The UK Competition and Markets Authority fined StubHub £889,200 on June 23, 2026.
The UK watchdog, CMA, is mandated to ensure competition in the market and safeguard consumer rights and economic growth.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into StubHub as part of wider plans to curb illegal online price-fixing practices.
A ticket reseller has been fined for failing to display hidden prices on tickets until customers reached the checkout.
The CMA also penalized StubHub, a leading online ticket marketplace, for offering refunds to more than 50,000 affected customers averaging £10.33 each.
The UK watchdog in its investigation found that StubHub was using illegal practices known as “drip pricing.”
According to experts, the term is described as a method used by resellers to entice fans to purchase tickets which at the payment stage cost customers additional fees.
The practice prevents buyers from accurately making a market price comparison between different sellers.
The investigation included the period from April 5 to December 7, 2025, when some customers were charged mandatory costs, including delivery and service charges, at checkout.
The CMA, in its findings, found that these charges were only applicable at the final stage of the checkout process rather than being displayed at the point of purchase.
The company concerned acted immediately, took steps to end the practice and cooperated with the CMA during its investigation.
Additionally, StubHub agreed to settle the matter out of court, which in such cases allows companies to get a 40 percent discount on the fines imposed.
