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CMA Orders StubHub UK to Refund 50,000 Customers and Pay £900,000 Fine After Hidden-Fee Breach
The UK competition regulator directed StubHub UK to repay more than 50,000 customers an average of £10 each and imposed a £900,000 penalty. The action addresses mandatory fees added only at checkout for concert and sports tickets between April and December 2025.
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BBC News reported that on 23 June 2026 the Competition and Markets Authority ordered StubHub UK to refund more than 50,000 customers and pay a £900,000 fine after finding that the company added unavoidable delivery and service fees only at the final checkout stage.
The CMA investigation covered transactions between 6 April and 7 December 2025 for gigs and sports events. Each affected customer is expected to receive an average refund of £10 per transaction.
StubHub UK admitted breaking the law and received a 40 percent reduction in the penalty. Drip pricing was banned in the UK last year under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. The CMA stated it will contact affected fans about their refunds.
StubHub UK has taken steps to end the practice of adding unavoidable fees only at checkout. Emma Cochrane, CMA Executive Director for Consumer Protection, stated: "Hitting customers with hidden fees is illegal. " The CMA has secured more than £1.95 million in customer refunds and imposed fines exceeding £5.7 million since the new consumer enforcement powers came into effect.
Its investigation into Viagogo over fee presentation remains ongoing with an update due later this summer. In March the CMA ordered the owner of AA and BSM driving schools to refund more than 80,000 learners for similar pricing issues.
