There are a few common reasons why you may see an “unable to cancel listing” message when trying to cancel a ticket listing on Ticketmaster.
The event is past the cancellation deadline
For most events, there is a cutoff deadline for cancellation set by the event organizer or venue. This is usually 24-48 hours before the event start time. If you try to cancel after this deadline has passed, Ticketmaster’s system will not allow you to cancel the listing.
So if you see “unable to cancel listing” when trying to cancel a ticket, it likely means the cancellation deadline has already passed for that event. You can no longer remove the tickets from Ticketmaster at that point.
Examples of cancellation deadlines
Here are some examples of typical cancellation deadlines:
- Concerts – 24-48 hours before showtime
- Sporting events – 24 hours before start time
- Theater shows – 48 hours before showtime
The exact cutoff time is set by the organizer and can vary, so always check the event details on your Ticketmaster order for the specific cancellation policy.
Your tickets have already been sold
Another reason you may be unable to cancel a Ticketmaster ticket listing is if your tickets have already been purchased by another customer.
Ticketmaster allows you to list tickets for sale even if you are not 100% sure you can attend the event. This allows time to sell them. However, if another fan purchases your tickets before you try to cancel, it will be too late.
Once tickets are sold and purchased through Ticketmaster, they cannot be cancelled or pulled back by the seller. The only option at that point is for the buyer to relist the tickets themselves if they need to cancel.
Ways to prevent tickets selling before you cancel
Here are some tips to avoid this issue:
- Cancel as soon as possible if needed, don’t wait
- Set a high price to discourage quick purchases
- Don’t list on Ticketmaster until sure you cannot attend
But once tickets sell, there is unfortunately no way for the seller to cancel the order or remove the listing.
You listed tickets incorrectly
In some cases, you may see “unable to cancel listing” if you did not list your tickets correctly on Ticketmaster.
For instance, if you accidentally listed the same tickets for sale multiple times, or listed tickets you did not actually have access to, Ticketmaster may not allow you to cancel part of the invalid listing.
Any issues with improper listings or duplicate postings can prevent cancellation. You will need to contact Ticketmaster customer service to address the problem listing and may not be able to easily cancel online.
Tips for avoiding incorrect listings
- Carefully enter ticket details and only list each ticket for sale once
- Make sure you have transferable access to any tickets listed for sale
- Review listings before publishing to catch any errors
Taking time to list tickets correctly from the start can help avoid tricky cancellation issues down the line.
The tickets are non-transferrable
Some event tickets on Ticketmaster are non-transferrable. This means the tickets must be used by the original purchaser and cannot be sold or transferred to someone else.
If you try to list non-transferrable tickets on Ticketmaster to sell, you will likely run into problems cancelling later. The system recognizes you do not actually have the right to sell the tickets, so it will not allow you to remove the listing.
Non-transferrable tickets will typically indicate they cannot be resold at time of initial purchase. But if not, this can lead to confusion when trying to cancel later.
Avoiding issues with non-transferrable tickets
To prevent problems:
- Check ticket details for any resale restrictions before listing
- Do not attempt to list tickets marked as non-transferrable
- Sell tickets on authorized resale platforms only
If you accidentally listed non-transferrable tickets, you will need to connect with the event provider or Ticketmaster for assistance removing the improper listing.
There is an error with your Ticketmaster account
In some rare cases, users may receive the “unable to cancel listing” message due to an error or glitch with their Ticketmaster account.
This can happen if there is a technical issue on Ticketmaster’s end, or if your account information becomes corrupted or inaccurate.
Some examples of technical issues that could potentially interfere with cancelling ticket listings include:
- Problems linking your Ticketmaster account to a Facebook or Live Nation account
- Incorrect personal information on your Ticketmaster account
- Tickets connected to an old Ticketmaster account or profile
If you suspect an account error may be stopping you from cancelling, reach out to Ticketmaster customer service for assistance. They can investigate your account and listings to resolve any underlying issues.
