Following a complaint instigated by FanFair Alliance, viagogo has been reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Authority for misleading claims made during an April 2024 episode of the Political Currency podcast.
These included statements that ‘over half the events listed on Viagogo had tickets selling below face value’ and that ‘Viagogo might be the solution next time [I] need cheaper tickets to the hottest shows in town.’
The claims were recited verbatim by the podcast’s hosts, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, and former Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls – giving them unwarranted credibility.
Research by the Competition & Markets Authority in 2019 highlighted viagogo’s dependence on large-scale ticket touts, noting that “[80-100%] of tickets sold on the viagogo platform were sold at more than 20% above face value.”
The full ASA ruling can be seen here.
It is the fourth occasion where a complaint by FanFair Alliance against the misleading marketing practices of offshore ticket resale platforms has led to a successful ASA ruling.
Adam Webb, Campaign Manager, FanFair Alliance
The idea that half the events listed on viagogo have tickets selling below face value, or that viagogo might be a solution for cheaper tickets, is – frankly – laughable.
It is also blatantly misleading. Their entire business model is predicated on inflating ticket prices.
According to a report by the Competition & Markets Authority, 80-100% of the tickets sold through viagogo in 2019 were priced at more than 20% above face value.
It is a website dependent upon large-scale ticket touts.
To hear viagogo’s spin being recited by a former Chancellor and a former Shadow Chancellor felt like something from an episode of Brass Eye.
So while I am very pleased the Political Currency podcast is no longer advocating this controversial website, I now hope that others – be they football clubs or music magazines – question the wisdom of aligning themselves with such a company.