A woman from Staffordshire has been charged with multiple fraud offences relating to the alleged sale of Oasis reunion tour tickets, as authorities crack down on exploitative ticket practices.
Fraud charges and court appearance
Rosie Slater, 32, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, faces eleven counts of fraud by false representation connected to claims of ticket selling in May 2025. The charges come amid growing concerns about ticket fraud targeting music fans.
Slater has been granted unconditional bail and is scheduled to appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on December 11 to answer the allegations.
Government crackdown on ticket touting
The case emerges as ministers confirm plans to make it illegal for tickets to concerts, theatre, comedy, sport and other live events to be resold for more than their original cost. This significant policy shift aims to protect consumers from exploitative pricing.
Live Nation Entertainment, Ticketmaster's parent company, has publicly supported the government's move. In a statement, the firm said: "Live Nation fully supports the UK Government's plan to ban ticket resale above face value. Ticketmaster already limits all resale in the UK to face value prices and this is another major step forward for fans."
CMA investigation reveals pricing concerns
A Competition and Markets Authority investigation was launched into how Ticketmaster sold Oasis tickets in 2024, following numerous fan complaints. The probe uncovered several concerning practices.
The CMA found that Ticketmaster did not inform fans waiting in lengthy queues that standing tickets were being sold at two different prices. Furthermore, the company failed to warn customers that prices would increase substantially once the cheaper tickets sold out.
Investigators discovered that Ticketmaster sold some 'platinum' tickets at almost two and a half times the price of 'standard' tickets without adequately explaining that these premium-priced tickets offered no additional benefits in the same venue areas.
In response to these findings, the CMA has mandated that Ticketmaster must now notify fans 24 hours in advance if a tiered pricing system is being used, as occurred with Oasis standing tickets.
Band distances itself from pricing controversy
Oasis themselves blamed their management for the dynamic pricing fiasco that surrounded their highly anticipated reunion gigs - their first in 16 years.
The band stated they were "not aware" the dynamic pricing system would be implemented, claiming the decision was made during meetings between Ticketmaster, promoters and management.
In an official statement, Oasis explained: "While prior meetings between promoters, Ticketmaster and the band's management resulted in a positive ticket sale strategy... the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations."
Ongoing concerns and industry response
Despite some changes made by Ticketmaster since the investigation opened, the CMA does not consider these adjustments sufficient to address its concerns about consumer protection.
Hayley Fletcher, Interim Senior Director of Consumer Protection at the CMA, commented: "We're concerned that Oasis fans didn't get the information they needed or may have been misled into buying tickets they thought were better than they were."
The authority has warned all ticketing websites to ensure they comply with consumer protection laws and treat customers fairly, emphasising that when businesses get it right, everyone benefits.
The case highlights ongoing issues in the ticketing industry, where tickets for the Oasis reunion concerts were seen listed on secondary resale websites for thousands of pounds, far exceeding their original face value.
