StubHub UK fined nearly £900,000 over hidden ticket fees
6 reported
The UK competition watchdog has fined StubHub UK nearly £900,000 and ordered it to refund more than 50,000 customers for not showing the full ticket price at the time of booking, a practice known as “drip pricing.” The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said StubHub must issue refunds exceeding £590,000 to customers who had a “hidden fee” added at the end of the online ticket buying process. The average refund for the 51,350 customers identified was about £10.33 per transaction. The CMA also fined StubHub £889,200 for infringing consumer protection law. The penalty included a 40% reduction because StubHub admitted breaking the law and chose to settle the case. The CMA’s investigation into rival reseller Viagogo UK is continuing, and the watchdog is also investigating Gold’s Gym and homeware retailers Wayfair, Appliances Direct, and Marks Electrical over separate pricing practices.
What’s reported
StubHub UK was fined £889,200 and ordered to refund over £590,000 to customers.
The CMA identified 51,350 customers affected, with an average hidden fee of about £10.33 per transaction.
The hidden fees were mandatory costs such as delivery and service fees added at the final checkout stage, not shown at the start.
The penalty included a 40% reduction because StubHub admitted breaking the law and chose to settle.
The CMA’s investigation into Viagogo UK is continuing, with an update expected in the summer.
The CMA is also investigating Gold’s Gym, Wayfair, Appliances Direct, and Marks Electrical over other pricing practices.
Key figures
Emma Cochrane, executive director of consumer protection at the CMA
Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at consumer group Which?
Sources: The Guardian
