Oasis fiasco prompts UK Ticketmaster probe

LONDON — Britain’s competition watchdog launched an investigation Thursday into Ticketmaster’s practices after fans complained of being charged over the odds for tickets to the Oasis reunion tour.
Fans of the ‘90s Britpop rockers reported seeing prices soar as they waited for hours in online queues on Saturday.
The unexpectedly high prices — which meant some tickets went for £350 rather than the £135 originally advertised — have been attributed to Ticketmaster’s use of “dynamic pricing”, whereby prices are adjusted based on demand.
Dynamic pricing is not illegal, but the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it would look at whether Ticketmaster breached consumer protection laws by not giving people clear information about how tickets would be priced.
The regulator has set up a website for Oasis fans to share their experiences. It is also likely to talk to Oasis’ management and tour organizers as part of the investigation.
Separately, ministers on Monday said the government would consider dynamic pricing as part of an already-planned review of ticket sales and consumer protection.
Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said:  “It’s important that fans are treated fairly when they buy tickets, which is why we’ve launched this investigation. It’s clear that many people felt they had a bad experience and were surprised by the price of their tickets at check-out.”
“The CMA also welcomes the government’s recent announcement that it will consult on measures to provide stronger protections to consumers in the ticketing sector, wherever they buy their tickets,” she added.
Ticketmaster has been contacted for comment.