Ticket re-sale site Viagogo is being taken to court after failing to introduce fair terms for customers
Court proceedings have been issued against Viagogo by the competition watchdog over its dodgy ticket sales practices
Viagogo is being taken to court for a catalogue of breaches of consumer rights.
The ticketing website was warned last year by the consumer watchdog to clean up its act or face court – but it has failed to do so.
The announcement comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) warned Viagogo earlier this year to change its practices or face legal action.
The warning came after the watchdog launched an investigation into the four major ticketing websites last year.
As a result of this probe, GETMEIN!, Seatwave and StubHub all agreed to change they way they do business.
But despite warnings, Vivagogo has failed to make the changes needed to bring it into line with the law.
WATCHDOG CHARGES AGAINST VIAGOGO
The consumer watchdog is concerned that Viagogo is breaking consumer law with a laundry list of complaints including:
- Not telling customers there is a risk that they will be turned away at the door.
- Not informing customers which seat in the venue they will get.
- Not telling customers who is selling the ticket, so that they can benefit from enhanced legal rights when buying from a business.
- Given misleading information to customers about the availability and popularity of tickets – which has the potential to lead to them being rushed into making a buying decision or making the wrong choice.
- Customers experiencing difficulties in getting their money back under Viagogo’s guarantee when things go wrong.
- Offering tickets for sale that a seller does not own and may not be able to supply.
So the watchdog is now seeking a court order from the High Court to bring an end to its dodgy ticketing practices.
In the interim, it is also seeking a temporary enforcement order from the court to prevent some of Viagogo’s practices until the full trial.
Andrea Coscelli, chief executive officer of the CMA, said: “People who buy tickets on websites such as Viagogo must be given all the information they are entitled to.
“It’s imperative they know key facts, including what seat they will get and whether there is a risk they might not actually get into the event, before parting with their hard-earned money.
“This applies to Viagogo as much as it does to any other secondary ticketing website.
“Unfortunately, while other businesses have agreed to overhaul their sites to ensure they respect the law, Viagogo has not.
“We will now be pursuing action through the courts to ensure that they comply with the law.”
A spokesperson for Viagogo said: “Having worked closely with the CMA for some time, we are disappointed with the announcement of formal action today.
“However we respect the CMA’s intentions and remain committed to reaching resolution through the legal process.”
The secondhand ticketing marketplace has been beleaguered with problems.
The Sun’s own Rod Liddle bought tickets on Viagogo that were advertised for £80 each, but when he went to the checkout he was charged £250.
Tickets for Arctic Monkeys upcoming tour, meanwhile, sold out in 60 seconds, and then reappeared online for 30 times their face value.
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