Can I cancel Ticketmaster ticket purchase?

Overview

Yes, in most cases it is possible to cancel a Ticketmaster ticket purchase and get a refund, but there are some limitations. The exact cancellation policy depends on the event and when you purchased the tickets. Here is an overview of Ticketmaster’s general cancellation and refund rules:

Within Minutes of Purchase

If you cancel your Ticketmaster ticket order within minutes of placing it, while you are still on the Ticketmaster website, you can get a full refund including fees. This applies as long as the tickets have not been delivered yet.

Before Event Onsale

If you cancel more than a few minutes after purchase but before the event goes onsale to the general public, you can get a full refund including fees. This usually applies if you are a pre-sale ticket buyer cancelling before tickets go onsale.

After Onsale But Before Event

Once tickets go onsale to the general public, each event has its own refund rules. Many allow you to get a full refund if you cancel more than 72 hours before the event. Others have longer or shorter cancellation periods. Some don’t allow cancellations at all.

After the Event

You cannot get a refund from Ticketmaster once the event has taken place. The only exception is if the event is cancelled altogether by the organizer. In that case Ticketmaster will automatically issue refunds.

So in summary, cancellation is usually possible if done more than 72 hours prior to the event, but the exact policy depends on the specific event. Read the fine print closely when purchasing tickets to understand the refund rules.

Step-by-Step Process to Cancel Ticketmaster Tickets

Here is the process to request a cancellation and refund from Ticketmaster:

1. Log in to your Ticketmaster account online or via the mobile app.
2. From your account dashboard, click on the “Orders” tab to view your list of ticket orders.
3. Find the order you want to cancel and click “Cancel Order.” This option will only appear if the tickets are still refundable based on the event policy.
4. On the cancellation page, click the tickets you want to cancel from your order. Make sure the correct tickets are selected.
5. Choose “I can’t go” or “Change of plans” as the reason for cancellation.
6. Double check the cancellation details and click “Cancel Tickets.”
7. You will see a confirmation that your cancel request was received. Refunds can take 7-10 business days to process back to your original payment method.

Be aware that for high demand events, if you cancel your tickets they may be re-sold right away to people on the waitlist. So make your decision promptly.

Also, Ticketmaster usually charges a service fee on cancellations. This ranges from nothing up to 15% of the ticket cost depending on the event. The fee amount will be shown before you complete the cancellation.

Getting a Refund for Non-Refundable Tickets

If you need to cancel tickets that have a no refund policy, there are still some options:

Ticketmaster Fan-to-Fan Resale

You can relist your tickets on Ticketmaster’s resale platform and recoup some of your costs if another fan buys them. You set the resale price, with a 15% commission going to Ticketmaster. This only works if there is enough demand from other fans to buy up the resale tickets.

Transfer Tickets

Some events allow you to transfer your tickets to someone else if you can’t attend. The new ticket holder would have to create their own Ticketmaster account.

Sell on a Third Party Site

Alternatively you can sell your non-refundable tickets on a third party resale site like StubHub. Here you also set the sale price but their commission fees are higher, around 20%.

Eat the Cost

If none of those options will work, unfortunately you may have to eat the cost of the ticket purchase. This is why it’s important to understand the cancellation policy before buying tickets. Some events truly are non-refundable.

Troubleshooting Issues

Here are some steps to try if you are having trouble cancelling Ticketmaster tickets:

• If the refund option is not appearing, make sure you are within the refund period based on when you bought the tickets. You cannot get a refund after the event has occurred.
• Double check that your account email, order number and other details match what is on the ticket order. Errors may prevent processing.
• If you already transferred your tickets, they are no longer eligible for cancellation refunds.
• For resale tickets bought on Ticketmaster, you have to cancel through the original ticket seller, not Ticketmaster.
• If you received a partial refund but were expecting full, reach out to customer service to investigate why.

Being persistent and providing detailed information can help resolve issues processing a cancellation with Ticketmaster customer service if you run into trouble.

Ways to Avoid Needing to Cancel

To avoid the hassle of cancelling tickets, here are some tips:

• Know the refund policy – This is critical before purchasing so you know what to expect if plans change.
• Purchase refundable tickets – Some events offer flex tickets with free cancellation even after general onsale.
• Get refundable hotel/travel – Book travel that also allows cancellation to coordinate with tickets.
• Buy ticket insurance – Some companies like InsureMyTrip.com offer ticket refund protection.
• Don’t buy speculative tickets – Only buy tickets you are sure you can attend, especially for hot shows.

Conclusion

While not ideal, cancelling Ticketmaster tickets for a refund or resale is possible in many scenarios if done in a timely manner. Be aware of the specific event policy before purchasing tickets. Refundability timeframes, fees, and options can vary greatly between events. Move quickly once deciding to cancel tickets and work with customer service to resolve any issues with the cancellation process. And when possible, only buy tickets with flexible refund policies to minimize the risk of needing to cancel in the first place.