and electricity.

Andy Walker, 42, a trainee pastor from Creekmoor, first noticed the fee when buying tickets online for Rent in Concert at the Pavilion which takes place tomorrow.

He said: “They now charge you to print your own tickets at home. I was shocked.

“It’s an automated email and there is no cost to them. There is a warning – they call it a ‘delivery charge’.

“When I phoned up about it they were so nonchalant about it. They said if I wanted to pick them up in Bournemouth there would be no charges.

“It’s pure money-making, that’s all it seems to be.

“I almost thought of seeing the show in Southampton as it would have been cheaper for the tickets.”

BH Live, which runs the venues, says the charge came into force two years ago.

Pavilion operators BH Live’s postage charges range from £1.50 to £7.50.

A spokesman for BH Live Tickets said: “We introduced print at home approximately 24 months ago to offer customers a faster and more convenient alternative to delivery.

“The £1 print at home levy contributes towards the cost, management and staffing of scanning software used to control event access for print at home tickets.

“As a not-for-profit distributing organisation and charitable trust, any surplus income is reinvested back into providing a comprehensive event programme and safe, convenient, secure ticketing service.”