Arabic version: تم تغريم StubHub بمبلغ 900,000 جنيه إسترليني بسبب الرسوم المخفية، وأُمر برد أموال العملاء

Ticket reseller StubHub UK has been ordered to refund more than 50,000 customers and pay a £900,000 fine for not showing people the total price upfront when buying tickets. Each customer is expected to receive £10 on average per transaction, following an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). According to BBC News, the CMA found that StubHub was not transparent about additional costs such as delivery and service fees, which were only revealed at the final checkout stage.

Emma Cochrane, executive director of consumer protection at the CMA, emphasized that hitting customers with hidden fees is illegal and unfair to consumers. The investigation revealed that customers were lured in by seemingly low prices, only to be confronted with higher costs during the purchasing process. The CMA noted that StubHub UK admitted to breaking the law, which led to a 40% reduction in its financial penalty.

The CMA’s actions come as part of a broader review of online pricing practices, specifically targeting drip pricing, which was banned last year. This practice misleads customers by introducing additional fees late in the buying process, creating an illusion of lower prices.

In addition to StubHub, the CMA is investigating several other companies, including Viagogo and various driving schools, for similar pricing issues. The regulator now possesses enhanced powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, allowing it to tackle anti-competitive behavior more effectively and enforce consumer rights without going through the courts.

As part of its ongoing efforts, the CMA aims to ensure transparency in pricing across various sectors, reinforcing that businesses must openly communicate all costs to avoid penalties and protect consumer interests.