Whether Ticketmaster will refund you for tickets depends on the specific circumstances. In general, Ticketmaster has a refund policy in place that outlines when refunds are available for ticket purchases made through their platform.
When are Ticketmaster refunds available?
According to Ticketmaster’s purchase policy, refunds are available in the following circumstances:
- The event is postponed, rescheduled or canceled. Ticketmaster will refund the ticket price and fees if you can no longer attend the new date.
- You purchased ticket insurance. This allows refunds for covered reasons such as illness, travel issues, or work conflicts.
- The tickets have not yet been shipped or provided. Unshipped paperless tickets or will call orders can be refunded.
- The tickets are lost, stolen or defective. Ticketmaster may issue a refund if tickets are lost or stolen and you provide sufficient documentation.
Outside of these situations, Ticketmaster does not generally provide refunds if you can no longer attend the event. However, you may be able to resell or transfer tickets through Ticketmaster’s ticket exchange.
How do you request a Ticketmaster refund?
To request a refund from Ticketmaster, you will need to contact their Fan Support team. Refund requests can be submitted by:
- Calling Ticketmaster Customer Service at 1-800-653-8000 (toll-free in the US) or 1-855-985-5000 (toll-free in Canada).
- Contacting Ticketmaster via their website form. Navigate to the Ticketmaster home page and click “Contact Us” to find the form.
- Visiting a Ticketmaster box office in person, if available at the event venue.
When you request a refund, make sure to have your order number, ticket information and reason for refund available. Ticketmaster may ask for additional documentation depending on the refund circumstances.
How long does a Ticketmaster refund take?
The time it takes to receive a Ticketmaster refund can vary based on the original payment method:
- Credit card purchases: Refunds to the original credit card typically take 7-10 business days after approval.
- PayPal purchases: Refunds to PayPal accounts may take up to 30 business days after approval.
- Cash purchases: For events that allowed cash ticket sales, refunds are issued as checks within 4-6 weeks after approval.
- Gift cards: Refunds are processed as gift card credits within 30 days.
Are there any Ticketmaster refund fees?
Ticketmaster does not charge any processing fees for refunds. The refund amount will be the full ticket price and associated fees paid at time of purchase. However, your bank or credit card company may charge a fee for processing the refund transaction.
Can you get a refund for unused Ticketmaster tickets?
In most cases, Ticketmaster will not provide refunds for unused tickets. Their policy states that “unused tickets have no cash value” outside of the refund situations outlined above.
If you can no longer attend an event, Ticketmaster recommends reselling unused tickets through their Official Ticket Exchange. This allows fans to resell event tickets at prices they set themselves. Ticketmaster imposes price caps to prevent substantial markups.
What if an event is postponed by Ticketmaster?
If an event is postponed by the event organizer or Ticketmaster, refunds are available to ticket holders who cannot attend the new date. To request a refund, contact Ticketmaster within 30 days once the new date is announced.
If the event is rescheduled within 12 months of the original date, only a partial refund of the ticket fees may be issued. For postponements longer than 12 months, a full refund including fees is available upon request.
Can you get a refund if the tickets are fake or invalid?
If you purchased tickets through Ticketmaster and later find they are fake, invalid or do not grant entry, Ticketmaster will issue a full refund of the ticket price and fees. Make sure to contact their support team as soon as possible and be prepared to send the useless tickets back to Ticketmaster.
Fake or invalid tickets are often associated with third-party sellers. Ticketmaster warns buyers to only purchase from official sources to avoid fake ticket scams.
What about refunds for parking passes and other add-ons?
If you purchased any additional products through Ticketmaster such as parking passes, Ticketmaster will refund those if you are eligible for a ticket refund:
- Parking: If the base event ticket is refunded, any associated parking pass purchases will also be refunded.
- VIP packages: Purchased VIP or premium packages that are unused are eligible for a refund if the base ticket is refunded.
- Other add-ons: Additional products like meal vouchers, merchandise, etc. are refunded if the base ticket is refunded.
Can you get a refund on convenience and processing fees?
If you qualify for a full refund on the base ticket price, Ticketmaster will also refund the convenience fees and order processing fees associated with that ticket purchase. Fees are not refunded unless the base ticket is fully refunded.
What about refunds for postponed sports games?
