UK Watchdog Investigates StubHub, Viagogo Over Online Pricing
TL;DR
The UK's antitrust watchdog is investigating StubHub and Viagogo among eight businesses for online pricing tactics like drip pricing. This is the first enforcement under new rules to protect shoppers from misleading practices.
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The UK’s antitrust watchdog opened a series of investigations into eight businesses including online ticket vendors StubHub and Viagogo in what is the first set of cases brought under tougher rules intended to protect online shoppers.
The Competition and Markets Authority began multiple probes targeting online sales tactics such as drip pricing and pressure selling, it said in a statement on Tuesday. The regulator said its launched enforcement action against eight business and sent advisory letters to 100 businesses.
Viagogo and Stubhub didn’t immediately reply to emails seeking comment.
Practices that show misleading prices to shoppers or use countdown times are banned under the new CMA rules that came into effect earlier this year.
“This is just the start of our work,” CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell said in the statement. “Any businesses who break consumer law should be in no doubt we will stamp out illegal conduct and protect the interests of consumers and fair-dealing businesses.”