Second criminal complaint filed against ticket seller Viagogo
Published: Tuesday, Jul 9th 2024, 09:40
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Consumer protection has filed a criminal complaint against the ticket seller Viagogo. According to consumer protection, the ordering process manipulates consumers and leads them to buy mostly overpriced tickets.
There are "particularly aggressive sales methods" that violate the Unfair Competition Act (UWG), Consumer Protection announced on Tuesday. Consumer Protection has therefore filed a criminal complaint with the public prosecutor's office in Geneva. This is the second criminal complaint filed by Consumer Protection against Viagogo.
Consumer protection has examined hundreds of websites for manipulative designs of user interfaces, so-called dark patterns. During the ordering process on viagogo.ch, the consumer protection experts found that numerous dark patterns had an effect on visitors.
Manipulative references to Viagogo urged a hasty decision. In addition, important information was missing, in particular the amount of the original ticket price.
According to an external legal opinion, dark patterns only violate applicable law in Switzerland in exceptional cases such as Viagogo. In its postulate report from June 2024, the Federal Council acknowledged the problems with dark patterns. Nevertheless, it is of the opinion that the existing UCA is sufficient, although there are very high hurdles for a conviction. Consumer protection is now calling for amendments to the law.
Proceedings concluded
The Geneva-based company Viagogo claims to be a secondary market for the sale of event tickets. Viagogo is known worldwide thanks to its use of the advertising algorithm of the leading Internet search engine.
In February 2024, six years of proceedings were concluded with an agreement initiated by the French-speaking Swiss consumer protection organization FRC. It includes a compensation fund of CHF 100,000 for 807 injured parties.
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