If you are unable to attend a concert you purchased tickets for through Ticketmaster, you have a few options depending on the reason you can’t go and the timing. Ticketmaster has policies in place to help customers who can no longer use their tickets for various reasons.
Reasons You May Not Be Able to Attend
There are a variety of reasons you may find yourself unable to go to a concert you already bought tickets for:
- Illness/injury
- Transportation issues
- Family emergency
- Work conflict
- Bad weather (if the event is outdoors)
Whatever the reason, act quickly once you know you can’t make it to preserve your options. Timing is an important factor.
Ticketmaster Policies
Ticketmaster has a FanProtectTM Guarantee that allows ticket refunds or exchanges within 14 days of purchase as long as the event hasn’t happened yet. Beyond that time frame, options vary:
- Within 30 days of event: You may be able to Sell or Transfer your tickets through Ticketmaster if the venue allows it.
- After event starts: Refunds and exchanges are generally prohibited.
- Event is postponed: Tickets are valid for rescheduled date.
- Event is canceled: Full refunds are issued.
There are exceptions for extenuating circumstances, which will be covered later.
Sell or Transfer Options
If you realize soon enough that you can’t use your tickets, Ticketmaster allows you to sell or transfer them via their site or app. Here is an overview of how these options work:
Sell Your Tickets
You can opt to resell your tickets through Ticketmaster’s safe, certified resale marketplace. Pricing is up to you. Benefits include:
- Your tickets are guaranteed valid.
- You recoup some of your costs.
- Tickets are delivered instantly to buyers.
- No need to arrange meetings with strangers.
There are some downsides though:
- Ticketmaster charges a fee to list your tickets for sale (often around 20%).
- There’s no guarantee your tickets will sell.
- You need to price your tickets competitively to actually sell them.
So weigh the convenience against potential drawbacks. Transferring tickets may work better in some cases.
Transfer Tickets
Ticketmaster also gives you the option to transfer your tickets to someone else. You can send them to a family member, friend, or even a stranger who wants to buy them.
Benefits of transferring include:
- Avoid Ticketmaster seller fees.
- Transfer to someone you know.
- More control over ticket price.
Some limitations on transfers:
- Tickets can only be transferred once.
- You must know the recipient’s email address or Ticketmaster account username.
- No guarantees on payment or delivery for private sales.
So weigh the pros and cons of both options before deciding. Check with the venue too, as some restrict transfers.
Refund and Exchange Options
If the event date is fast approaching or already started, your options shift to potential refunds or exchanges.
Refund Eligibility
Refund availability depends on:
- How close to event date you are.
- Reason you can’t attend.
- Original method of payment.
Here are some general Ticketmaster refund policies:
Time Frame | Refund Eligibility |
---|---|
Within 14 days of purchase | Full refund guaranteed |
15-30 days before event | Only for exceptional circumstances |
After event starts | No refunds |
So refunds become less likely the closer you get to the event date, unless you have extenuating circumstances.
Extenuating Circumstances
For some situations outside your control, you may be able to get a refund after that initial 14 day window:
- Serious illness/injury/death
- Military deployment
- Jury duty
- Pregnancy complications
- Natural disasters
In these cases, submit any necessary documentation and Ticketmaster will review. But there is still no guarantee of approval.
Original Payment Method
How you originally paid for your tickets also impacts refunds. Here is a rundown:
Payment Method | Refund Processing |
---|---|
Credit card | Refund to original card |
Debit card | Refund to original card |
Cash | No refunds |
Gift cards | Refund to Ticketmaster gift card |
So if you paid with cash, you are out of luck in most cases when seeking a refund from Ticketmaster directly. You would need to try selling or transferring the tickets instead.
Exchange for New Tickets
Rather than get a refund, you can also opt to exchange your tickets for an upcoming show instead, if available. This allows you to reuse the value of your tickets rather than lose money. Some points on exchanges:
- Only possible if similar tickets are available.
- You pay the price difference if new tickets cost more.
- No exchanges if new show is sold out.
- Pending refund requests cancel out exchange option.
Check for exchange availability before requesting any refunds!
Options for Rescheduled or Canceled Events
There are times when the entire event is changed or called off altogether. This greatly impacts your options as a ticket holder.
Rescheduled Events
If an event simply gets postponed to a later date, your tickets automatically remain valid for the new date. However, you can still request a refund if:
- You can’t attend on new date.
- You don’t want tickets for new date.
Refund eligibility depends on:
- Original purchase date.
- Reason you can’t attend new date.
Exchanges may also be possible following the usual exchange policies and availability.
Canceled Events
If an event is permanently canceled with no rescheduling, Ticketmaster automatically issues full refunds to all ticket holders. Refunds are generally processed within 30 days back to original payment method. You can contact support if issues.
For canceled events, you have no option to exchange tickets or transfer to someone else since the event will not happen. Only recourse is the full refund.
Getting Your Money Back
To actually obtain a refund or exchange for tickets you can no longer use, follow these steps:
- Access your Ticketmaster account online or via app.
- Select the event and pull up your order.
- Choose “Request a Refund” or “Exchange” option.
- Select reason you can’t attend.
- Include any necessary documentation.
- Submit request and allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
- If approved, await refund by original payment method.
Here are some tips for speeding up the process and avoiding hassles:
- Make requests as early as possible.
- Double check event status – don’t request refunds for shows that are happening as scheduled!
- Provide clear documentation upfront if needed.
- Follow up if taking longer than 2-4 weeks.
With some planning and prompt action, you can get your money back if plans change unexpectedly.
Selling Tickets through Third-Party Sites
If Ticketmaster options don’t work out, you may consider selling tickets through an independent third-party site not associated with Ticketmaster. Popular options include:
- StubHub
- Vivid Seats
- SeatGeek
- RazorGator
- MegaSeats
Benefits of third-party sales:
- May have more success selling last minute.
- No limit on transferability.
- Larger seller pool.
Downsides:
- Higher seller fees.
- Less seller protection.
- Scam risk higher.
So weigh your options carefully if looking at this route. Do research on site reputation and protections before listing your tickets.
Avoiding Scams
When selling or buying tickets from unknown third parties, scams are a risk. Here are some tips:
- Only use reputable, established sites.
- Check reviews carefully.
- Insist on secure electronic transfer.
- Don’t wire money to strangers.
- Watch for too-good-to-be-true prices.
- Trust your gut instincts about deals.
If something seems fishy, it probably is. Use your best judgment.
Non-Refundable Tickets
Some concert tickets are sold as non-refundable or final sale. This means that under most circumstances you will not be eligible for refunds or exchanges if plans change. These tickets generally cannot be resold through Ticketmaster’s site either.
You can still try selling them through a third party site, but will likely have to accept a loss. Other options are:
- Gift tickets to a friend or family member.
- Donate to a charity auction.
- Resell through classified ads if allowed.
Just don’t expect to recoup your money if dealing with non-refundable seats. Read all details carefully before purchasing tickets with major restrictions.
Conclusion
If you find yourself unable to use tickets purchased through Ticketmaster, you have some options to potentially get your money back or make alternative arrangements. Key takeaways include:
- Act quickly if plans change – don’t wait!
- Sell or transfer early to maximize value.
- Refunds get harder to obtain closer to event date.
- Exchanges may be possible if new tickets available.
- Rescheduled shows have some flexibility.
- Canceled shows guarantee refunds.
- Non-refundable tickets severely limit options.
With some advance planning and prompt action, you can likely recover your costs if you end up unable to attend a concert booked through Ticketmaster. Just be sure to understand any restrictions upfront and act fast if situations change.