Fatsoma drip pricing

tartopom

Some of the events on Fatsoma (events ticket seller) have an 'order processing fee' added after you have already started the booking process. This is separate from the 'booking fee' that is stated up front. There is no mention of the order processing fee up front, and there is no apparent way to avoid it. Is this now illegal under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 Section 230?

First screenshot below shows the advertised price for an event at the point of ticket selection. Second screenshot shows the additional fee that is added later on in the booking process.

Aylesbury_Duck

What's on the drop-down next to the order processing fee?

tartopom

As I recall it was some note, there wasnt any option to avoid the fee. Will confirm later.

Aylesbury_Duck

I don't think what they're doing complies with the Act, unless that drop-down is some sort of option to opt-out.

tartopom

This screenshot shows the drop down expanded. No opt out that I can see.

tartopom

If I was to purchase something inclusive if this fee not k owing how to opt out (if its even possible) would I have a reasonable claim to compensation further down the line?

Aylesbury_Duck

tartopom said:

If I was to purchase something inclusive if this fee not k owing how to opt out (if its even possible) would I have a reasonable claim to compensation further down the line?

I doubt it.  Why would you enter into a contract with the intention of seeking compo?  Any compo you would be entitled to seems to be limited to 99 pence.

Just report what looks like a breach of the Act to the appropriate body.

tartopom

I just don't like the idea of giving them anything they're not entitled to. Obviously if I went down that route I wouldn't be admitting that I already knew of the unlawfulness before buying a ticket.

tartopom

Also I doubt that reporting this breach will result in them changing the website before the event I want to book sells out.

Aylesbury_Duck

tartopom said:

Also I doubt that reporting this breach will result in them changing the website before the event I want to book sells out.

Book the tickets then report the breach.  You'll have to swallow the 99p cost, but presumably that's preferable to missing out on the event?

Aylesbury_Duck

tartopom said:

I just don't like the idea of giving them anything they're not entitled to. Obviously if I went down that route I wouldn't be admitting that I already knew of the unlawfulness before buying a ticket.

It doesn't matter that you did know.  You're not suing them for 99p, you're simply reporting that their current practice falls foul of the Act.  Hopefully they'll be forced to change their process.  They'll simply add another pound on to the booking fees of course, but at least those are up-front and transparent.