UK opens investigation into Ticketmaster over Oasis concert prices

The UK’s competition watchdog launched an investigation on Thursday (5) against Ticketmaster over the sale of Oasis concert tickets, including the use of “dynamic pricing” to increase costs for UK fans at the last minute.

Thousands of fans waited hours in virtual queues last weekend for tickets to the British band’s summer reunion shows, only to find that prices had been hiked under a “dynamic pricing” plan.

Read also: Oasis could earn R$2 billion from reunions, much more than they made from shows in the 1990s

Many thought they would pay the advertised fee of £148.50 (R$1,095), but ended up paying more than double that, £355.20 (R$2,615).

The Competition and Markets Authority said it was examining whether the sale of tickets for the Oasis show by Ticketmaster, the event’s official partner, may breach consumer protection law.

The body said it would examine whether Ticketmaster engaged in “unfair commercial practices”, whether fans were given “clear and timely” information explaining that tickets could be subject to “dynamic pricing” and whether people were pressured to buy tickets in a short period of time.

The authority said Ticketmaster should not be assumed to have violated consumer protection laws. As part of the investigation, fans are being asked to provide evidence of their experiences.

Ticketmaster did not respond to a request from Reuters Comment on the investigation at the beginning.

In a statement issued to PA Media and cited by BBCOasis said decisions regarding tickets and pricing rest with the promoters. The band said Oasis was “at no time aware that dynamic pricing would be used” in ticket sales for the initial dates.