Hidden Fees & Hidden Friction: What the UK-Ticket Resale Crackdown Teaches Us About Honest Business Finance

Hidden Fees & Hidden Friction.

The UK government has announced plans to outlaw the resale of event tickets above their original face value, a major consumer-protection move in response to rampant mark-ups, “bot” bulk-buying and opaque fee structures. 

For the business-finance sector, this is more than a story about concerts and football matches. It’s a mirror image of the problem many growing companies face: a system built on jargon, hidden fees and confusing pricing that ends up eroding trust, inflating friction, and undermining real growth.

At multifi we believe in transparency, simplicity and fairness, and today’s announcement reinforces why that matters.

The parallels between ticketing and business-finance

• Opaque pricing hurts real people
  In the ticketing world, individuals find themselves squeezed by mark-ups “at several times” face value. 
  In the business and finance world, SMEs are often confronted with jargon-laden offers, hidden fees, fine print, and complexity.

• Hidden fees create friction, distrust and detour the customer
  The ticket-resale backlash is in part about “junk” fees, speculative listings, and unclear cost structures. The new proposal sets the face-value cap and flags service-fee caps, too. 
  For multifi’s audience, UK business owners, this is a reminder: if your pricing isn’t crystal clear, you’re entrusting your relationship with your customer to confusion.

• Simpler, fairer pricing is a competitive differentiator
  The government’s move comes after high-profile artists (e.g., Dua Lipa, Sam Fender) publicly demanded reform. 
  In business-finance, you have the same opportunity: to stand out by making pricing a strength rather than a liability, which is exactly what multifi aims to do.

multifi’s message: From hidden costs to honest clarity

1. Up‐front, fully transparent pricing
   We don’t believe in catch-up fees, surprise costs or opaque charging. Every cost should be outlined clearly so business owners can plan, compare and decide with confidence.

2. No jargon, no bewilderment
   Your time is valuable. You shouldn’t need a finance dictionary to understand the offer. We translate everything into human terms, not systems-speak.

3. Aligned incentives and shared purpose
   Just as a fan wants a fair chance at live events, a business owner wants fair access to working capital. If your pricing is fair, you’re not just a lender – you’re a partner in growth.

4. Simplifying the relationship, reducing friction
   Hidden fees are friction. They slow decisions, create distrust, and muddy relationships. Transparent models expedite decisions, foster trust, and enable entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best.

5. Accountability matters
   The new ticket-resale rules will hold platforms liable for sellers’ rule-breaking. 
   In finance, we hold ourselves accountable: clear terms, clear expectations, clear outcomes. That’s how you build lasting relationships.

What businesses should be asking (and what you should demand)

• “What are all the fees, and when do they apply?”

• “Is the interest rate fixed or variable, and when does it change?”

• “Are there early-repayment penalties, processing fees, admin charges?”

• “Is the pricing structured so I understand it without digging for the fine print?”

• “If the offer changes, how will I know? Is the lender transparent about costs over time?”
  
  If any of those questions feel hard to answer, you’re looking at pricing that’s less a partner and more a trap.