The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined secondary ticketing platform StubHub UK nearly £900,000 (approximately $1.2 million) and ordered it to refund more than 50,000 customers after finding the company used illegal “drip pricing” tactics.
The regulator determined that StubHub UK failed to disclose mandatory delivery and service fees until the final step of the checkout process, violating British consumer law. The investigation covered transactions between April 6 and December 7, 2025.
Alongside the financial penalty, the CMA mandated refunds for affected buyers, with an average payout of around £10 per person. StubHub admitted the breach and agreed to an early settlement, which reduced its fine by 40%.
Emma Cochrane, the CMA’s Executive Director of Consumer Protection, said:
“Hitting customers with hidden fees is illegal. 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. Going to a live gig or sports game is an event many people save for, and our action today means thousands of fans will get back money taken unfairly through hidden fees. Our message to businesses is simple: be transparent on costs or risk CMA action.”
