O2 issues new statement to customers – ‘costing £145m’ (Image: Getty)
Major telecoms giant O2 has renewed its calls for Government action to ban the resale of live event tickets for profit. It comes as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) plans to criminalise reselling tickets for more than their original cost have yet to come into effect.
Research from O2 estimated that music fans are ripped off by ticket touts to the tune of an extra £145 million per year.
Gareth Griffiths, director of partnerships and sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, said: “The Government said it would put fans first, but concertgoers have been fleeced by an estimated £60 million since it made its promise to ban ticket touts.
“At a time when every pound means more than ever to British households, UK music fans simply can’t afford to wait any longer. O2 urges the Government to follow through on its promise to ban ticket touting and ensure new legislation is included in the forthcoming King’s Speech session.”
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The network provider is demanding Government action. (Image: Getty)
Ticket touting sees touts buy large volumes of tickets online, often using automated bots, before relisting them on resale platforms at hugely inflated prices.
O2, which has been a member of the FanFair Alliance since 2017, campaigns for a fairer resale market that allows fans to resell tickets when they can no longer attend an event, but prevents anyone from profiting or being “ripped off” in the process.
Last year, O2 partnered with artists including Dan Smith and Mutya Buena from iconic pop bands Bastille and Sugababes, respectively, to raise awareness of the issue. They co-signed a letter to the Prime Minister alongside Coldplay, Dua Lipa and many more artists who are tired of their fans being taken advantage of by touts.
Adam Webb, campaign manager at FanFair Alliance, said: “This is a stark reminder of the true cost of ticket touting and its impact on the UK economy.
“If the Government truly intends to put fans first, then long-promised legislation to cap resale prices must be included in the King’s Speech. A failure to deliver on that manifesto commitment would be devastating, encouraging exploitative touts and under-regulated offshore resale websites to continue fleecing British audiences.”
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Ahead of the Autumn Budget in November 2025, the Government announced proposals to stamp out profiteering ticket touts, improve access for genuine fans when tickets originally go on sale, and end rip-off pricing on the resale market. However, this is yet to officially come into effect.
O2 has urged the Government to fulfill its promise to eliminate profit-driven ticket touting once and for all. The network provider estimates that fans have lost over £60 million since the Government made the pledge to end it.
O2 is also encouraging music fans to contact their local MPs to demand action. More information about O2’s “Stamp It Out” campaign can be found online.
Express.co.uk has contacted the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for comment.