Plan Ahead for Summer Events – Ticketed Event Tips

Summer is quickly approaching and many Wisconsin consumers will attend a concert, festival, sporting event, or other ticketed event over the coming months. It is important for these consumers to be prepared before buying a ticket.

The FTC’s junk fees rule requires businesses to disclose total prices upfront, including in advertisements – meaning that ‘hidden’ fees for entertainment and sports events will be a thing of the past. Misleading fees are also prohibited, with businesses being required to disclose what is being charged and why, as well as which fees are refundable. It is important to note that variable fees like taxes and shipping do not need to be shown until later in a transaction, as these can change depending on a consumer’s location and consumer choices.

When buying a ticket, consumers should:

· Purchase directly from an official vendor, such as the venue or an official promoter. This protects the consumer from scams and may make it easier to process a refund if necessary. o Check if the seller is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers at natb.org – member organizations guarantee certain protections for ticket buyers.

· Use a credit card. Credit cards have built-in protections against fraud. Payment methods like debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, payment apps, and cash should be avoided if possible.

· Know the refund policy. Official sellers should provide clear information about refund eligibility and processes. If these details are not provided, consider another official seller or passing on the purchase.

Unfortunately, sometimes events must be cancelled or rescheduled – and occasionally this happens on very short notice. Wisconsin law protects consumers from losing most prepaid admissions fees when ticketed events are cancelled or rescheduled, as promoters must provide refunds in most cases. (Exceptions include competitive sports between school teams or within established sports leagues.)

To obtain a refund for a cancelled event, ticket purchasers must contact the event promoter (this may be different than how the ticket was purchased) and present their ticket within 90 days of the cancellation.

To obtain a refund for a rescheduled event, ticket purchasers must contact the event promoter and present their ticket no later than 30 days after the originally scheduled event date.

Promoters must provide refunds no later than 60 days after a consumer presents their ticket.

Some fees may not be refundable, like for parking or service charges or if a portion of the ticket price was considered a nonrefundable charitable donation. Consumers should save their receipts and any other messages from the promoter, ticket seller, and any other companies involved in the event.