Sometimes plans change and you’re unable to attend a concert that you’ve already purchased tickets for through Ticketmaster. In cases like these, you may be able to get a refund on the tickets by contacting Ticketmaster directly. The refund policies vary depending on the event and when you purchased the tickets, but in general Ticketmaster aims to make the process as smooth as possible. Here’s an overview of how to request a refund on Ticketmaster concert tickets and what you need to know about their policies.
Check if the event allows refunds
The first step is to check if refunds are even available for the specific concert you purchased tickets for. Each event has its own refund policy set by the artist, team, or venue. You can find details on the refund policy when selecting tickets on the Ticketmaster website. It’s also listed on your receipt and order confirmation email.
Generally, most events allow full refunds on tickets if you request it more than 30 days before the event. Within 30 days, it gets more complicated. Some may only offer partial refunds, credits, or no refunds at all once it’s less than 30 days until showtime.
If you’re past the refund deadline, you can still contact Ticketmaster to ask, but your chances of getting money back are slim. All you can do is explain your situation and hope they’ll make an exception.
Request a refund within the valid timeframe
If the event you purchased tickets for does allow refunds, act fast to make the request within the valid timeframe. The most straightforward way is to request the refund online via your Ticketmaster account:
1. Go to ticketmaster.com and click “My Account” then log in.
2. Click on the Order History tab to bring up your list of Ticketmaster orders.
3. Find the concert order you want to get a refund for and click “Request Refund” next to it.
4. Select which tickets you want refunded if you don’t want to refund the entire order.
5. Follow the prompts to confirm your refund request.
You should receive a confirmation email once your refund request is submitted. Ticketmaster states it can take up to 30 days to process refunds.
If you prefer to speak to someone directly, you can also call Ticketmaster Fan Support at 1-800-653-8000 to request your refund over the phone. Have your order number ready when you call.
Provide a valid reason for the refund
In most cases, you’ll need to give a valid reason to Ticketmaster for requesting a refund. Examples of valid reasons include:
– You or someone in your party is sick or injured and unable to attend.
– You have a family emergency come up, preventing you from going.
– Your work schedule changed last minute so you can’t take off for the concert.
– You need to attend a funeral or memorial service at the same time.
– Severe weather like a hurricane or snowstorm makes travel to the concert unsafe.
– You’re military or first responder who got called into mandatory service.
Whatever your reason is, be prepared to explain it briefly to Ticketmaster. Having a valid justification increases your chances of getting approved, especially if you’re seeking a refund close to or after the deadline.
Options if your refund request gets denied
If Ticketmaster denies your refund request, don’t panic. You still have a few options:
– **Ask again nicely.** Reply back explaining why you really need the refund and hope a manager will override the denial. Emphasize extenuating circumstances beyond your control.
– **See if you can sell the tickets.** Check if Ticketmaster allows you to post the tickets for resale on their site. You’ll likely take a loss but can recoup some money back.
– **Gift or donate the tickets.** If friends or family will use the tickets, transfer them via Ticketmaster. Alternatively, donate them to charity so they don’t go to waste.
– **File a dispute.** As a last resort, file a dispute with your credit card company or PayPal explaining the situation. Provide proof you attempted to get a refund within policy.
Getting denied is frustrating, but remain polite in your communications with Ticketmaster. Arguing or getting angry is unlikely to change the outcome.
How Ticketmaster refunds are issued
If approved, Ticketmaster will refund your money in the same method you originally paid for the tickets.
– If you paid by credit card, the refund will be credited back to that same credit card used for purchase.
– For PayPal orders, the refund will go back to your PayPal account.
– If you paid by cash at a Ticketmaster outlet, you’ll receive a check in the mail.
– For Ticketmaster gift cards, the refund will be credited to the gift card used.
It takes 7-10 business days after approval for the refund to reflect back in your account or arrive by mail.
If you received the tickets as a gift from someone else, unfortunately Ticketmaster can only refund the original purchaser. You’ll need to coordinate with them to get your portion of the money back after they receive the refund.
Fees that may be deducted from your refund
While Ticketmaster does aim to refund the full amount, they do deduct fees in some cases:
– **Delivery fees** – Any fees paid for ticket delivery are non-refundable. For example, if you paid $20 extra for 2-day shipping, you would not get that $20 back.
– **Service fees** – Ticketmaster deducts service fees from the refund total. These fees cover their operating costs for providing the ticketing platform and service. Expect around 10-20% of the base ticket price to be withheld.
– **Resale fees** – If you purchased resale tickets from a third party on Ticketmaster, any resale fees they charged are non-refundable. Only the portion paid to Ticketmaster is eligible for refund.
You’re on the hook for those fees since Ticketmaster did render the services and you agreed to their terms and conditions during purchase. The remaining ticket cost should be fully refunded back to your original payment method though.
Getting a refund for other Ticketmaster issues
In some cases, you may be able to get a refund without an actual cancellation if you have other issues with your Ticketmaster order:
– **Tickets never arrived** – If you don’t receive your tickets at least 5 days before the event, you’re eligible for a refund. Contact support right away if tickets are not delivered on time.
– **Duplicate orders** – Sometimes tech glitches cause duplicate orders to be processed. Alert Ticketmaster as soon as possible to void the extra order and get a refund.
