Actually we are doing quite a bit:

1)     We have made major changes to the Events rating system, now you can search our events database from your members pages and lookup, search for any event  / organiser in the UK (currently we have over 2000 events and 2500 organisers) and checkout their pedigree, leave comments as well as rate it for performance and organisation. Obviously this is going to build over time, and it will only work if you all contribute to the greater good, if you all say its a good event I’m keeping that one to myself then, our attitude to that is 'what goes around comes around' and don't come crying to us when it’s your turn to get a bad one. 

2)     We are talking to insurers about setting up a scheme to insure traders against deliberate fraud by an organiser, this is obviously going to have some major restrictions on it, as we all know it would be wide open to fraud. We are looking into the possibilities so as to at least get rents back, maybe even if the weather writes off the event.
 Almost certainly this would mean that there has to be a written contract between the caterer and the organiser which should be the case anyway

3)     We have become a members of the Events Industry Forum which is which is the talking shop and communication system back to the government for the events industry and this whole problem is on the agenda at the next meeting in October

4)     We are attempting set up a dialogue with all the event licensing departments in the country to enable us to establish an enquiry system as to whether an event has gone through the motions of a) applying for a license or b) been granted a license. This is the first warning sign to a suspect bad or fraudulent event

What you need to be doing – we can only help you if you help us and others

1)     Input everything you know about an event into the system, so we build the data as fast as possible to benefit all members, as well as you

2)     Never agree to go to an event without a written contract

3)     Never pay all the money up front unless you are within a month of the event

4)     Get as much information as you can on the event

c)     Free or ticketed

d)     Web site

e)     Contact number

f)      Contact email

Add these to the events system as a new event if it’s not already in there or as additional info if it’s existing.

5)     Always ask if a license has been applied for or granted and get the licensing officers contact details e.g. persons name, local authority name and telephone number  then add this to the event rating system and send us an email and we will contact them for you and email you back with the results. If they won’t give you this information than it’s a good indicator that there is a problem.

6)     Ask if they have cancellation and abandonment insurance