Ticket firms operating in the Netherlands will be fined for adding fees and sundries to quoted prices from later this year.
ACM, the Dutch authority for consumers and markets, has announced that all mandatory costs must be included in the base price from October 1.
The ACM decided on the measure after receiving a number of complaints about surprise charges and so-called hidden fees on tickets for events in the Netherlands, according to the Telegraaf newspaper.
The ACM pointed to some cases where ticket prices were eventually 20 per cent more expensive than advertised when all charges were added.
“During the booking process, consumers should not be faced with additional costs that they have to pay,” said Bernadette van Buchem, the ACM’s consumer director told the Telegraaf. “Clear prices are not only important for consumers, but also for entrepreneurs who compete with each other.”
The move mirrors similar regulations to cover the sale of airline tickets, holidays and cars online in the Netherlands. In 2015 online travel agency Corendon was hit with a €350m (£308m/$400m) fine for two breaches of the rules, though the company is appealing against the decision.
IMAGE: DavidRockDesign
Share this