Ticketmaster subject of hundreds of complaints to consumer watchdog following Oasis concert controversy

Huge controversy erupted last summer when tickets for the Oasis reunion concerts in Croke Park sold out within minutes.

When more tickets later became available, they could only be bought at hugely inflated prices.

Fans were frustrated at this dynamic pricing, which had caused in-demand tickets to soar in cost.

Now the Competition and ­Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has ­revealed that Ticketmaster topped the list of companies consumers contacted it about last year.

A total of 615 consumers made contact with the CCPC about Ticketmaster. Not all the contacts are complaints, because some people are asking the consumer protection agency what their rights are when they have issues with a company. However, large numbers of the contacts fall under the definition of a complaint.

Dynamic pricing meant some tickets for the Oasis Croke Park gigs jumped to more than €400.

In advance of the presale, promoter MCD said tickets would start at €86.50 before booking fees, but they ended up as high as €176.75 when service charges were added.

The dynamic-pricing controversy led to a number of formal complaints to the CCPC, prompting it to open an investigation into Ticketmaster Ireland and its handling of the Oasis ticket sales last August. That probe is ongoing, it is understood.

Oasis subsequently abandoned ­dynamic pricing for the remainder of the world tour.

The band’s management said ­brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher wanted to “avoid a repeat of the issues experienced by fans in August”.

It is understood some of the contacts made to the CCPC about Ticketmaster also related to issues around a Nicki Minaj concert in Malahide Castle, Dublin, last July.

The rapper and singer came under fire from fans after she arrived late to the stage and then left early. Fans wanted their money back from Ticketmaster and contacted the CCPC to see if that was possible.

Ticketmaster did not respond to a request for comment from the Irish Independent.

The CCPC said the company generating the next highest amount of contacts was telecoms giant Eir, with 604 consumers making contact over issues with the firm last year.

It was followed by Ryanair and then Sky Ireland.

Most people contacted the watchdog by phone, followed by email and then social media.

There has been a jump in the overall number of people making complaints to the State’s consumer protection ­agency. Almost 45,000 consumers contacted the CCPC last year.

This is 5,000 more than in 2023 – an increase of 11pc. Issues with cars were the focus of most calls, with almost 5,500 contacts about vehicles. The typical outlay on vehicles that generated the complaints is €18,700.

Consumers spent an average of €6,000 on each product or service they had an issue with, the CCPC said. Almost 9,500 people had problems with faulty goods or services.

Vehicles and transport topped the list of sectors consumers got in touch about, followed by telecommunications and home-building and improvements.

CCPC spokeswoman Grainne Griffin said: “We’re very glad to see that a growing number of consumers are checking their rights with the CCPC when they run into difficulties.

“Almost 45,000 consumers contacted us last year and we were able to explain their rights or point them towards an agency or service that could help them.”

Ms Griffin said the agency’s helpline report was shining a light on the challenges faced day-to-day by consumers.

The CCPC is the statutory body responsible for enforcing and promoting compliance with competition, consumer protection and product safety law.