{"id":2316847,"date":"2024-07-31T15:33:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T19:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-attorney-general-sues-stubhub-for-deceptive-pricing-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-07-31T15:40:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T19:40:40","slug":"dc-attorney-general-sues-stubhub-for-deceptive-pricing-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-attorney-general-sues-stubhub-for-deceptive-pricing-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"DC attorney general sues StubHub for deceptive pricing &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdc-attorney-general-sues-stubhub-for-deceptive-pricing-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2316847&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Attorney General \u200bof Washington, D.C., Brian Schwalb, has filed a lawsuit against the online \u2062ticket exchange platform \u200bStubHub, accusing it of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-unveils-sweeping-measures-aimed-at-slashing-junk-fees\/\" title=\"Biden introduces broad actions to reduce excessive fees.\">deceptive pricing practices<\/a>.\u200d The\u2062 lawsuit claims that\u2063 StubHub employs a tactic known as \u200b&#8221;drip pricing,&#8221; where initially low ticket prices are advertised, but customers ultimately face significantly higher charges at checkout due to hidden fees. It is alleged that StubHub&#8217;s lengthy and complicated checkout \u2062process, combined with a countdown timer, creates a false urgency that pressures customers \u200dinto \u200bcompleting their purchases without realizing\u200c the true total cost. The Attorney General&#8217;s office states that customers often find \u2063themselves surprised by the inflated final price, which includes\u2062 unclear &#8220;fulfillment and service&#8221; fees that are not properly explained\u200c during\u2062 the buying process.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-ag-barr-authorizes-federal-prosecutors-to-pursue-substantial-allegations-of-voting-irregularities-before-2020-election-is-certified\/\" title=\"BREAKING: AG Barr Authorizes Federal Prosecutors to Pursue &quot;Substantial Allegations&quot; of Voting Irregularities Before 2020 Election is Certified\">attorney general<\/a> sues StubHub for deceptive pricing<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1717954\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Washington, D.C.<\/a>, Attorney General Brian Schwalb <a href=\"https:\/\/oag.dc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-07\/2024.07.29%20DC%20OAG%20StubHub%20Complaint%20-%20to%20finalize_Redacted%20%281%29.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>sued<\/a> StubHub on Wednesday, accusing the online ticket exchange platform of deceptive pricing.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit alleges that StubHub uses a system called &ldquo;drip <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/prices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"pricing\">pricing<\/a>,&rdquo; in which the platform advertises a deceptively low price to ticket buyers but charges a much higher total at checkout after adding on hidden fees.<\/p>\n<p>The company leads customers through a needlessly long checkout process while a countdown clock creates a false sense of urgency, according to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;By the time customers have made it past StubHub&rsquo;s numerous pages &mdash; often over a dozen &mdash; to the end of the lengthy checkout process, they are often charged a final price substantially higher than the advertised price due to cryptic &lsquo;fulfillment and service&rsquo; fees tacked on without adequate explanation of the fees&rsquo; purpose,&rdquo; Schwalb&rsquo;s office <a href=\"https:\/\/oag.dc.gov\/release\/attorney-general-schwalb-sues-stubhub-deceptive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Faced with this inflated total and the countdown timer threatening to make them start the whole process over, consumers are pressured into the purchase out of fear that they risk losing the tickets,&rdquo; it added.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit says StubHub&rsquo;s pricing practices violate Washington&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nhs-director-calls-out-gwyneth-paltrow-for-covid-19-recovery-advice\/\" title=\"NHS Director Calls Out Gwyneth Paltrow For COVID-19 Recovery Advice\">consumer protection laws<\/a> by interfering with buyers&rsquo; ability to compare prices and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-governor-encourages-people-to-call-police-on-neighbors-violating-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon Governor Encourages People To Call Police On Neighbors Violating COVID Orders\">make informed decisions<\/a> about their ticket purchases.<\/p>\n<p>The pricing model affects Washington residents in particular because they spend more per capita on live <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/entertainment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>entertainment<\/a> in the district than residents of many other major U.S. cities, according to the suit.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The District is home to one of the nation&rsquo;s largest and most vibrant live entertainment scenes, and StubHub&rsquo;s predatory tactics disproportionately harm District residents,&rdquo; Schwalb said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>StubHub is one of the largest ticket resale platforms in the world.<\/p>\n<p>Since it began utilizing the drip pricing model, it has sold nearly 5 million tickets to Washington consumers and extracted around $118 million in hidden fees, according to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1717954\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1717954\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit against StubHub on Wednesday, claiming that the online ticket exchange engages in deceptive pricing practices. The suit contends that StubHub employs a method known as &#8220;drip pricing,&#8221; where it promotes an attractively low ticket price but ultimately charges customers significantly more at checkout by adding hidden fees. According to the lawsuit, the lengthy checkout process is designed to mislead consumers, with a countdown timer creating unnecessary pressure to complete the purchase quickly. By the time customers navigate through multiple pages\u2014often exceeding a dozen\u2014they find themselves facing a final price that is much higher than what was initially advertised due to unclear &#8220;fulfillment and service&#8221; fees added without proper explanation. This tactic pressures consumers into completing their purchases out of fear of losing their tickets if they start over. The lawsuit claims that these pricing strategies violate Washington&#8217;s consumer protection laws by hindering buyers&#8217; ability to compare prices and make informed choices regarding their ticket purchases. It particularly impacts Washington residents who spend more on live entertainment per capita than those in many other major U.S. cities, as noted in the suit. Schwalb stated that StubHub&#8217;s predatory practices disproportionately affect residents of D.C., which boasts one of the largest live entertainment scenes in the country. Since adopting this drip pricing model, StubHub has sold nearly 5 million tickets to consumers in Washington and collected approximately $118 million in hidden fees, according to the lawsuit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3192,"featured_media":2316848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24138651198979-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[36803,36805,4585,36804],"class_list":["post-2316847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-dc-attorney-general","tag-deceptive-pricing","tag-lawsuit","tag-stubhub"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24138651198979-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2316847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3192"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2316847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2316847\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2316848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2316847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2316847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2316847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}