More transparency in ticket trading
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of the Swiss Confederation (Seco) has concluded talks with Swiss ticketing companies. The latter should have adjusted their pricing practices by mid-March 2015 so that service and payment fees are included in the ticket price.
Since early summer 2014, SECO has pointed out to various ticketing companies that in many cases additional fees or surcharges are charged when tickets are sold, which are mandatory for consumers. The non-inclusion of such fees in the total price may violate the Price Disclosure Ordinance (PBV), which requires the disclosure of the total price.
Total price means that the displayed price must include passed-on public charges, copyright fees, advance disposal fees and other surcharges of any kind that cannot be freely selected.
The intervention led to discussions, which have now been concluded. According to the federal government's official press release, the ticketing companies should have made the necessary adjustments to their websites by mid-March 2015 so that they are PBV-compliant. Any service and payment fees must then be included in the total price, unless they are freely selectable.
