The UK government is preparing to implement a sweeping ban on the resale of live event tickets for profit, according to recent reports. This significant crackdown aims to protect consumers from mass resellers who use automated bots to purchase tickets in bulk before selling them at inflated prices.
Ending Exploitative Resale Practices
Ministers are expected to unveil plans that will fundamentally change how tickets can be resold for concerts, theatre performances, and other live events. The new regulations will reportedly prohibit reselling tickets above their original face value, though additional charges may still be permitted on top of this baseline price.
This move represents a substantial shift from previous considerations that explored capping resale prices at up to 30% above face value. The decision to implement a complete ban on profit-driven resales follows years of frustration among music and theatre fans who have frequently found themselves unable to secure tickets at reasonable prices.
Wider Crackdown on Consumer Practices
The ticket resale ban forms part of a broader government initiative to strengthen consumer protections. Simultaneously, eight companies are currently under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding their online pricing practices.
The CMA has confirmed it is examining several prominent businesses, including:
- Ticket marketplaces StubHub and Viagogo
- Driving schools AA Driving School and BSM Driving School
- US gym chain Gold's Gym
- Retailers Wayfair, Appliances Direct and Marks Electrical
These investigations mark the first time the watchdog has exercised its new consumer powers, which enable it to determine whether consumer laws have been breached without requiring court proceedings.
Addressing Deceptive Online Tactics
Officials at the CMA have expressed particular concern about several problematic practices that have become increasingly common online. These include drip pricing, where additional costs are revealed gradually during the purchasing process, and misleading countdown timers that create false urgency.
The latter practice is specifically banned under new regulations that came into effect recently. The government's dual approach - targeting both ticket resale exploitation and broader deceptive online practices - demonstrates a comprehensive commitment to consumer rights reform.
While the government has declined to comment on the specific reports regarding ticket resales, the anticipated changes could transform how UK consumers access live events, potentially ending the dominance of professional touts and secondary platforms that have controlled significant portions of ticket inventory for popular events.
