Ticketmaster may have violated consumer protection laws

The UK’s Consumer Markets Authority (CMA) has provided an update into its investigation of Ticketmaster after the sale of Oasis reunion tour tickets resulted in grossly inflated ticket prices and numerous consumer complaints. The CMA said that the results of the investigation warranted, “consulting with the ticketing platform on changes to ensure fans receive the right information, at the right time.” Of concern to the CMA was Ticketmaster’s labeling and information practices. In its update, the CMA stated that Ticketmaster designated certain tickets as “platinum,” selling them at more than twice the standard price without adequately informing consumers that the increased price did not correspond to better seats or other perks. The CMA also took issue with Ticketmaster’s handling of standing room tickets. It explained that the company sold off a cheaper category of standing ticket first then surprised buyers waiting in extensive online queues with a more expensive ticket. According to the CMA, it is working with Ticketmaster to ensure this doesn’t happen again. “We’re concerned that Oasis fans didn’t get the information they needed or may have been misled into buying tickets they thought were better than they were,” said Hayley Fletcher, interim senior director of consumer protection. “We now expect Ticketmaster to work with us to address these concerns so, in future, fans can make well-informed decisions when buying tickets.”