Irish MEPs push for dynamic pricing rules after Oasis complaints

A fan uses a smartphone to access an online ticket sales website to try and buy tickets for Oasis. Picture: AFP via Getty Images

European Union lawmakers are backing calls for new rules on ‘dynamic pricing’ for goods sold online after Oasis fans complained about massively inflated ticket prices for a string of sell-out shows by the band.

Last month, thousands of fans waited for hours in virtual queues to get tickets for Oasis reunion shows in the UK and Ireland next summer, only to find that prices had jumped dramatically at checkout.

The backlash sparked probes into Ticketmaster — the official ticketing partner for the concerts — among British, Irish, and European regulators.

Now, eight of Ireland’s 14 MEPs have backed calls for changes to the Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping set of tech regulations rolled out earlier this year, to avoid similar situations.

“If we require further regulation to ensure dynamic pricing does not become the norm, then I do think it will be necessary,” said Dublin MEP Regina Doherty, who previously called for Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate the issue.

Firms deemed to be in breach of the DSA face fines of up to 6% of their global turnover.

Repeat offenders can be banned from operating in Europe.

The EU has been conducting a broad “fitness check” of consumer-protection laws over the past two years, with rules around ticket sales among those under review. A final report is due to be published later this year.

Ciaran Mullooly, MEP for Ireland’s Midlands–North-West constituency, told Reuters he would support new measures being added to the DSA.

'A rip off'

“There’s no word to describe it other than ‘rip-off’,” he said. “It’s a real challenge for the Digital Services Act. The commission is going to have to get involved in this, and if they don’t, it’ll make their legislation irrelevant.” 

Another six of Ireland’s MEPs — Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Kathleen Funchion, Luke Ming Flanagan, and Lynn Boylan — told Reuters they would support the introduction of new rules to deal with the issue.

“We should discuss whether or not we should amend the DSA to deal with dynamic pricing,” said Ní Mhurchú.

“This issue is not new. Now is the time to discuss and take action.” 

A representative for Oasis declined to comment and Ticketmaster did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Last Friday, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said it opened an investigation into Ticketmaster Ireland and its handling of the sale, following a review of more than 100 complaints received by its helpline.

CCPC chair Brian McHugh said that while companies in Ireland are allowed to “respond to market demand, there are legitimate concerns over how consumers were treated and we have decided that an in-depth investigation is necessary”.

“If we find that consumer-protection laws were broken, we will take action,” Mr McHugh said.

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has also opened a probe. Speaking then, a Ticketmaster spokesperson said the company was “committed to co-operating” and Oasis issued a statement, saying decisions on ticketing and pricing were the responsibility of promoters and management.

Reuters