For sporting events, game postponements and cancellations often result in automatic refunds to fans. However, sports league policies vary when it comes to rain delays, shortened games, and other circumstances.
If a sports game is shortened, delayed, or played with restricted attendance, refunds are generally determined by the league policy. Ticketmaster will follow the league’s directives regarding refunds in these situations.
Can you get a refund on service fees and shipping?
Service fees and shipping costs are eligible for refund if the base ticket purchase is fully refunded. This includes:
- Delivery fees for shipped tickets
- Will call pickup fees
- E-ticket convenience fees
- Order processing fees
Any charges associated with the original ticket order will be reversed if Ticketmaster approves a full ticket price refund.
What about refunds for flight and hotel costs?
Ticketmaster’s refund policy only applies to amounts paid for event tickets and associated fees. Refunds do not cover any travel costs such as flights or hotels booked for the event.
In some cases, airlines or hotels may provide refunds or travel credits if you contact them directly. But Ticketmaster itself will not refund travel-related purchases.
How are refunds processed for Ticketmaster gift cards?
If tickets purchased with a Ticketmaster gift card are refunded, the refund will be processed as a gift card credit:
- Refund amounts are credited back to the original gift card if possible.
- If the gift card is no longer active, credits are issued to a new gift card.
- No cash refunds are provided for gift card ticket purchases.
Refund gift cards never expire and can be used for future Ticketmaster purchases.
What’s the policy for military or government orders?
For U.S. military members, government employees, or government contractors whose orders prevent event attendance, Ticketmaster will issue a refund with sufficient documentation. Refund requests must be submitted within 45 days of the event.
The following documents must be provided:
- A signed letter from a commanding officer or supervisor confirming the orders.
- A copy of the government ID card or contract.
- Any other details requested by Ticketmaster support.
Subject to verification, a full refund including fees will be issued. The refund is generally processed within 3-4 weeks after receiving documentation.
Will reselling a ticket prevent refund eligibility?
Reselling or transferring a ticket may affect refund eligibility in some cases. Ticketmaster’s policy states:
- Refunds are issued to the original ticket purchaser on record.
- Tickets resold through unauthorized channels may be non-refundable.
- Refunds for resold tickets are at the discretion of Ticketmaster support.
If you purchased a resold ticket that requires a refund, check with the seller first. If that fails, contact Ticketmaster, but a refund is not guaranteed.
What options exist besides Ticketmaster refunds?
If Ticketmaster denies your refund request, there are some other options that may help recover the ticket cost:
- Ticket exchanges – Resell tickets via Ticketmaster’s Official Exchange.
- Fan-to-fan resale – Use sites like StubHub to resell to other fans.
- Ticket insurance – File a claim if you purchased optional insurance.
- Credit card price protection – Some cards refund price drops within a time window.
- Credit card chargebacks – Dispute the charge if tickets are unusable.
Make sure to review the policies around reselling, exchanges, and insurance claims when using these options.
Key takeaways on Ticketmaster refunds
Here are some key points to remember about Ticketmaster’s refund policy:
- Refunds are provided if an event is postponed, rescheduled or canceled.
- Unused tickets are generally non-refundable except in special circumstances.
- Refunds take 7-30 business days depending on payment method.
- All fees are refunded when a full ticket refund is approved.
- Options like ticket exchanges, resales and insurance may be available.
- Refund eligibility for resold tickets depends on the situation.
- Travel costs like flights and hotels are not refunded by Ticketmaster.
The bottom line on Ticketmaster refunds
Ticketmaster aims to provide full refunds including all fees when events are canceled or rescheduled. Outside of those situations, unused ticket refunds are difficult to obtain in most cases. Fans must rely on options like ticket resales, exchanges or insurance claims to recover costs for an event they can no longer attend.
To have the best chance at a refund, purchase tickets directly through Ticketmaster and understand their posted policies. Refund eligibility may be lost if tickets are obtained through unauthorized resellers. And as with any policy, exceptions can be made at Ticketmaster’s discretion based on individual circumstances.
With millions of tickets sold each year, Ticketmaster must balance strict policies with appropriate exceptions to keep fans happy. In the end, fans can enjoy peace of mind by reviewing policies upfront, purchasing directly from Ticketmaster, and exploring insurance or resale options in advance if needed.
