Consumer Framework Calls for Crackdown on ‘Mind-Boggling’ Surcharges on Major Ticketing Sites
Live music enthusiasts are being wasted due to a series of “sneaky” fees that can increase up to 25% of the value of concert and festival tickets, according to a customer organisation Which?found.
As bookings open for major summer concerts, the lobbying organisation has called for a crackdown on the “mind-boggling” extra fees imposed through some of the UK’s biggest ticketing sites.
The report comes days after Labour leader Keir Starmer said his party would limit ticket resale costs and tighten regulation of resale platforms if it wins the next general election.
Which one? They looked at fees charged through five “major” ticketing agencies: Ticketmaster, See Tickets, AXS, Eventim, and ticketing app Dice.
Ticketing sites include some fees in the initial value and mention that more fees will be added, but the final value is not revealed until later in the checkout process. This practice is known as “drip pricing. “
When they attended a performance by singer-songwriter Anne-Marie at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena last November, researchers from Which?discovered £45 worth tickets on Eventim and Ticketmaster; However, in both cases, the additional fees brought the final value to more than £55.
Eventim charged a processing fee of £1. 50, a delivery and transaction payment of £2. 50, a booking payment of £5. 62 and an on-site tax of £1. 75, bringing the total price ticket charge to £56. 37. Ticketmaster charged a service fee of £6. 10, a set-up fee of £1. 75 and an order processing fee of £2. 75, meaning a final charge of £55. 60.
It’s a similar story when researchers looked at prices for an upcoming concert by pop band Busted that will take place on August 23 at Dreamland in Margate, Kent. Tickets have a nominal price of £49. 50.
On See Tickets, a booking payment of £7. 55 for a single ticket, an e-ticket/fulfilment payment of £1. 50 and an order processing payment of £1 brought the value up to £59. 55. Eventim imposed a booking fee of £4. 95. , an e-ticket payment of £2. 50 and a processing fee of £1. 50, resulting in a final value of £58. 45.
Dice had the clearest pricing policy, the customer advocacy framework said. His additional one-off payment of £6. 05 for the Busted gig was added to the face value on the first page that customers found, bringing up the full and final value of £55. 55.
Rocío Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which?, criticised “these underhanded trickle-down pricing tactics”, adding: “It’s no wonder music enthusiasts feel like they’re being taken for a ride. “
Sign up to do business today
Get ready for the workday – we’ll bring you all the economic news and research you want every morning.
After the Newsletter
However, the organization said the upcoming law would provide more clarity to citizens. The bill on digital markets, competition and consumers, which is expected to get royal approval in the coming weeks, is expected to state that any fees that consumers “necessarily incur” would obviously have to be at the initial global price.
Ticketmaster said, “Fees are set and shared with our customers. . . who invest all their skills, resources, and capital to get an opportunity off the ground. Ticketmaster supports the law requiring all-inclusive pricing across the industry.
Eventim said that on its UK website, “all mandatory payments are analysed on the first page of the booking process, and nothing is added that the visitor has not been informed of from the start”. payment and payment processing, he added, adding: “Even e-tickets generate real prices due to the generation and body of workers deployed at events. “
AXS said that “being transparent about payments is vital for us” and that all data about payments can be discovered on its online page. Dice said that with his app, “fans see the full value beforehand and there are no nasty surprises in the moment. “end. ” See Tickets did not respond to requests for comment, however, their online page states that the payment for their transaction covers the charge of processing the order and the delivery or generation of the tickets, while the payment for their reservation covers the charge of offering a 24/7 reservation. service, as well as other charges.