Tips for troubleshooting Ticketmaster account issues
- Make sure all account info (name, email, etc) is current
- Try cancelling tickets while logged out of linked accounts
- Contact support to investigate irregular activity on your account
With help from Ticketmaster’s team, many account-related issues blocking cancellation can typically be corrected.
You listed the tickets for bidding only
If you listed event tickets as part of an auction bidding process only, you may not have the ability to directly cancel the listing.
With auction-style listings, the tickets are not actually sold until the auction winner completes their purchase. So the system does not permit the seller to cancel the listing mid-auction once bids have started coming in.
However, Ticketmaster does provide options to remove bids and essentially cancel an auction listing if needed:
- End the auction early with no winner
- Reject individual bids from potential buyers
- Adjust pricing and other listing details to discourage bids
So while auction tickets may not allow formal cancellation, sellers do have some control to walk away from an auction or prevent a sale if required.
Tips for auction-style ticket listings
- Carefully review auction terms before listing tickets
- Understand options to remove bids and end auction early
- Don’t start auction until sure tickets are available for sale
With auction listings, it is vital to understand the auction terms and process before posting tickets. This can help avoid surprises around cancellation down the line.
You are the event organizer cancelling an event
For very large events, the event organizer or promoter may be the one trying to cancel ticket listings on Ticketmaster.
In this case, there is usually an entirely different cancellation process that must be followed. The promoter cannot simply cancel individual ticket listings through a normal Ticketmaster account.
Reasons an organizer may need to cancel all event tickets include:
- Event is postponed or rescheduled
- Event is completely cancelled with no rescheduling
- Event venue, date, or other details need to change
To handle event-wide cancellations, the promoter will need to work with Ticketmaster directly to initiate the proper cancellation protocol.
This involves formally alerting Ticketmaster of the cancellation reason, agreeing to refund processes, and allowing time for Ticketmaster to administer refunds.
There is special procedure for large cancellations that organizers must follow. Simply trying to remove listings individually will not work properly.
Tips for event organizers cancelling shows
- Alert Ticketmaster immediately of any event cancellation
- Work with Ticketmaster team to coordinate announcement and refunds
- Allow sufficient time for Ticketmaster to process refunds before new event dates
By collaborating directly with Ticketmaster, organizers can ensure the smooth cancellation of an entire event and associated tickets when needed.
You are trying to cancel tickets from a non-official reseller
If you purchased event tickets from an unauthorized ticket resale platform, you may have issues trying to cancel listings later.
Ticketmaster has specific seller agreements in place to facilitate cancellations. But if you bought tickets outside of Ticketmaster from a non-official seller, these agreements likely do not apply.
Common examples of unauthorized resale sources include:
- Ticket scalping sites
- Illegal ticket brokers
- Scam artists or fake sellers
- Direct person-to-person sales
Any tickets purchased through these means are very high risk. There is no guarantee they are valid, and no recourse for cancelling later through Ticketmaster.
You would need to negotiate directly with the original seller if you need to attempt cancellation of these types of grey market tickets.
Avoiding issues when buying tickets
To have the best protection when purchasing tickets:
- Only buy from Ticketmaster directly or authorized resale platform
- Do not purchase from unknown third party sellers
- Review seller terms and cancellation policies in advance
Purchasing only from trusted sources ensures you will have valid tickets and ability to cancel if plans change.
Conclusion
In summary, here are some of the most common reasons you may find yourself unable to cancel a ticket listing on Ticketmaster:
- The cancellation deadline has already passed
- Your tickets have already been purchased by another fan
- You listed tickets incorrectly or duplicate times
- Your tickets are non-transferrable
- There is an error with your Ticketmaster account
- You only listed tickets as part of an auction
- You are the event organizer cancelling an entire event
- You bought from an unauthorized ticket reseller
Always carefully review event details and Ticketmaster policies before listing tickets. This can help avoid situations where last minute cancellation becomes difficult or impossible.
If you need to cancel Ticketmaster tickets and receive an “unable to cancel” message, contact their customer service team for assistance investigating the issue.