StubHub Fined $1.5 Million for Hidden Ticket Fees
The Competition and Markets Authority orders the ticket reseller to refund over 50,000 customers and pay a substantial fine for drip pricing practices.
StubHub UK has been ordered to refund over 50,000 customers a total of £590,000 and pay a fine of nearly £900,000 for employing drip pricing tactics, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The total action against the ticket reseller amounts to approximately £1.5 million.
The CMA found that StubHub UK failed to display the total price of tickets upfront, a requirement mandated by law. Instead, mandatory fees such as delivery and service charges were added at the checkout stage of the purchasing process. This practice, known as drip pricing, can mislead consumers into believing a product is cheaper than it truly is, potentially leading them to purchase tickets they might not have otherwise considered.
The investigation by the CMA revealed that between April 6 and December 7, 2025, certain customers buying tickets for music concerts and sporting events through StubHub UK encountered these unavoidable, mandatory costs only at the final checkout. The average refund per transaction is expected to be just over £10.
Emma Cochrane, executive director of consumer protection at the CMA, stated that imposing hidden fees is illegal. "It's not fair to draw people in with what looks like a good deal, only for them to find the real price is higher when they get to the checkout due to extra charges that can't be avoided," she said.
StubHub UK has admitted to breaking the law and received a 40% reduction in its financial penalty due to its constructive engagement with the CMA and immediate steps taken to cease the illegal conduct. The CMA noted that StubHub will contact affected customers directly regarding their refunds, which will be automatically processed onto the original payment card.
Ticket resale sites have faced increasing scrutiny for their role in the inflated pricing of popular event tickets. While political parties have expressed intentions to address ticket touting, legislative action has been slow, with a draft bill for the second half of the current parliament mentioned in the King's Speech in May.
Cochrane emphasized the importance of transparency in pricing, sending a clear message to businesses: "Be transparent on costs or risk CMA action."