Getting a refund from Ticketmaster can be a frustrating process for many customers. Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies, selling millions of tickets per year for concerts, sports events and more. But with such high volume, processing refunds takes time.
If you’re wondering when you’ll get your money back on tickets for a cancelled or postponed event, here’s what you need to know about the Ticketmaster refund timeline and process.
Why is it taking so long to get my refund?
There are a few key reasons why Ticketmaster refunds can take so long:
- High volume of cancellations – With so many events impacted by COVID-19, Ticketmaster is facing an unprecedented number of event cancellations and postponements. This translates to millions of refunds to process.
- Manual processing – Ticketmaster refunds are not automated. They have staff go through refund requests one by one manually. This introduces delays compared to automated systems.
- Verification process – Ticketmaster not only has to process each refund, but they likely need to verify details with event organizers for each transaction. This back-and-forth introduces further delays.
- Payment processing – Once approved, refunds have to go through the payment processing system and work their way back to your method of payment. This can tack on several more days depending on your bank.
With this context, it makes sense why Ticketmaster refunds might take weeks or sometimes months during busy periods. But let’s look at exactly what to expect based on your situation.
Ticketmaster Refund Timeline
Here is an overview of the typical Ticketmaster refund timeline and steps to expect:
1. Request a refund – Up to 30 days
As soon as your event is cancelled or postponed, you can request a refund directly through Ticketmaster online or by phone. You generally have up to 30 days from the event date to request your refund in most cases.
This triggers Ticketmaster’s manual review process and gets you in the refund queue. It may take up to a week or more for them to even process your initial request though due to volume.
2. Refund review and approval – Up to 4 weeks
Once your refund request is processed, Ticketmaster will review your purchase details and verify with the event organizer that the event was indeed cancelled.
This manual verification step tends to take 1-4 weeks in most cases. Some event organizers respond faster than others.
You will receive email updates from Ticketmaster when your refund has been approved and is queued for payment processing.
3. Payment processing – 1-2 weeks
The next step is processing payment through whichever method you purchased the tickets.
For credit card purchases, expect it to take 1-2 weeks from refund approval for the money to show up back on your statement.
For debit cards or other forms of payment, it may take several business days longer. Ticketmaster says to allow 3-4 weeks for payments to complete.
4. Refund receipt – Within 24 hours of refund
Once your refund payment is processed and sent, you should receive a final email confirmation from Ticketmaster within 24 hours stating your refund is complete.
Check your payment statements closely around this time. The money should be credited back to your account within a few business days if not immediately.
Getting a Faster Ticketmaster Refund
While the standard Ticketmaster refund timeline is 6-8 weeks, there are a few things you might do to potentially get your money back faster:
Follow up regularly
Don’t just submit your refund request then wait around hoping it gets processed. Follow up with Ticketmaster every 1-2 weeks to check status.
You can contact them online or by phone. Politely asking for an update on your case and reminding them you are waiting can help prioritize your request.
Escalate to a supervisor
If it has been over 6 weeks with no refund and insufficient responses from Ticketmaster, you may need to escalate your case to a supervisor.
Ask to speak to a manager to get your refund expedited due to the excessive delays. Make it clear you expect prompt payment.
Issue a chargeback
If Ticketmaster is unresponsive or dragging their feet, consider initiating a chargeback through your bank or credit card company.
Explain that you have tried and failed to get your refund from Ticketmaster directly. Your bank will then contact Ticketmaster to recover the funds.
Chargebacks come with fees though, so only use this last resort option after exhausting other avenues.
Waiting for Your Refund? Here are Your Options
We know it’s frustrating to keep waiting for a Ticketmaster refund you are owed. Here are some options to consider while you wait:
1. Use refund credit for future events
Rather than wait indefinitely, Ticketmaster may offer you an event credit equal to the refund amount. This lets you reuse the funds for future event tickets through their site.
