House of Commons – May 13, 2014 – 278

New Clause 16— Secondary ticketing platforms: product and seller information ‘(1) The Secretary of State shall issue guidance to all traders who operate as secondary ticketing platforms on the application of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. (2) Guidance issued under section (1) shall include how secondary ticketing platforms must inform consumers of— (a) the chosen identity of the seller;

(b) the country of residence of the seller;

(c) information provided by previous buyers on the reliability of the seller and the tickets he has sold;

(d) information on any complaints made against the seller for failing to supply tickets;

(e) information on any complaints made against the seller for supplying fraudulent or invalidated tickets;

and (f) information on all other accounts currently or previously held with the secondary ticketing platform linked to the seller by virtue of personal, financial and contact information provided by them. (3) Guidance issued under section (1) shall set out how information required under Part 2 of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 shall be— (a) accurate;

and (b) prominently displayed before a buyer is able to purchase. (4) Guidance issued under section (1) shall set out how secondary ticketing platforms must disclose clearly if the seller of the ticket is— (a) the secondary ticketing platform themselves;

(b) individuals employed by the secondary ticketing platform;

(c) other companies linked to employees, directors or shareholders of the secondary ticketing platform;

(d) the event organiser or an agent acting on their behalf;

or (e) any other party connected to the event organiser of the event. (5) Guidance issued under section (1) shall set out the status of tickets as unique goods with distinct characteristics which would affect— (a) the enjoyment of the good by the consumer;

(b) the use of the good by the consumer;

or (c) the inherent value of the good in questions. (6) Where a ticket is sold through a secondary ticketing platform, guidance issued under section (1) shall set out how the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 apply to tickets as unique goods, including— (a) how sellers must provide all relevant information about the ticket including but not limited to the face value of the ticket and a designated seat or ticket number;

(b) how secondary ticketing platforms will publish all the information about a ticket provided by the seller in a prominent and clear way;

and (c) what sanctions will apply for failing to provide this information under the regulations.’.—(Stella Creasy.)