The government is taking decisive action to protect event-goers from excessive ticket prices.
Starting April 2018, new regulations will ensure greater transparency in ticket resale, providing consumers with essential information to make informed purchases.
New Information Requirements
From April 2018, ticket resellers will be required to provide more detailed information about the tickets they are selling. This includes the specific location of seats, any restrictions that might apply, and the original price of the ticket. This additional information is designed to ensure that buyers know exactly what they are purchasing.
For the first time, resellers will also need to supply the unique ticket number (UTN) if it has been specified by the event organiser or primary seller. This will help in identifying the exact seat or standing location of the ticket.
Government’s Stance on Ticket Touting
Consumer Minister Andrew Griffiths noted that too often, people feel ripped off when buying tickets from resale websites. The new rules aim to curb these practices and ensure fair pricing for event-goers.
Griffiths stated, “We are already taking steps to crack down on touts using ‘bots’ to bulk buy tickets for resale and the CMA is investigating suspected breaches of consumer protection law online.”
The government is committed to making it easier for consumers to understand what they are purchasing, helping them avoid inflated ticket prices.
Support from Digital and Creative Industries
Margot James, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, expressed her support for the new measures. She emphasised the importance of ensuring that real fans have the opportunity to see their favourite stars at a fair price.
James added, “That is why we are clamping down on touts using bots to buy huge numbers of tickets, only to sell them on at rip-off prices.”
The government’s published guidance demonstrates its commitment to improving conditions for consumers in the secondary market.
Role of the Competition and Markets Authority
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will play a crucial role in enforcing these new regulations. They will take action against secondary ticketing websites that are suspected of breaking consumer protection laws. The CMA’s involvement is a key component in ensuring these new regulations are effective.
Enforcement of these rules will include actions against websites and individuals who fail to comply, ensuring that the market becomes more transparent and fair for consumers.
Advertising Standards and Secondary Ticketing
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is also stepping up its efforts to regulate the secondary ticketing market. They are investigating whether secondary ticketing websites have broken advertising rules.
The ASA aims to ensure that all advertisements provide clear and honest information about the tickets being sold. This initiative is part of a broader effort to protect consumers from deceptive practices in the ticket resale market.
These actions by the ASA will further complement the government’s new rules, creating a more comprehensive framework for consumer protection.
Google’s New Certification Requirements
As of February 7, Google has implemented new certification requirements for ticket resellers who wish to advertise through its AdWords service. This move is intended to ensure that only legitimate resellers can promote their tickets on Google’s platform.
Ticket resellers will need to become certified before they can advertise, adding another layer of consumer protection. This measure is expected to reduce the number of fraudulent or misleading ticket advertisements that consumers encounter online.
Impact on Consumers and the Market
The introduction of these new rules is expected to have a significant impact on both consumers and the ticket resale market. Consumers will benefit from increased transparency and fairness when purchasing tickets.
With stricter regulations and enforcement, it is anticipated that ticket prices will become more stable and fair, reducing the instances of price gouging and exploitation.
These changes aim to foster a more trustworthy and reliable secondary ticketing market, ultimately benefiting all parties involved in the purchase and sale of event tickets.
The implementation of these new rules marks a substantial step forward in protecting consumers from unfair ticket resale practices.
By enhancing transparency and enforcing stricter regulations, the government aims to create a fairer and more equitable market for event-goers.
