Ticketmaster fined for deceptive practices, agrees to play nice
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Ripoffs and Scams
Ticketmaster is facing a $50,000 fine and a change in how it does business after an Illinois Attorney General investigation found that the company had not clearly told customers they were paying marked up ticket prices. As part of the agreement, TicketsNow, owned by Ticketmaster, will also close 100 websites that tricked customers into believing that they were purchasing directly from the concert venue.
Though the $50,000 fine is relatively small (perhaps convenience fees will triple it), the biggest win is for consumers. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan stated, "This agreement will substantially impact how the TicketsNow online brokers market popular event tickets so that consumers clearly understand that they are making purchases from a ticket reseller at marked-up rates."
Making a purchase from one of these deceptive websites is easier than you'd imagine, especially since Ticketmaster used to direct consumers to TicketsNow before reaching a settlement with the New Jersey Attorney General earlier this year.
Before that change, my parents were duped into paying more than double the face value for Lion King tickets at a site similar to TicketsNow. They only found out about the huge price difference when the tickets arrived and it was clear that they were for the cheapest seats to the show; which were still available at their face value from Ticketmaster and the venue.
While many consumers will still express concerns over the various fees that Ticketmaster charges and its merger with LiveNation; this agreement will save concertgoers a lot of cash going forward -- which can then be spent on really cool t-shirts.
Via The Consumerist



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-02-2009 @ 6:14AM
skibum said...
The rules have changed. If you're looking for a great job, with a great company, with great benefits, that you will have your entire life, until you retire, stop looking. That was then this is now. That job doesn't exist anymore for 99% of us. Unless you have unique and remarkable skills you better figure out what will work best for you and your family. I am a former executive who left the corporate world to help people adjust to the new realities. My suggestion to most is to do what millions of people are doing now, find a good home business or home based job. That won't work for everyone but if you find one that you can get into for virtually no investment and learn the right skills, you should do well.
There are two opportunities that my clients have had the most success with. One is an amazing opportunity to profit from Ebay and there are well over 720,000 people making a full time living with them. http://cli.gs/HomeBizSuccessSystem That's a huge company to work with. The other great opportunity is getting a home based job through this incredible home based job recruiting company http://TheBestJobOfYourLife.com . They will hook you up with high paying jobs with major corporations.
So many of my clients tell me that they are loving working for themselves, making more money than before, in less time, and enjoy the extra time they have to spend with their families
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:47PM
Stu said...
Sorry, bum, but nobody cares. I love how one story of scam artists attracts more scam artists. Anyway, yeah, I cannot believe that this crap still goes on. A convenience fee? This is the age of the internet. It is NO LONGER a convenience! Everything is online by default. And I love that in addition to the convenience fee there is a ticket processing fee to PRINT YOUR OWN TICKET using your own paper and ink! It's $2.50!!! No charge to have them mail it though--they probably use undocumented workers to stuff envelopes for such a "deal." Then there's the building fee...but that doesn't cover the insane parking charge and somehow the parking doesn't cover the building fee. For a person to see AC/DC this summer, the fees and charges exceed the price of some tickets!!! I understand that there is serious maintenance to operate the website, but not $10/ticket worth of trouble for all those shows. And I guess they have to keep ahead of the technology because of the people who buy up all the tickets and sell them a higher charges...oh, wait, that's what they already do! They charge us to update their website so that they can reduce their competition with other scalpers! $50K was nothing--and they'll probably pass the charge on to us in the form of a "Freedom Fee" $4.25. Also, days after I bought tickets to a concert a few weeks ago, they began advertising to ME new seats, better seats, were "just released." Released? From where??? Where were they before? Can I guess, TicketF'er?
7-02-2009 @ 7:10AM
lisabellerpur said...
My friend recommended me a very interesting place --- RichRomances.com --- It's where wealthy singles looking for someone to enjoy their wealthy lifestyle with:)
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:55PM
kas said...
Apparently your "friend" likes you.. post to them not us.. U only anger people by posting here.. and they won't go to the web site!
7-05-2009 @ 1:46PM
jon said...
TicketMaster is a parasite, Ill. Attorney General should have fined them $500,000 a day. NYS Attorney General just lets TicketMaster get away with it.
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:46PM
DICK JENSEN said...
TICKETMASTER IS A SLIMEBALL OPERATION. THEY PAY PROMOTERS TO GIVE THEM EXCUSLIVES, THEN SCREW CUSTOMERS BY LYING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. IF A VENUE IS USING THEM IT IS BECAUSE SOMEONE IS GETTING PAID OFF.
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:46PM
Brandon said...
I find it funny that in AOL's headline's they write "Ticketmaster agrees to pay massive fine...." Who are they kidding, $50,000? TM probably blows their nose with $50,000 tissues. This fine won't event make them blink!
