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Italian consumer group Codacons is making a formal complaint after touts were discovered to be illegally reselling tickets at “stratospheric” prices for Taylor Swift’s sold-out Milan concerts this weekend.
The US superstar brings The Eras Tour to the city’s San Siro Stadium for two nights on 13-14 July for what will be the 34-year-old’s first performances in Italy in 13 years.
An amendment to Italian legislation, introduced to Italy’s 2017 budget law to criminalise ticket touting, prevents tickets being resold for commercial purposes or for above face value.
Codacons has therefore issued an appeal to the authorities after finding tickets being offered for resale on secondary ticketing sites and private sales platforms at “astronomical” prices.
The Rome-headquartered watchdog notes that one site was selling a pair of tickets for more than €13,000, while another was offering a single ticket for €4,677. In addition, tickets priced up to €3,000 could be found on eBay.
“We are witnessing a despicable speculation that exploits the strong demand for tickets for the American artist’s concerts to make an illegitimate profit”
“Once again we are witnessing a despicable speculation that exploits the strong demand for tickets for the American artist’s concerts to make an illegitimate profit,” says Codacons president Carlo Rienzi. “For this reason, we will file a complaint with the Antitrust and Prosecutor’s Office, asking not only to investigate those responsible for the possible crime of stock market manipulation, but also to seize and block the web pages where tickets are sold at prices outside the market.”
The shows will be Swift’s first in the country since playing Milan’s Mediolanum Forum as part of her 2011 Speak Now World Tour.
Elsewhere in Europe, Eventim temporarily postponed the resale for The Eras Tour‘s German leg back earlier this year after hackers attempted to steal digital tickets for the concerts. It was reported in April, meanwhile, that UK Swifties are estimated to have lost over £1 million (€1.2m) in a wave of online scams since tickets went on sale for the European leg of the outing last July, according to data from Lloyds Bank.
Post Milan, the record-shattering trek will continue to Germany, Poland, Austria and England, where the European leg wraps up at London’s Wembley Stadium in August, before resuming in North America in October. Swift recently confirmed the tour will conclude in December.
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Viagogo has lost a years-long legal battle against New Zealand’s consumer watchdog over claims the site repeatedly misled customers.
The NZ Commerce Commission (CC) began investigating Viagogo, which has appealed the judgement, in 2017 and started civil proceedings in the High Court in August 2018.
It successfully argued the Swiss-headquartered secondary ticketing company had breached New Zealand’s Fair Trading Act by posting misleading information on its website about its authenticity as an official ticket seller, as well as its status as a resale platform and the price, scarcity, and validity of tickets.
The High Court has now ordered Viagogo to correct the misleading information and update its terms and conditions to allow for customer disputes to be dealt with through the New Zealand courts.
“The Commission is aware of a large number of reports from consumers who had purchased event tickets from Viagogo, booked flights and travel to attend the event, only to be turned away at the entrance when they found out for the first time that their tickets weren’t authentic,” says CC fair trading general manager Vanessa Horne. “This resulted in significant distress and financial impacts for consumers.”
“We now have a ruling that will require Viagogo to be upfront with Kiwi consumers about what they’re buying and ensure a fairer resolution system”
Horne says Viagogo challenged efforts to subject it to New Zealand jurisdiction, going so far as to require in its terms and conditions that any customer disputes had to be dealt with through the Swiss courts. However, the High Court deemed that to be an “unfair contract term” under the Fair Trading Act.
“We took this case on behalf of every one of those Kiwi consumers and pursued this large global entity over more than eight years – and we now have a ruling that will require Viagogo to be upfront with Kiwi consumers about what they’re buying and ensure a fairer resolution system for settling disputes against Viagogo in the future,” adds Horne.
“This case was about holding a global business to account for the harm they were causing in New Zealand and paving the way for individuals to have the ability to stand up for their consumer rights against international companies. The New Zealand Fair Trading Act requires businesses to make accurate claims and consider the overall impression a consumer would have based on their representations.”
A spokesperson for Viagogo says: “In 2018, the New Zealand Commerce Commission commenced civil proceedings against Viagogo. Following a trial that concluded in March 2023, a decision has now been issued. The findings relate to a combination of historic and more recent conduct. Viagogo has made amendments to its platform and remains fully committed to fulfilling all legal obligations and ensuring full compliance – as it does in all markets in which it operates.
“Viagogo is appealing against several aspects of the decision but is taking steps to comply with the decision pending the appeal being heard. Given the matter remains before the courts, Viagogo will make no further comment.”
The watchdog adds that Viagogo’s appeal against the ruling will be “strongly defended” by the Commission.
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Anti-Viagogo campaigner Claire Turnham says she has helped disgruntled people claim back over £100,000 in refunds and bank chargebacks in six months.
The founder of the Victim of Viagogo Facebook group started her crusade in February after she says she was overcharged £1,150 trying to buy four Ed Sheeran tickets through the resale site. She finally got a refund after doggedly persisting with her claim and taking her story to the media.
Fanfair Alliance, a music industry campaign against ticket touts, has published her advice for fans on how to get refunds from resale sites such as Viagogo, Seatwave, Getmein and Stubhub.
“We continue to hear from ticket-buyers who are extremely frustrated when seeking redress from Viagogo.”
On Wednesday, BBC consumer advice programme Watchdog investigated the activities of secondary ticketing websites – in particular Viagogo and its sale of tickets to Ed Sheeran concerts in the UK. The singer vowed to cancel all tickets to his gigs on secondary sites, and promoters Kilimanjaro and DHP reportedly voided 10,000 passes.
However, while most resale sites refused to list the tickets, Viagogo continued to allow them to be sold. It claimed the promoters were not legally able to cancel tickets, maintained they remained valid, and refused refunds. UK Trading Standards disputes this interpretation of the law, the programme heard.
Fanfair Alliance campaign manager Adam Webb said: “We continue to hear from ticket-buyers who are extremely frustrated when seeking redress from Viagogo, which is why FanFair Alliance has teamed up with Claire Turnham to produce some comprehensive guidance to help them secure a refund.”
Turnham said: “If you are distressed and desperately seeking a refund, I urge you to persevere. It’s not an easy process but it is possible to reclaim your money back. Keep referring to our self-help guide and connect with others for support.”
Recent research by Which? found that approximately half of people who purchased tickets on these sites believed that they were buying from the official ticket seller.