– **Event changed significantly** – If the lineup, date, or venue changes dramatically, Ticketmaster may offer refunds for a short time even if the event is still happening.
– **Unsatisfactory tickets** – Occasionally there are issues with the tickets, like severely obstructed views. If your tickets end up being misrepresented, you can request a refund or alternate tickets.
Provide proof of any order issues and be ready to explain how it negatively impacted you. Ticketmaster aims to make customers whole in these types of situations.
Getting a refund on season or multiday tickets
For season tickets or multiday concert packages on Ticketmaster, refund policies also depend on the specific event. Generally:
– Full refunds are allowed if you cancel the entire order more than 30 days out.
– Within 30 days, only partial refunds may be allowed for cancellation of the entire order.
– If you can’t attend specific dates but want to keep other tickets, partial refunds on individual tickets may be available anytime.
– No refunds are given for single missed events unless you resell the tickets.
If you need to return season or multiday tickets, contact a Ticketmaster sales representative for your event. Have your order number and account login ready to discuss the details. They’ll let you know refund options based on the cancellation policy.
Steps for a smooth Ticketmaster refund process
To recap, here are some tips for navigating the Ticketmaster refund process with minimal hassle:
– Review the refund policy upfront before purchasing tickets so you know what to expect.
– Request refunds online through your Ticketmaster account as soon as possible.
– Provide a valid reason for the refund that Ticketmaster will accept.
– Be ready for service fees and delivery charges to be deducted from your refund total.
– If denied initially, follow up politely with an explanation of your unique circumstances.
– Refunds only go back to the original payment method used at time of purchase.
– For issues with delivery or the tickets themselves, alert Ticketmaster right away and provide proof.
– Have your order number, account login, and payment details handy when you contact support.
– With season tickets, contact the sales rep for event-specific cancellation policies.
While Ticketmaster does set strict limits, they do aim to make customers satisfied. Being informed about the policies and acting quickly increase your chances of getting a refund approved.
Getting help from your credit card company
If you’ve exhausted all options directly with Ticketmaster and your refund request still gets denied, one last recourse is disputing the charge with your credit card company.
Here is the process to file a dispute over a Ticketmaster charge:
1. Contact the credit card company that was used to purchase the tickets. Give them your account information and details of the charge.
2. Explain that you tried to get a refund within Ticketmaster’s policy window but were denied. Provide any correspondence you had with their support team.
3. State you would like to formally dispute the charge since the company did not provide the promised service. The credit card company will then open a case.
4. During the investigation, continue providing proof of your refund attempts with Ticketmaster. Be cooperative with the credit card company.
5. The credit card company will make a final determination after reviewing everything whether you deserve the refund or not. This can take 30-90 days.
6. If approved, the charge will be permanently reversed from your account so you get your money back.
This is essentially a last ditch effort when Ticketmaster refuses to refund but is worth trying. Make your case clearly and calmly to the credit card representative. However, there is still risk the dispute gets rejected if Ticketmaster can show they followed policy. Use this method cautiously.
Checking on the status of your refund
It can take up to 30 days once approved for Ticketmaster refunds to fully process. If you haven’t seen the money back in your account after a few weeks, you can check the status online:
1. Go to ticketmaster.com and click “My Account”, then log in.
2. Click on Order History and find the order you requested a refund for.
3. On the right side under Order Details, it will say “Refund Pending” with a date if approved but not yet completed.
4. If the refund was already issued, that space will display the refund date instead.
5. You can also contact Ticketmaster Fan Support if it’s been over 30 days since approval to ask about the hold up. Provide your order number.
6. If needed, follow up with your bank or credit card company to confirm when the refund posted on their end.
This allows you to track the progress and ensure the refund gets credited back properly. Be aware it can take 7-10 business days after the refund completes for it to show in your balance depending on your financial institution. Remain patient but diligent in checking if you don’t see the money quickly.
Using Ticketmaster credit for cancelled events
If an entire event gets cancelled, Ticketmaster will automatically refund your tickets cost within 30 days without you having to request it. However, you also have the option to receive a credit voucher instead of a full cash refund.
Some benefits of choosing event credit over a refund:
– The credit includes refunds for service fees, so you receive slightly more value vs. a cash refund where fees are deducted.
– You can redeem the credit for tickets to any future Ticketmaster event, so it gives you more flexibility.
– Credits don’t expire for at least one year from the cancelled event date.
– You can combine multiple credits from different cancelled events into one master credit.
– If you don’t redeem the full credit amount on your next order, the remaining balance stays active for future use.
Before your refund processes, Ticketmaster will email you with instructions on how to choose event credit instead. You can then log into your account and select that option.
The credit will show in your account within 7-10 days after selecting it. Make sure to use the credit within the valid timeframe so it doesn’t go to waste.
Conclusion
While navigating Ticketmaster’s refund policies can be tricky, you can successfully get your money back on cancelled concert tickets by following the proper steps. Always check the specific event’s refund rules upfront, then submit your request online immediately. Provide a valid justification, and don’t be deterred if denied at first. Refunds typically take 7-30 days to process once approved. For cancelled shows, event credits give you more flexibility than cash refunds. With attention to detail and persistence, you can get a satisfactory resolution from Ticketmaster.