Ticketmaster has agreed to address concerns about misleading pricing practices after the controversy surrounding the Oasis reunion tour. Campaigners are calling for refunds for fans who they believe were overcharged.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) revealed that it had obtained formal commitments from Ticketmaster following an investigation triggered by the uproar over the sale of tickets for the highly anticipated Oasis tour last year. Many fans reported encountering significantly higher prices than initially advertised after waiting for hours in online queues, with examples of tickets increasing from £148 to £355 upon release.
The CMA highlighted several key issues, including Ticketmaster’s failure to inform fans in long queues that standing tickets were being sold at different prices and that prices would rise once cheaper tickets were sold out. Additionally, concerns were raised about the sale of “platinum” tickets at nearly 2.5 times the price of standard tickets without clear benefits outlined.
As part of the agreement with the CMA, Ticketmaster will enhance transparency in pricing for customers. The company will now notify fans 24 hours in advance if a tiered pricing system is in place and provide clear descriptions of ticket benefits to avoid confusion over ticket quality.
Furthermore, Ticketmaster will now disclose the range of ticket prices to customers waiting in online queues and provide updates when cheaper tickets are no longer available. The company has also committed to avoiding deceptive ticket labels that could mislead consumers about ticket quality.
The CMA investigation also explored the use of “dynamic” pricing by Ticketmaster but found no evidence of this practice during the Oasis ticket sale. The CMA emphasized the importance of clear and accurate information for fans making ticket purchases.
In response to the developments, Ticketmaster stated that it welcomes the CMA’s confirmation that no dynamic pricing or unfair practices were identified. The company is voluntarily implementing clearer communication on ticket prices during queues to enhance the customer experience.
Despite these changes, some consumer advocates, including Lisa Webb from Which?, expressed disappointment that the CMA did not push for refunds for fans who may have paid more than the face value for Oasis tickets. They stressed the need for stronger enforcement of consumer laws to prevent such incidents in the future.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy acknowledged the significance of the Oasis tour and commended Ticketmaster’s efforts to improve pricing transparency. The government is also exploring additional protections for consumers in ticket resales to address unfair practices in the industry.