Brussels, 29/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - Out of the 414 internet sites for online purchases of tickets for sporting events and shows (e.g. football and Formula One) that came under close verification, 88% are now perfectly in line with EU legislation (compared to 40% when the first checks were carried out in May/June 2010). The 2010 “sweep” investigation has therefore been successful, the Commission has confirmed. On 29 September, it published the final results of the EU-coordinated operation for verifying compliance with EU law, which was carried out in September 2010 by the national authorities responsible for application of consumer law. Commissioner John Dalli said “this is a major achievement for EU consumers” who must be able to compare prices and offers on the internet without falling victim to scams. The “sweep” operation was to ensure that consumers have clear information on pricing, conditions of sale (guarantee that tickets will be delivered but also notification if a concert or match is cancelled), details of where the trader is located, and ways to contact the trader in the event of problems (see EUROPE 10216).
With regard to prices, 94% of sites checked now provide clear, exact information regarding the total cost (including delivery charges and all other extra costs) as opposed to only 55% in 2010. For the terms and conditions of sale, 92% of the websites checked now display fair terms and conditions, compared to 57% in 2010. For information about the trader, 93% of websites provide all details required (compared to 72% in 2010).
“We have doubled the rate of compliance, but there are still problems. The authorities will therefore be continuing with their work”, Jackie Minor, Director for Consumers at DG Sanco, told the European press. Another “sweep” operation is currently underway, the results of which are due in early 2012, but the Commission is not revealing at this stage which sector is concerned. Frédéric Vincent, the commissioner's spokesman, explained that this is to ensure they will find the sector as it truly is, without preparations being made by that sector prior to verification. The “sweep” operations previously carried out concerned the online sale of airline tickets and electronic goods.
The “sweep” operation in September 2010 was carried out by authorities in 29 countries (EU27 plus Norway and Liechtenstein) in the light of complaints filed in 2009 by European consumer centres (ECC). Contacts between the national authorities and the website organisers have often allowed changes needed to be made by consensus, but sometimes sanctions have been necessary. (AN/transl.jl)