UMVA has learned that StubHub, a prominent ticket resale platform, has been slapped with a hefty fine of nearly £900,000 and ordered to repay over 50,000 customers after engaging in deceptive pricing practices.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that StubHub UK breached consumer law by hiding mandatory charges, a practice known as "drip pricing," which lures customers in with a low headline price that later skyrockets with unavoidable extras such as delivery and service fees.
Between April 6 and December 7, 2025, fans buying tickets through StubHub were initially presented with one price, only to be confronted with a higher price once compulsory costs appeared later in the checkout process.
Over 50,000 customers are now eligible for refunds totaling over £590,000, with the average payout expected to be around £10 per transaction. The CMA has announced that StubHub will contact affected customers directly, eliminating the need for buyers to come forward.
"Hitting customers with hidden fees is illegal," said a senior executive at the CMA. "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."
StubHub admitted to breaking the law and agreed to settle the case early, earning a 40% reduction on its financial penalty. Notably, the UK-based StubHub is operated by Ticketbis S.L. and is not connected to or affiliated with its US-listed counterpart.
This ruling signals the CMA's intent to utilize its enhanced powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, allowing it to investigate suspected breaches of consumer law and impose penalties directly.
The action against StubHub follows a similar penalty imposed on the AA, which was fined £4.2m and ordered to refund over 80,000 learner drivers over a hidden booking fee. The CMA estimates that hidden charges of this kind strip around £2.2bn a year from consumers' pockets.
The regulator's message is clear: any charge a customer cannot realistically avoid must be included in the price shown upfront, rather than added at checkout. StubHub's troubles are not limited to the UK, as the company recently agreed to refund $10m to US consumers over similar pricing practices.
For businesses, the lesson is straightforward: honest pricing is no longer just good manners, but a legal requirement. The era of low advertised prices with hidden fees is drawing to a close, and the cost of non-compliance now far outweighs any short-term benefits.
