Yahoo News Investigation launched into Ticketmaster's Oasis ticket sales over dynamic pricing concerns
The competition watchdog has kicked off a probe into Ticketmaster's handling of ticket sales for an Oasis concert, the authority confirmed.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to delve into the use of 'dynamic pricing' during the sale and will examine if Ticketmaster's actions could have violated consumer protection laws.
The investigation aims to determine if Ticketmaster resorted to unfair commercial practices, whether customers were adequately informed in a clear and timely manner about potential 'dynamic pricing', and if consumers felt pressured to purchase tickets quickly, often at prices higher than anticipated.
The CMA plans to liaise with Ticketmaster and seek evidence from various parties, potentially including the band's management and event organisers. However, the CMA has cautioned against jumping to conclusions that Ticketmaster has indeed flouted consumer protection law.
CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell commented: "It's important that fans are treated fairly when they buy tickets, which is why we've launched this investigation." She added, "It's clear that many people felt they had a bad experience and were surprised by the price of their tickets at check-out."
Cardell also expressed a desire to hear from fans who might have faced issues during the purchasing process, to ascertain if there has been any breach of existing consumer protection law.
"The CMA also welcomes the government's recent announcement that it will consult on measures to provide stronger protections to consumers in the ticketing sector, wherever they buy their tickets."
"This has been a priority focus for the CMA for several years, having previously taken enforcement action and recommended changes to improve the secondary tickets market. We are committed to working closely with government to tackle the longstanding challenges in the ticket market."
