UK competition watchdog opens investigation into Ticketmaster after Oasis ticket scandal

The UK’s competition watchdog has launched an official investigation after tickets for Oasis’ reunion show went on sale last weekend. The Competition and Markets Authority said they would violate the consumer law.

Dynamic pricing involves a business that adjusts prices based on changing market conditions, such as demand. Airlines are among those using the model.

Some Oasis fans desperately trying to get tickets for the band’s first shows in 16 years waited hours in visible Ticketmaster lines. When they were finally able to buy tickets, some found that they were two or three times more expensive than they expected due to price fluctuations. Since Ticketmaster often gives customers a few times to complete the purchase after the tickets are in the cart, fans were faced with making a snap decision about paying more than they expected.

The CMA will look at the pressure of that ticking clock on consumers’ purchasing decisions. It will also try to determine whether Ticketmaster engaged in “unfair trading practices” prohibited under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Act 2008. In addition, the watchdog will investigate whether customers were given “clear and timely information to explain that tickets are subject to so-called ‘flexible pricing’ and prices change depending on demand, and how this will work, including the price they would pay for any tickets purchased.”

The CMA notes that although variable pricing is inherently illegal under UK law, ticketing platforms must be transparent to customers, and provide clear and accurate information about how much they need to pay. The watchdog said the practice could breach consumer protection or competition law in certain circumstances.

Oasis criticized the use of variable pricing for the band’s long-awaited reunion gigs. “It must be clarified that Oasis leaves the decisions to buy tickets and prices to its promoters and managers,” said the group’s statement. It says it has no “knowledge that dynamic values ​​will be used.” Some high-profile artists – including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and The Cure – have opted out of using dynamic pricing for recent shows.

Following the Oasis ticket craze, the UK government took part in a consultation on the secondary ticket market this autumn. In the US, the Department of Justice and several state and district attorneys have filed antitrust suits in a bid to . They say it’s taking over the live entertainment industry. Ticketmaster was also the victim of a cyber attack this year where hackers obtained the personal information of 560 million customers.