'Shady' ticket resale site Viagogo slammed by MPs for parliament snub

MPs (BSE: MPSLTD.BO - news) have lambasted the controversial online agency Viagogo for snubbing a parliamentary committee into ticket touting.

The Switzerland-based ticket resale site sent an email to the Culture, Media and Sport committee saying it was refusing to send an executive to give evidence to the inquiry.

It is rare for companies to turn down a request to appear at a select committee inquiry and led to a series of excoriating remarks from the MPs in the room.

The SNP's John Nicolson said it showed the "shady nature of their operation", chairman Damian Collins said it was a "considerable disappointment", while Nigel Adams MP said Viagogo made legendary tout Stan Flashman "look like Mother Theresa".

The inquiry is looking at how to tighten up the resale market to end massive mark-up on tickets for concerts and sports events, and how technology has allowed scalping to flourish.

Nigel Huddleston MP cited the example of two tickets for Little Mix with a face value of £45 each, which were on sale online for a total of £1,915.

Ed Sheeran's manager, Stuart Camp, said Viagogo was "lying to the public" by offering a "100% guarantee" on tickets for the singer's sold-out tour.

Promoters warn that buyers who purchase tickets from resale sites could be turned away if they cannot prove they bought them legitimately.

Secondary ticketing mostly falls under the Consumer Rights Act, but is rarely enforced by local authorities who often do not have the resources to effectively police touting.

Last week, the Government said it would crack down on the use of computer software which uses so-called 'bots' to 'harvest' tickets and then sell them at inflated prices.

MPs are looking at how to regulate the market without crushing legitimate resale sites, such as Twickets, which only apply a nominal charge to the face value.

Viagogo did not respond to a request for comment from Sky News.