Key facts
- StubHub UK fined £900,000 for failing to display mandatory extra fees upfront.
- Over 50,000 customers were affected by the hidden fees.
- Customers will receive over £590,000 in refunds, averaging £10 per transaction.
- Mandatory costs like delivery and service fees were added only at checkout.
- The CMA stated that this practice, known as drip pricing, is illegal under consumer law.
StubHub UK has been ordered to pay a £900,000 fine and more than £590,000 in refunds to customers for failing to display mandatory extra fees upfront. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that the ticket reseller engaged in illegal 'drip pricing' by adding costs such as delivery and service fees only at the final checkout stage, impacting over 50,000 fans.
The CMA stated that this practice is unfair and breaks consumer law. StubHub admitted to the infringement and agreed to an early settlement, resulting in a 40% reduction of its financial penalty. The watchdog's action aims to clamp down on illegal online pricing practices, with Emma Cochrane, executive director of consumer protection at the CMA, emphasizing the importance of price transparency.