UK consumer rights and entertainment leaders have been invited to give evidence on dynamic pricing at a Parliamentary hearing today (Tuesday).
Related to the Business and Trade Committee’s (BTC) ‘Rip-off Britain: Dynamic pricing and consumer protection’ inquiry, experts were quizzed about the impact of the controversial model on events and consumers.
Ticketmaster was represented at the oral evidence session by the group’s UK managing director Andrew Parsons, who initially declined an invitation to attend. Parsons told the committee that the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into the Oasis on-sale meant he would not be able to cooperate at this time. However, Parsons and Ticketmaster appeared to change their mind on this and attended the session.
Others quizzed included Anne Pardoe, interim head of policy at Citizens Advice; Sue Davies, head of consumer rights and food policy at Which?; Allen Simpson, deputy chief executive at UKHospitality; and Tom Greatrex, who is chair of the Football Supporters Association.
The session was focused on the use of dynamic pricing, and other forms of variable pricing by businesses, and consumer protection. Dynamic pricing sees the cost of tickets rise and fall in line with demand. The Oasis on-sale drew criticism over the practice from fans, as prices for tickets that originally started at £135 (€160/$180) rose to more than £350.
Why Ticketmaster’s Parsons initially declined invitation
This also led to the country’s CMA watchdog launching an investigation into Ticketmaster’s Oasis on-sale, which forms a large part of the reason for Ticketmaster originally declining to attend the oral evidence session.
Member of Parliament (MP) Liam Byrne, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee, initially wrote to Ticketmaster UK’s managing director Parsons to invite the ticketing business to attend the oral evidence session.
In response to Byrne’s letter at the time, Parsons wrote: “As you note in your letter, Ticketmaster is currently the subject of an investigation by the CMA into whether dynamic pricing was used in the sale of Oasis tickets. Given the centrality of dynamic pricing to your call for evidence, members will understandably wish to ask questions about the topic. However, while the CMA’s investigation is ongoing, we have been advised that we would not be able to assist the Committee in the way we or your Committee would expect during an oral evidence session.
“We understand that the CMA has agreed to attend but note that they are not the subject of an investigation. They are also conducting a broader study on dynamic pricing across the economy, allowing them to contribute from a wider perspective.”
These letters were sent on January 27 and 29, respectively, while a press release from the government on Ticketmaster’s refusal to attend was published on January 30.
However, a look at the Committee’s ‘4 February 2025 – Rip-off Britain: Dynamic pricing and consumer protection – Oral evidence’ today confirmed that Parsons would be in attendance.
TheTicketingBusiness had reached out to Ticketmaster to clarify Parsons’ attendance prior to the session, but did not hear back.
Last year, the UK Government announced that it would look into the use of dynamic pricing in concert ticket sales following the Oasis onsale.
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