Frequent concertgoers will likely be all too familiar with Ticketmaster’s habitual reaming of the consumer via the exorbitant and seemingly totally unnecessary fees they tack onto ticket sales. Now, it appears as though customers are about to go all Jennifer Lopez in Enough on the company’s ass, through some much-needed financial retribution. As Business Insider reports, due to a proposed class action settlement, Ticketmaster is being forced to credit $1.50 per ticket order — up to 17 orders — to those individuals who used the ticket retailer between October 21, 1999 and October 19, 2011. The refund will come in the form of vouchers, which can be redeemed a maximum of two at a time. The redemption period itself will last four years and isn’t scheduled to begin until roughly April 2012. Reportedly, if less than $11.25 million is redeemed over that period, Ticketmaster will then donate the difference to charity. How gracious.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing in the settlement that requires Ticketmaster to change their processing fees. All they need now is a fancy disclaimer on their website indicating, “WE ARE ABOUT TO CHARGE THE SHIT OUT OF YOU,” and they can continue doing so. A $1.50 per-ticket refund isn’t much when you consider the actual fees that they bludgeon you with, but I suppose it’s better than nothing. Occupy Ticketmaster!
• Ticket Fee Litigation: http://www.ticketfeelitigation.com
