Max SteventonThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a UK competitions watchdog, is threatening legal action against Ticketmaster for the way they sold Oasis tickets on its site after the band announced a reunion last year.
Ticketmaster, according to the CMA, misled fans due to its dynamic pricing which caused the original ticket prices to increase significantly as demand went up. Prices climbed as much as £200 in some cases.
The CMA first launched an investigation in September 2024. The UK watchdog sought to investigate whether Ticketmaster breached consumer protection laws. The investigation included whether “customers were given clear and timely information” on its dynamic pricing, and if “people were put under pressure.”
Since the initial investigation, the CMA has now threatened to take Ticketmaster to court. A letter from the CMA to the Business Trade Committee in June outlined several pitfalls of the ticketing process. In particular, “Labelling certain seated tickets as ‘platinum’ and selling them for near 2.5 times the price of equivalent standard tickets.”
The platinum tickets, according to the CMA, offered no extra benefits and were frequently located in the same place as standard tickets.
These factors have ultimately led to the prospect of litigation. CMA confirmed in the letter: “The CMA has written to Ticketmaster to confirm that it has now discharged its obligation to consult with Ticketmaster and, given that no undertakings have been offered or agreed, is now preparing to litigate the matter if necessary.”
Which? consumer law expert Lisa Webb commented, “It’s crucial that the CMA acts quickly to send a clear signal that any possible breaches of the law won’t be tolerated. Too much harm has already been done to fans who paid over the odds last year.”
Ticketmaster is yet to comment on CMA’s legal threat.