Ticketmaster is one of the largest primary and secondary ticket marketplaces, allowing fans to buy tickets directly from venues and artists as well as from other fans who are reselling tickets they can no longer use. With a robust resale marketplace, fans can often find tickets to sold out shows at below face value prices. However, just like with primary tickets, circumstances sometimes change where a fan can no longer attend an event they purchased resale tickets for. This leaves many wondering – can I cancel a Ticketmaster resale ticket if I can’t go?
Can You Cancel a Resale Ticket on Ticketmaster?
The short answer is usually no. Unlike primary market tickets bought directly from Ticketmaster, their resale tickets are not eligible for refunds or cancellations in most cases. This is because Ticketmaster is just providing the platform for fans to resell extra tickets – they didn’t issue those tickets initially so don’t have control over refunds.
Once a resale ticket purchase is completed on Ticketmaster, both the buyer and seller are agreeing that the transaction is final. So if you can no longer attend the event, you won’t be able to “return” or cancel the tickets through Ticketmaster for a refund.
Exceptions Where Cancellation is Possible
While Ticketmaster resale tickets are generally non-refundable, there are a few limited cases where a cancellation may be allowed:
Event is Postponed or Cancelled
If the event you purchased resale Ticketmaster tickets for ends up being postponed, rescheduled, or cancelled altogether, you can request a refund.
Ticketmaster will refund the original ticket purchaser – not necessarily you as the resale ticket buyer. But you can contact the seller and they should send your refund once they receive it from Ticketmaster.
Issues with Invalid Tickets
In rare cases, there may be an issue with the validity of the resale tickets you purchased on Ticketmaster. For example:
- The seller listed fake tickets or tickets they didn’t actually have
- The tickets ended up being duplicates that had already been sold
- The barcodes didn’t scan properly at the venue
If you run into a situation where the tickets are found to be fraudulent or otherwise invalid, Ticketmaster will work with you to try to obtain replacement tickets. If that is not possible, you may be eligible for a full refund.
Extreme Medical Emergency
Ticketmaster does state that refunds for resale ticket purchases may be granted “in the event of an extreme medical emergency”. However, you would likely need to provide documentation from a medical professional detailing why you or someone in your party is suddenly unable to attend. The bar for what constitutes an “extreme medical emergency” seems to be quite high.
Other Options if You Can’t Cancel Ticketmaster Resale Tickets
If your reason for wanting to cancel your Ticketmaster resale tickets doesn’t qualify under one of the above exceptions, you still have several options:
Resell or Gift the Tickets
Rather than cancelling your purchase, you can always resell the tickets yourself on Ticketmaster or another secondary marketplace. While you likely won’t recoup the full amount you originally paid, you can often get a partial refund this way.
Another option is to gift the tickets – you’ll just want to formally transfer them via Ticketmaster to the recipient.
Dispute the Charge
If you purchased the resale Ticketmaster tickets with a credit card, you may be able to dispute the charge if:
- The purchase was fraudulent (fake tickets etc)
- You can show you made reasonable efforts to resolve the issue with Ticketmaster but were unsuccessful
File a dispute request with your credit card company explaining the circumstances and provide any relevant documentation. If approved, you would be refunded the ticket purchase amount. Just keep in mind the credit card company may reverse this if Ticketmaster provides evidence the sale was valid.
Take the Loss
Lastly, you may just have to take the loss and eat the cost of the tickets if you truly cannot attend and have no other recourse. Chalk it up to a learning experience and be more careful about only purchasing resale tickets you are 100% sure you can use. Lots of people end up in this boat when circumstances change unexpectedly after a ticket purchase.
Tips to Avoid Issues When Buying Ticketmaster Resales
While cancellations and refunds aren’t an option for Ticketmaster resale tickets, you can avoid headaches down the line by following these tips when making purchases:
- Only buy from sellers with a good rating and sales history. This reduces the risk of fake ticket scams.
- Confirm the tickets are transferable before purchasing. Some events use paperless/mobile entry which complicates transfers.
- Review Ticketmaster’s resale policies before buying so you understand the terms.
- Don’t make speculative purchases way in advance – wait until you are sure you can attend.
- Use a credit card to give yourself some recourse if issues arise down the line.
Following those tips, and avoiding resale purchases as a speculative investment, can help minimize situations where you need to try to cancel Ticketmaster resale tickets after purchase.
Can You Cancel Ticketmaster Resale Tickets? – The Short Answer
While Ticketmaster does not offer refunds or cancellations on resale ticket purchases in most cases, you may still have options like reselling the tickets or disputing a fraudulent purchase. Your best bet is being an informed buyer, only purchasing tickets you are positive you can use to avoid needing to cancel down the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I bought fake tickets on Ticketmaster resale?
If you can provide proof the tickets sold to you on Ticketmaster resale were fraudulent or otherwise invalid, you may be eligible for a full refund or replacement tickets if available.
What if I bought tickets for someone else who can now no longer attend?
Unfortunately, Ticketmaster’s resale ticket refund policy applies regardless of who was attending. Your options would be reselling the tickets or gift them to someone else.
Can Ticketmaster cancel the order if I don’t pay in time?
Yes, if your payment for a Ticketmaster resale order fails or is not completed by the deadline given, your order will be cancelled automatically.
Do resale tickets on Ticketmaster have the same guarantees as normal tickets?
No, Ticketmaster states that any guarantees, warranties etc. that may come with primary tickets do not apply to resale marketplace purchases. You don’t have the same protections.
What if I never received the Ticketmaster resale tickets I purchased?
If you never received the tickets, contact Ticketmaster immediately for assistance. As long as you have proof of purchase, they should be able to facilitate getting replacement tickets sent to you.
The Bottom Line
Ticketmaster resale ticket purchases are final in all but a few extreme circumstances. If your plans change after buying resale tickets, your options are reselling them, gifting them away, or disputing a truly fraudulent purchase. To avoid needing to “cancel” at all, only buy tickets you are 100% sure you can use. With no refunds available, buyers need to be wary when purchasing tickets from resellers.