CAUGHT TOUT STUB OUT THE TOUTS
OUTRAGE AT FAILURE TO OBEY COURT
BOSSES of Viagogo face being charged with contempt of court after the rogue ticket firm failed to comply with an order to finally conform to UK law.
The Competition and Markets Authority is under huge pressure to take real action against the company after the order it won at the High Court in London in November was largely ignored.
The failure to meet the deadline of midnight on Thursday for a detailed raft of measures has also led to calls for the firm to be shut down.
Viagogo claims it is fully compliant with the order, but bosses barely tinkered with the website and ignored most major concerns.
Tickets are still being sold
without proper details of business sellers. Seat numbers are still not being detailed, and pressure tactics are still being applied to rush people into buying tickets.
MP Pete Wishart, who has led Commons debates on touts, urged the CMA to fast-track any action against Viagogo. He said: “This company has shown utter contempt for customers, for Government and for UK law.
“They have run out of chances. It is time for the appropriate court to determine what penalties should be applied.”
Ticketing investigator Reg Walker is furious that no action has been taken against Viagogo, despite more than two years of breaches of laws such as the Consumer Rights Act.
He said: “These latest false and misleading statements by Viagogo in relation to compliance with the law and the validity of tickets show nothing but contempt for victims, consumers, legislators and the law of the land.
“They obviously view the Competition and Markets Authority as a toothless tiger.
“If Viagogo fails to meet the compliance deadline the CMA should take immediate steps to prosecute the directors of the company, and prevent it from operating in the UK in order to protect consumers.
“They have had nine months to comply with consumer protection legislation, have singularly failed to do so, and yet are crowing that they are compliant in some sad, deluded PR exercise
“Is law enforcement in the UK so weak that we allow big business to carry on committing offences with total disregard for the law of the land? It’s time for Viagogo to go.”
Pressure group FanFair Alliance called for the CMA to act fast, and for all music and sports fans to boycott the site. It said: “As of this morning, Viagogo was under strict instructions to overhaul its business practices.
“Based on our findings today, they have failed to do this. Although a few minor changes have been implemented, some of which may add even more confusion for consumers, we would be astonished if the site is compliant with the order.
“FanFair Alliance urges all music fans to avoid Viagogo. Its practices are an affront to audiences, artists and the law. We feel the CMA must now step up and take urgent action.”
The CMA pledged “rapid action” over any failure to comply, but admits it could take months for an independent adjudicator to formally lay down the reasons for any default of the court order.
It said: “We are now undertaking our own checks of Viagogo, and if we find breaches of the court order we will not hesitate to take action. This could include rapid action through the courts.”