Ticketmaster bans can last anywhere from a few months to a lifetime, depending on the severity of the offense. There are a few key factors that determine how long a Ticketmaster ban will last:
Type of Violation
The most common violations that can lead to a Ticketmaster ban include:
- Purchasing tickets solely for the purpose of reselling them at a higher price
- Using bots or automated software to buy large quantities of tickets
- Providing false or misleading information during the ticket buying process
Bans for minor first-time violations like providing incorrect billing information may only last 3-6 months. More serious violations like using ticket bots can result in bans lasting 1-5 years. Repeated or egregious violations may warrant a lifetime ban.
Number of Offenses
If you violate Ticketmaster’s Terms of Use multiple times, the duration of your ban will increase. First-time offenders will typically receive shorter bans, while repeat offenders are more likely to be banned for longer periods or even indefinitely.
For example, if you get banned for 3 months for mistakenly entering the wrong billing information, but then get banned again 6 months later for reselling tickets, your second ban will probably last much longer than your first one.
Level of Fraud or Deception
Ticketmaster takes an especially harsh view of users who deliberately engage in fraudulent activities to obtain tickets. This includes:
- Using stolen credit cards or compromised accounts
- Stealing tickets through account takeovers or social engineering
- Forging fake identities or accounts
If Ticketmaster determines you intentionally scammed or deceived them, you can expect an immediate and permanent ban. Even if it’s a first offense, fraud is grounds for a lifetime ban in most cases.
Time Since Last Offense
If your ban has lasted for a significant period of time since your last violation, you may be able to appeal for reinstatement. For instance, if you were banned 5 years ago for reselling a few tickets, you may be able to argue you’ve “served your time” and deserve another chance.
However, if you have offenses as recent as 6 months ago, it’s unlikely Ticketmaster will lift your ban, regardless of how minor the violation was.
Circumstances of Ban
The specifics around your ban – how many tickets were involved, the dollar amount, whether you disputed the charges, if you were confrontational or apologetic – can influence how long Ticketmaster maintains the ban.
For example, if you made a genuine mistake and purchased 10 tickets by accident, then called Ticketmaster right away expressing remorse and offered to return the tickets, you’d likely receive a lighter ban than someone who bought 500 tickets and racked up thousands in fraudulent charges before getting caught.
Appealing the Ban
In some cases, you may be able to appeal a Ticketmaster ban if you believe it was unwarranted or excessive. This involves writing a letter to Ticketmaster’s Fan Support team explaining the circumstances and asking for the ban to be lifted or shortened.
Keys to a successful appeal include:
- Being polite, humble and acknowledging your mistake
- Providing evidence the offense was accidental or minor
- Detailing all the steps you’ve taken to ensure it won’t happen again
- Offering to make amends, such as returning disputed tickets or paying associated fees
However, Ticketmaster is very strict, so appeals are rarely approved. And even if an appeal succeeds in shortening a ban, you will remain under higher scrutiny going forward.
Examples of Ban Lengths
Here are some real-world examples of Ticketmaster bans and how long they can last:
Minor Billing Errors
If you make a mistake entering billing details like an expired credit card, incorrect CVV, or mismatched address – and it’s clearly just a one-off accident – you may get a 3-6 month ban.
Excessive Returns and Cancellations
Frequently returning or canceling large orders can get you banned for 6-12 months, as this behavior could indicate reselling.
Reselling a Few Tickets
If it’s verified you resold just a couple of tickets at higher prices, expect a 1-2 year ban.
Bot Usage
Bots often result in 1-5 year bans, with the longer durations for those who use bots extensively and repeatedly.
Scamming or Fraud
Stolen credit cards, fraudulent accounts, and social engineering scams almost always warrant an indefinite lifetime ban.
Violation | Typical Ban Length |
---|---|
Minor billing error | 3-6 months |
Excessive returns/cancellations | 6-12 months |
Reselling a few tickets | 1-2 years |
Using bots | 1-5 years |
Scamming/fraud | Lifetime ban |
Preventing Bans
To avoid getting banned by Ticketmaster, be sure to follow their Terms of Use and refrain from:
- Reselling tickets at inflated prices, especially in large volumes
- Using any bots, scripts or automated purchasing tools
- Providing false personal details or payment info
- Acquiring tickets via 3rd party sellers or unauthorized resale sites
Also, if you accidentally make a minor error like a billing mistake, contact Ticketmaster immediately to correct it. Being upfront about mistakes can help minimize ban durations.
Getting Unbanned
If you do end up banned, here are some tips to improve your chances of getting unbanned sooner:
- Wait at least 6-12 months before appealing – long enough that your offense is considered “old”
- Send a polite letter acknowledging your violation and expressing regret
- Detail all the steps you’ve taken to prevent it happening again
- Note any extenuating circumstances that led to the violation
- If possible, make amends like returning disputed tickets or paying fees
However, there are no guarantees when it comes to appealing Ticketmaster bans. Your best option is to avoid violations in the first place and closely follow their terms and conditions.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster bans can range anywhere from a few months to a lifetime, depending on the type and severity of the violation. While minor billing errors may only result in a short 3-6 month ban, those caught committing fraud or using ticket bots will almost certainly be banned for life. The best way to avoid a Ticketmaster ban is to strictly follow their Terms of Use when purchasing tickets.