Getting a refund or credit for tickets purchased through Ticketmaster can be tricky. Ticketmaster’s refund and exchange policies vary depending on the event, venue, and other factors. Here is a look at some of the key things to know about getting a credit for Ticketmaster tickets:
Ticketmaster Refund and Exchange Policies
Ticketmaster’s refund and exchange policies are set by the event organizer or venue. This means the exact policy can differ for each event. However, there are some general guidelines:
- Many tickets are non-refundable through Ticketmaster. This is especially true for very popular events that are likely to sell out.
- Exchanges may be allowed, but usually only for the exact same event (i.e. exchanging one seat for a different seat at the same concert).
- Refunds are more likely for events that are postponed or rescheduled.
- Tickets can’t be refunded after the event starts or if tickets were already downloaded or shipped.
The specific refund or exchange terms will be listed on the event page when purchasing tickets. It’s important to read these carefully when buying tickets to understand the policy.
Getting a Credit for Postponed or Rescheduled Events
If an event is postponed, rescheduled, or canceled, Ticketmaster will typically offer refunds or credits to ticket holders. However, the exact policy still depends on the event organizer. Options may include:
- A full refund of the ticket price (including fees)
- A credit for the full amount paid to be used for future Ticketmaster events
- The ability to request a refund within a set time period
- The ability to exchange tickets for the new event date
If an event is postponed or rescheduled, Ticketmaster will email ticket holders with information on their specific refund or credit options.
Getting a Credit for Personal Reasons
Unless the event is postponed or canceled, getting a credit from Ticketmaster for personal reasons is very difficult. However, there are some cases where you may be able to get an exception:
- Medical emergencies – If you or someone in your party has a verified medical emergency that prevents you from attending, you can contact Ticketmaster customer service and submit documentation to request a one-time credit. This is granted on a case-by-case basis.
- Military deployment – If you are in the U.S. military and get deployed, preventing you from attending the event, you can request a credit by contacting Ticketmaster and providing deployment orders.
- Seller cancels – If you purchased ticket resales via Ticketmaster and the seller ends up canceling the order or failing to deliver the tickets, Ticketmaster will refund you the full purchase amount to use on future events.
Outside of these types of exceptional cases where documentation can be provided, it is very unlikely Ticketmaster will grant a credit for personal reasons if the event is still taking place as scheduled.
Reselling Tickets to Try to Get Your Money Back
Since credits are hard to come by, some people attempt to resell their tickets instead to try to recoup their money. There are a few options for reselling Ticketmaster tickets:
- Ticketmaster Resale – Ticketmaster has an official resale marketplace where tickets can be posted for sale. The upside is it is a secure platform. The downside is Ticketmaster charges sellers fees of around 15% of the resale price.
- Third-party sites – Tickets can be resold on secondary marketplaces like StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek, etc. Seller fees are typically lower, around 10-15%. However, there is less buyer protection.
- Social media or classifieds – Posting tickets for sale on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Kijiji or other platforms involves the highest risk but has the lowest fees.
If going the resale route, prices need to be competitive and reflect demand. Also, delivery method must be considered carefully for physical tickets. Only pursue this option if comfortable with the risks.
Tips for Maximizing Your Chances of a Credit
While credits are never guaranteed, you can maximize your chances of getting a Ticketmaster credit in certain cases by following these tips:
- Read policies carefully at purchase and only buy tickets you are sure you can attend.
- Purchase Ticketmaster’s Ticket Assurance add-on (where available) to get easier refunds for covered reasons.
- Act quickly if an event is postponed/rescheduled – request a credit as soon as the new date is announced.
- If reselling, don’t dramatically inflate prices beyond comparable ticket prices.
- Avoid reselling tickets just to turn a profit – focus on recouping your costs at most.
- If reasons are personal, highlight why they are exceptional and prevent event attendance.
- Provide supporting documentation (e.g. medical emergency) when requesting a credit.
Following these tips provides the best shot at a credit, but there is no guarantee. Ultimately, the event organizer’s policy determines if Ticketmaster can issue credits or not.
If You Can’t Get a Credit
If Ticketmaster denies a refund or credit request, there are still a couple last ditch options:
- Keep trying customer service – You may need to politely escalate your request by phone or online chat before reaching someone empowered to make exceptions.
- Initiate a chargeback – For qualifying reasons, you can contact your credit card company to dispute the charge. This should only be done as a last resort.
Aside from these steps, unfortunately you will likely be stuck with tickets you can’t use if Ticketmaster won’t grant a credit. Some key takeaways:
- Only buy tickets you are sure you can attend, as credits are rare.
- Understand and accept the refund policy before purchasing tickets.
- Don’t count on getting your money back – focus on seeing if credits are offered instead.
Conclusion
Getting a credit for Ticketmaster tickets is difficult in most cases. Credits will really only be offered if the event is rescheduled or postponed. For personal reasons, credits are hard to come by unless special circumstances like medical emergencies can be documented. Even then, approvals are on a case-by-case basis. The best policy is to only buy tickets you are sure you can use, and review the refund policies carefully before purchasing. With no guarantee of credits, managing expectations upfront is crucial.