If you expect to use Ticketmaster again soon, this may be more convenient. Just know that you are giving up your right to an actual refund by accepting event credit.
2. Dispute the charges
If you paid by credit or debit card, dispute the charges with your bank if refund delays drag on too long. Provide proof of the cancelled event and your refund request.
The bank will likely credit you temporarily while they resolve it. Just know disputes can take 30-90 days to fully complete in some cases.
3. File a complaint with authorities
You can file formal complaints about the refund delays with authorities like your state attorney general’s office or the Federal Trade Commission.
They can contact Ticketmaster to investigate and potentially force their hand to issue refunds faster.
4. Adjust your claims
In extreme cases where Ticketmaster is plainly refusing refunds altogether, you may need to pursue legal action in small claims court.
You can sue for the refund amount plus court fees, lost interest and other costs their delays imposed on you.
Conclusion
The standard Ticketmaster refund process can easily take anywhere from 6-12 weeks in total during busy periods. With millions of refunds to get through after mass event cancellations, delays are inevitable.
But you can take steps to follow up regularly and escalate your case to potentially get paid back faster. Or exercise other options like chargebacks, complaints and claims if Ticketmaster drags their feet too long.
Being proactive yet patient goes a long way when dealing with Ticketmaster refunds. With persistence you will eventually get back the money you are owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a refund from Ticketmaster?
The typical Ticketmaster refund takes anywhere from 6-8 weeks to fully process. First they must manually approve each refund request, which takes 1-4 weeks. Then allow another 1-2 weeks for payments to complete through your bank or credit card company. At very busy times with lots of cancellations, it can stretch longer in some cases up to 10-12 weeks.
What is Ticketmaster’s refund policy?
Ticketmaster’s refund policy allows refunds on tickets for any event that gets officially cancelled or rescheduled. You must request the refund within 30 days of the original event date. Refunds are issued back to the original method of payment used to purchase the tickets. Exchanges may be offered for event credit instead of a full refund in some cases.
How do I contact Ticketmaster for a refund?
To request a Ticketmaster refund, first log into your Ticketmaster.com account online. Find the order for the cancelled event and select “Request a Refund” which will start the process. You can also call Ticketmaster customer service at 1-800-653-8000 to request refunds over the phone.
Why is my Ticketmaster refund taking so long?
Ticketmaster refund delays are typically caused by the high volume of requests due to mass event cancellations. They process each refund manually alongside verifying details with event organizers. Combined with payment processing times through banks, this can stretch the timeline out 6-12 weeks to get your money back. Follow up regularly on your refund case to help speed it along.
Can I get a refund on non-refundable Ticketmaster tickets?
Normally non-refundable tickets are not eligible for cash refunds from Ticketmaster if you can no longer attend the event. However, for cancelled or postponed shows, even non-refundable ticket holders are typically allowed refunds. This is because the event organizer broke the terms by not providing the event as promised on the date printed on non-refundable tickets.
Key Takeaways
– Allow 6-8 weeks for standard Ticketmaster refund processing timelines. At busy periods it can take 10-12 weeks.
– To start your refund, request it online or call customer service within 30 days of the event date.
– Ticketmaster processes each refund manually alongside verifying details with event organizers.
– Once approved, bank payment processing adds 1-2 weeks before the money is credited back.
– Follow up regularly on your refund case and escalate to management if needed to speed it along.
– Consider options like chargebacks or legal claims if Ticketmaster drags feet too long on issuing refunds.
Table of Estimated Ticketmaster Refund Timelines
| Refund Step | Estimated Timeline |
|---|---|
| Request Refund from Ticketmaster | Up to 1 week to process |
| Refund Review and Approval | 1-4 weeks |
| Payment Processing | 1-2 weeks |
| Receive Refund Confirmation | Within 24 hours of refund payment |
| Total Estimated Time | 6-8 weeks standard, up to 12 weeks during busy periods |
