News

Secondary Ticket Sites Routinely Break The Law According To New Report

• 25th May 2016

Some of the UK’s biggest secondary ticketing sites are still operating unlawfully, a new Which? research project has found. The consumer rights organisation found numerous examples of tickets being sold in breach of the Consumer Rights Act, which came into force in October 2015.

Currently, UK law specifically states that customers must be made aware of the original face value of the tickets, any restrictions and, where appropriate, standing or seating information such as block, row and seat numbers. Despite these legal requirements, Which? found examples where customers were left without key information, including row and seat numbers, and the original face value of the ticket, on websites including GetMeIn!, Seatwave, StubHub and Viagogo.

The findings come ahead of the government’s independent review of the secondary ticketing market, due to report by 26 May. In light of this evidence, Which? is calling on the government to use its forthcoming report to clarify that it is the secondary ticketing sites, not consumers, who are responsible for ensuring listings comply with the Consumer Rights Act, and to take action to enforce the law where clear breaches are found.

Which? director of policy and campaigns Alex Neill said:

“We’ve found evidence of tickets being sold unlawfully. This means people will struggle to find basic information on tickets, such as face value and seat location.

“It is clear the protections put in place by the Consumer Rights Act aren’t being followed by some of the biggest players in the market, and no action is being taken against them.

“The government must crack down on bad practice so that people know what they’re buying and don’t get ripped off.”

When approached for comment, StubHub insisted that all sellers who list tickets on its site must comply with applicable laws and regulations. It added:

“There are instances where sellers may not have access to this information at the time of listing, as some primary vendors do not provide this at the time of purchase.”

GetMeIn!, Seatwave and Viago declined to comment on the findings.