2nd September 2024
CCPC reviewing weekend ticket sales
Ireland has a strong track record when it comes to protecting consumers especially in the area of ticket sales. This government introduced legislation on ticket pricing in 2021 (the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021) which prohibits the sale or advertising for sale of tickets or ticket packages for a price exceeding their original sale price for events taking place in designated venues or for designated events.
Consumer law requires traders to provide certain information to consumers prior to purchase. This includes the total price, inclusive of taxes, allowing consumers to make the informed choice whether to purchase or not. Individual businesses can decide on the prices of the products they sell, and they are permitted to adjust their prices in response to demand or other factors, once an accurate price is displayed to the consumer in advance of the sale so that the consumer can decide if they want to proceed.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the independent statutory body that enforces competition and consumer law under the remit of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, continues to promote and monitor compliance with competition and consumer protection laws across all sectors of the market, including ticket sales, and to investigate potential breaches, prohibited practices and offences.
The CCPC has advised the Minister’s officials that it believes there are legitimate concerns around the consumer experiences of buying concert tickets this weekend and that it is actively reviewing the situation and will consider all options to ensure consumer protection law was followed.
Speaking about recent ticket sales, Minister Burke said:
“Ireland has robust legislative protections in place for consumers in Ireland. I am committed to ensuring consumers are provided with sufficient pricing information before they choose to purchase a product or service, including tickets. Concert ticket sales over the weekend have caused distress amongst some consumers and I have asked the CCPC to report to me on their review of pricing strategies employed.”
Minister Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, noted that:
“Consumer law requires traders to provide information to consumers on price, allowing consumer to make informed decisions in advance of purchasing tickets. It is vital that consumers are aware of their rights and my Department will continue to work with the CCPC on protecting consumers in this area.”
If a consumer has an issue with a trader, they should contact the CCPC helpline on 01 402 5555 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) or via the ‘contact us’ form on the CCPC's website or they can email the CCPC at ask@ccpc.ie.
ENDS
Further information
Under consumer law in Ireland, consumers should be clearly informed of the full price of a product, including fees, before they buy.
Price-setting
In terms of pricing, as there are no price controls for most products in Ireland, traders are free to set and change their prices for goods and services. Irish consumer protection law obliges traders to clearly display prices to consumers before they make a transaction.
Generally, traders in Ireland, including ticket sellers, are free to set and change their prices for goods and services, based on demand, once they do so independently and in line with consumer protection law.
Dynamic pricing
Individual businesses can decide on the prices of the products they sell, and they are permitted to adjust their prices in response to demand or other factors, once an accurate price is displayed to the consumer in advance of the sale so that the consumer can decide if they want to proceed. This must be in line with consumer protection law.
Consumer protection legislation relating to ticket sales
Consumer law requires traders to provide certain information to consumers prior to purchase. This includes the total price, inclusive of taxes, allowing consumers to make the informed choice whether to purchase or not.
Consumer law also prohibits businesses from engaging in a misleading commercial practice. Under the Consumer Protection Act 2007, a commercial practice is regarded as misleading if the trader does not act in good faith and misleads the average consumer into taking an action that she/he may otherwise not undertake.
When offering an item for sale or advertising a product or service, misleading practises could include claims regarding: the nature of the product/service, the main characteristics, including its availability at a particular time, place, or at a particular price, the price of the product/service, the manner in which the price was calculated or the existence and nature of a specific price advantage, and the legal rights of a consumer.
The 2007 Act also prohibits traders from making a false representation that a product is available only for a limited time, or on particular terms for a limited time, in order to elicit an immediate decision from a consumer, depriving the consumer of sufficient opportunity or time to make an informed choice in relation to the trader’s product.
In addition, under the Consumer Information (Advertisements For Concert Or Theatre Performances) Order, 1997, every advertisement for a ticket must show the ticket price and any extra charges payable.
Role of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the independent statutory body that enforces competition and consumer law under the remit of my Department, continues to promote and monitor compliance with competition and consumer protection laws across all sectors of the market, including ticket sales, and to investigate potential breaches, prohibited practices and offences.
If a consumer has an issue with a trader, they should contact the CCPC helpline on 01 402 5555 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) or via the ‘contact us’ form on the CCPC's website or they can email the CCPC at ask@ccpc.ie.
Sale of tickets by a third party (Ticket touting)
Consumer rights are protected for purchasing tickets for concerts or sporting events under the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021. The Act regulates the secondary ticket market where tickets are resold after their original purchase from the primary ticket market and where tickets are more likely to be sold above their original sale price, by prohibiting the sale or advertising for sale, of tickets for price exceeding the original sale price for designated events or events taking place in designated venues.
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