A marketplace involved in the controversial sale of gig and event tickets on what is called the “secondary market” will be subject to more regulation after a court ruling. Legal proceedings launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in August over concerns that viagogo was breaking consumer protection law have come to fruition.
According to the CMA, which launched an investigation in August, the court has agreed to make a legally binding order instructing viagogo to comply with the law by:
- telling purchasers of tickets if there is a risk that they will be turned away at the door
- informing customers which seat in the venue they will get
- providing information about who is selling the ticket, so people can benefit from enhanced legal rights when buying from a business
- not giving misleading information about the availability and popularity of tickets – which had the potential to lead to customers being rushed into making a buying decision or making the wrong choice
- making it easy for people to get their money back under viagogo’s guarantee when things go wrong
- preventing the sale of tickets a seller does not own and may not be able to supply
This court order is a victory for anyone who decides to buy a ticket through viagogo. We have been clear throughout our investigation that people who use these resale websites must know key facts before parting with their hard-earned money, including what seat they will get and whether there is a risk they might not actually get into the event at all. viagogo has agreed to a comprehensive overhaul of its site to ensure it respects the law, just like the other resale sites who have already signed commitments to improve the information they offer and give people a fair deal.
– Andrea Coscelli, Chief Executive Officer, CMA
