Consumer watchdog Which? has named Ticketmaster as one of the UK’s shoddiest companies, citing its pricing practices for the highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour as the reason behind the London-based company’s win at the annual “Shoddy Awards”.

Home insurers, for denying claims, and Virgin Media, for the third consecutive year, were also included in the ranking, but Ticketmaster was picked as the standout number one.

The annual Which? “Shoddy Awards” highlight various companies and industries deemed to have failed on value, safety, and trust. The awards are based on Which?’s rigorous product testing, consumer research, and expert investigations. Companies were shortlisted for criteria including misleading pricing, safety risks, legal grey areas, and substandard customer service.

Ticketmaster faced significant criticism for its handling of Oasis reunion tour ticket sales. So-called ‘platinum’ seats were reportedly sold for nearly 2.5 times the regular price, despite offering no additional benefits. Which? also observed “in-demand” pricing tactics that obscured the final ticket costs from customers until the checkout stage. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated these practices and agreed that they might have contravened consumer law.

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