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CMA prepares legal action against Viagogo

“All UK music fans should avoid this site” says FanFair Alliance, as UK competition authority CMA announces legal action against the secondary ticketing platform

By Anna Grace on 05 Mar 2019

CMA prepares legal action against Viagogo

FanFair Alliance


image © Kirsten Holst

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has publicly warned secondary ticketing site Viagogo that it is still not compliant with terms of a court order served in November 2018.

The British competition authority is preparing legal action against secondary ticketing platform Viagogo, to find the company in contempt.

“Although some improvements have been made since we first demanded action to address areas of non-compliance, further checks have shown there are still issues of concern,” the competition authority said in a statement.

CMA took Viagogo to the High Court in August, after the secondary ticketing website ignored multiple demands to comply with consumer law. Viagogo later agreed to comply with the competition watchdog’s demands, including providing face value tickets and ending speculative listings.

“Although some improvements have been made, further checks have shown there are still issues of concern”

Following the January deadline for the implementation of these measures, CMA remained dissatisfied with Viagogo’s efforts, stating that any necessary changes needed to be made without delay, otherwise court action would ensue.

Anti-touting group FanFair Alliance “welcomes” CMA’s announcement. “We also share concerns about Viagogo’s compliance with its court order, and that the site continues to facilitate large-scale breaches of consumer law,” says campaign manager Adam Webb. “All UK music fans should avoid this site.”

Viagogo has been the point of much controversy, including multiple lawsuits in Europe and Australasia, Google’s AdWords overhaul, a raid on its UK offices and a criminal complaint from Uefa. After years of silence, the notoriously reclusive secondary ticketing platform has recently resumed contact with the press.

 


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