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Competition Bureau sues Ticketmaster for deceptive ads
By Adnews Staff
The Ottawa-based Competition Bureau has filed a deceptive advertising suit against event ticket retail service Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation. The suit alleges that the company's consumer advertising regarding prices for sports and entertainment tickets has been deceptive. According to the bureau, its investigation found that Ticketmaster's advertised prices do not include additional fees that are added later in the purchasing process. These fees can increase the total price of a ticket by 20% to 65% more than the advertised price. The bureau has filed an application with the Competition Tribunal seeking an end to the alleged deceptive marketing practices and an administrative monetary penalty.
"In July we called on ticket vendors to review their marketing practices," said John Pecman, Commissioner of Competition. "Today we are filing an application with the tribunal to stop Ticketmaster from making deceptive claims to consumers. Together, these actions send a strong signal to online retailers. Consumers must have confidence that advertised prices are the ones they will pay."