The UK's competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has initiated an investigation into Viagogo Entertainment Inc. and viagogo GmbH, the companies operating the popular ticket resale platforms www.viagogo.com and www.viagogo.co.uk respectively. The probe, which commenced on 17 November 2025, centres on suspected infringements of consumer protection law, specifically concerning how mandatory fees are presented to UK consumers during the ticket purchasing process.
At the core of the CMA's inquiry is whether Viagogo's platforms clearly display all mandatory charges as part of the total price seen by a consumer at the outset of their purchase journey. This means the investigation will scrutinise whether additional fees, such as booking charges or processing costs, are only revealed later in the transaction, potentially leading to a higher final price than initially anticipated by the buyer.
The CMA has confirmed it will now engage directly with Viagogo and gather comprehensive evidence to assess whether consumer protection law has been breached. It is important to note that, at this preliminary stage, no definitive finding of infringement has been made against Viagogo, and the investigation is ongoing. The watchdog has emphasised that it should not be assumed that a breach of consumer law has occurred.
This investigation into Viagogo forms part of a broader consumer protection initiative launched by the CMA, focusing on online pricing practices across various sectors. The regulator has been increasingly vigilant about transparency in online transactions, aiming to ensure consumers are not misled by pricing structures that obscure the true cost of goods and services until late in the buying process.
The current timeline indicates that the investigation is active, with information and evidence gathering having taken place between November 2025 and March 2026. The next update on the case is expected in Summer 2026, as the CMA continues its thorough examination of Viagogo's compliance with consumer protection regulations.