There are a few common reasons why you may encounter an invalid barcode error when trying to enter a venue with a Ticketmaster ticket. Here are some of the most likely causes and what you can do about it.
The barcode was damaged or obscured
Barcodes need to be in pristine condition for the scanner to be able to read them properly. If the barcode is damaged, faded, crumpled or otherwise obscured in any way, you may get an invalid barcode error when you try to enter. Some common ways barcodes get damaged include:
- Getting the ticket wet
- Storing the ticket somewhere it can fade, such as next to a window or in direct sunlight
- Folding or crumpling the ticket
- Having fingerprints, dirt or other debris cover the barcode
Carefully examine your ticket and make sure the barcode section is intact and clearly visible. Gently wipe away any dirt or debris obscuring the barcode. If there is damage to the barcode itself, unfortunately you will need to contact Ticketmaster to see if the ticket can be reissued.
The barcode is for a different event
Make sure the barcode on the ticket matches the event you are trying to attend. It’s easy to grab the wrong ticket in your wallet or purse by mistake. The venue scanner will reject any ticket with a barcode for a different event, even if it’s a valid Ticketmaster ticket overall.
If you have multiple Ticketmaster tickets in your possession, take a close look and make sure you have the right one for the event you are attending. The barcode must match that specific event for the scanner to accept and validate it.
The ticket was canceled or refunded
If a Ticketmaster ticket gets refunded or canceled for any reason, the barcode becomes invalidated in their system. Even if you still have the physical ticket, the barcode will no longer work since it is associated with a ticket that is no longer valid.
This can happen if you requested a refund or cancellation on a ticket but still have the physical ticket in your possession. It also happens if Ticketmaster cancels an event – any tickets sold for that event will now trigger the invalid barcode error even though you did nothing wrong as the ticket holder.
If you suspect your ticket may have gotten canceled or refunded, check your Ticketmaster account online or contact their customer service to confirm. They will be able to look up the ticket by barcode number and see if it is still valid or has been canceled/refunded.
The ticket is counterfeit
If you purchased a ticket from a private seller or unauthorized ticket resale site, beware – you may have unfortunately received a counterfeit ticket. Unscrupulous sellers create fake barcodes that seem like real Ticketmaster tickets, but will be rejected at the door when scanned.
Some signs your ticket may be counterfeit include:
- Purchasing from a sketchy source
- Prices that are dramatically below face value
- Generic ticket templates and barcodes
- Lack of Ticketmaster branding and logos
You’ll need to contact the seller you purchased the ticket from for a refund. Ticketmaster will not accept counterfeit tickets or allow entry with a fake barcode. Carefully vet sellers and marketplaces before purchasing event tickets to avoid getting scammed with fake tickets.
You changed your Ticketmaster account details
Your Ticketmaster tickets are directly associated with the account and profile details you have set up with them. If you change anything significant about your Ticketmaster account, it can invalidate the barcodes of any existing tickets linked to the old details.
Account changes that can cause issues include:
- Changing your name
- Changing your email address
- Changing your password
- Deactivating and reactivating your account
Contact Ticketmaster customer service if you suspect changes to your account may be causing the invalid barcode error. They can update your existing tickets to the new account details to restore barcode functionality.
There was an error with Ticketmaster’s system
In rare cases, you may encounter an invalid barcode error due to some glitch or temporary outage on Ticketmaster’s end. Their system may have a problem validating barcodes, resulting in valid tickets being erroneously rejected.
Try again a short time later – the problem is likely temporary and should resolve itself as Ticketmaster fixes whatever system issue occurred. You can also contact their customer service to report the problem in case it is widespread or ongoing.
The ticket seller never transferred the tickets properly
When purchasing tickets from an individual seller or ticket resale marketplace, there is a ticket transfer process that needs to happen to assign the tickets to you in Ticketmaster’s system:
- Original ticket purchaser lists tickets for sale
- You purchase tickets from seller and make payment
- Seller initiates ticket transfer to you in their Ticketmaster account
- You accept ticket transfer in your Ticketmaster account
If the seller fails to properly initiate the transfer after selling you the tickets, they will remain associated with the seller’s account only. This means the barcodes are still valid for the seller but invalid for you, since the tickets were never officially transferred into your account.
Contact the seller immediately and do not send payment if tickets have not been transferred yet. If you already paid, insist the seller transfer the tickets to your Ticketmaster account right away so you can gain access to the valid barcodes.
The tickets were resold after being transferred once
Tickets can only be transferred once on Ticketmaster. The original ticket purchaser can transfer tickets directly to you. However, if you purchase resold tickets and then try to resell them again to someone else, Ticketmaster will invalidate the barcodes when you initiate a second transfer.
This is to prevent multi-level ticket scalping and brokering. It also ensures the barcodes remain connected to the end ticket holder attending the event, rather than passed around multiple times.
If you purchased resold tickets and need to resell them again for any reason, unfortunately the barcodes will no longer work for additional buyers down the line. The tickets can only be transferred once total before the barcodes become invalid for additional resale transactions.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting an invalid barcode error requires carefully examining the ticket itself as well as your Ticketmaster account details. Issues like damage, canceled tickets, counterfeits, account changes, seller errors and resales beyond the first transfer can all cause barcode problems. Contact Ticketmaster customer service for assistance if you cannot resolve the issue by verifying the tickets yourself.