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:46PM
Joe said...
The ticket business is a monopoly and the consumer is getting screwed as well as many artists. Ticketmaster diverts huge blocks of tickets to their sister companies and marks up the prices 500-1000%. This is after they screw you with add on fees such as facility charges, convenience fees etc.
These scumbags should rot in hell with Bernie Madoff!!!!!
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:46PM
Jodi said...
I think the Movie theaters should be fined for charging excess prices on concessions. It is ridiculous along with the escalating prices on movie tickets also.
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:46PM
Tony said...
Dick is right. As a smaller promoter and producer...I've had nothing but trouble with Ticketmaster. Unfortunately, they have a monopoly in some cities and it's hard to combat them due to contracts that they have with venues. They do scam and over- charge the general consumer...and sometimes it makes the producer or the promoter look bad. But there's nothing we can do about it.
However...there is sun over the horizon. Due to the failing economy...certain venues are becoming smarter realizing that they can make up for some lost revenue by instating their own ticketing sytem through web-based design. It works....however....beware....you can still get a hefty "convience fee" here as well, just depends on how greedy the venue wants to be! either way....consumers are gonna end up paying some sort of "over-charge" to go to a concert or see a show. The question is...how much longer is the general public willing to put up with it. The way it's going now....hopefully not long! I can't wait to see the day ticket-master is a thing of the past!
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:46PM
Robert Mack said...
I asked my secretary to get me 4 seats for Wicked at the last minute. I paid $250 each, only to find out the face value was $85 and the show was only half full! I thought, gee, she should have used TicketMaster. Turns out she did! Ticketmaster directed her to TicketsNow, who still emails me every day.
Yeesh. Nice job, Lisa Madigan. Now they will pay back less than one day's take for this deceptive practice.
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:47PM
NORBERT said...
Midas got me also. I was cautioned by a co-worker that they might try to dupe me. My brakes were squeeking and took it in to have them checked.I took some chalk and marked my tire position.
a little time later I needed to get something from my vehicle.
I felt the hood...not warm, and chalk lines still aligned perfectly. As chance would have it, my cell phone rang while I was there.
My car was done...?
#1 I did not authorize any repairs to be done, nor was I notified.
I was told it was over $400. They said rotors were warped and they also did an oil change.
I still had the receipt from an oil change 2 days before.
I went to the store and asked for the manager and told him what happened. He said the employee would be fired, and apologized. That employee is still there.
How many others have been screwed by them?
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:47PM
Maelynn said...
Ticketmaster is greedy
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:47PM
j said...
this does NOTHING to put Ticketmaster in its place !!
50,0000,00. would still have little impact on them !
really. 50k is a joke, and it shows how good they attorneys
are and how Poor of a job the lLL Attn. General is.
wow they r bad. they still are blocking out prime seats, and selling them on brokers which they now are. so they can steal for themselves and then re-sell some to other brokers!
A scam of scams. This when u consider that at approx.15-18 fees per TICKET fees. Ther have a Monopoly that makes them over well one billion in profit each year! Even though they don't perform one moment of the stage.
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:47PM
joel said...
how bad is AOL? A massive fine of $50k, for a scam of a company that illegally deverts prime seats to itself and other reseller brokers?
One you makes over one BILLION in profit, from charging as much as it possilby get away with. about $15-18 per ticket "handling' fees. They started out at 2.50 a few years ago and have kept it up to this.
Pearl Jam called it years ago, they are a Monopoly, who will soon own LiveNation !! what!!
they are pulling in money as of they were indeed the performer on the stage ! Owning this reseller company, when THEY are printing out these valuable tickets to concerts if even a greater joke somehow !!
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:47PM
Joe said...
They Suck.... plain and simple. I've been charged 30-35 % service charges and fees these bastards tag on to concert tickets. The artists should unite and change the policies. I'd much rather see the money going to the artists
Reply
7-02-2009 @ 9:08AM
jen said...
i always knew ticketsnow marked their prices up 6 times more then ticketmaster. this isnt new information.
Reply
7-02-2009 @ 9:27AM
Poindexter McSmash said...
$50,000? They steal more in one show! Who got paid off this time?
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:48PM
raejean said...
Some ticket resale outlets don't care where they get the tickets or how much the seller marks them up. And the original venues give away these BLOCKS of tickets under promotion deals, etc. They don't care either as long as what they have left over sells. It's these that often go for up to 10 times their face value for the really hot seats. Legalized scalping.
Reply
7-05-2009 @ 1:48PM
Bob said...
They should close ticketmaster down !!! $50,000 thats peanuts ! They are laughing right now !
Reply