Don’t buy tickets from Viagogo or you’ll pay for it, warns minister

THE Digital Minister has urged consumers to boycott ticketing website Viagogo after it was shamed by regulators for failing to make ticket prices clear. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Margot James said to consumers using secondary ticketing websites: “Don’t choose Viagogo – they are the worst.”

Hours after the comments were made, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announced it had referred Viagogo to National Trading Standards for failing to change misleading prices.

The authority had previously shamed the website for breaking advertising rules by failing to tell consumers about “hidden” fees which significantly push up the total cost of event tickets. It ordered Viagogo to stop the practice and update its website to make the additional fees clear to customers by May 26. However, it has failed to meet the demand.

Guy Parker, the Advertising Standards Authority chief executive, said: “Viagogo was given clear warning and handed the opportunity to play fair with consumers by removing misleading pricing information from its website. Its failure to do so means it will now face the consequences.

“Where an advertiser or business is unwilling or unable to follow the advertising rules, we will act. In light of Viagogo’s inability to get its house in order, we’re referring it to National Trading Standards to consider appropriate action.” In recent months Viagogo has come under fire from singers and entertainers seeking to protect fans from being ripped off by hidden charges. Ed Sheeran, the singer-songwriter, recently cancelled 10,000 tickets for his tour because they had been bought through Viagogo.

It is thought that Viagogo could be punished for breaching advertising rules by having its listings pulled from search engines such as Google.

Secondary ticket websites sell seats to concerts and events which are being sold by other consumers who no longer want the tickets, or wish to sell them for a profit. As part of its investigation, the ASA also asked three other major secondary ticketing websites – Stubhub, Seatwave and Getmein – to stop making tickets look cheaper by adding VAT, booking and delivery fees at the end of the booking process.

Alex Neill, the Which? managing director of home products and services, said: “We have repeatedly exposed secondary ticketing websites, including Viagogo, for playing fast and loose with the rules, so it’s absolutely right that the ASA has stepped in to ensure people aren’t getting a raw deal.”

Viagogo has been contacted for comment.