Getting a refund on Ticketmaster can take some time. Here is an overview of the Ticketmaster refund process and timeline so you know what to expect if you need to get your money back.
How the Ticketmaster Refund Process Works
When you request a refund on a Ticketmaster order, the request gets sent to the event organizer who issued the tickets. This is usually the sports team, concert promoter, theater company, etc. Ticketmaster acts as the ticket seller on behalf of these event organizers. So the event organizer ultimately decides if a refund is approved or not based on their policies.
Once the event organizer approves the refund, the money gets sent back to Ticketmaster to process. Ticketmaster will then refund the money to the original payment method used to purchase the tickets. This is usually a credit card, debit card, Ticketmaster gift card, or other valid payment method.
So in summary, the main steps are:
- Customer requests refund from Ticketmaster
- Refund request sent to event organizer
- Event organizer reviews and approves/denies based on policies
- If approved, money goes back to Ticketmaster
- Ticketmaster processes refund to original payment method
This process means refunds take some time to complete as multiple parties are involved. The rest of this article will look at how long Ticketmaster refunds take in different situations.
Ticketmaster Refund Timeline
How long it takes to get a Ticketmaster refund depends on several factors:
- Type of tickets – Sports, concert, theater, etc.
- Reason for refund – Event canceled, changed plans, etc.
- Payment method – Credit card, gift card, etc.
- Event organizer policies – Each has own rules
Here are some general timelines to expect:
Refund Scenario | Timeline |
---|---|
Event canceled by organizer | Within 30 days of cancellation notice |
You can’t attend event | 5-15 business days after approval |
Credit card purchase | 5-7 business days after approval |
Ticketmaster gift card | Within 3 billing cycles |
As you can see, refund timing varies quite a bit depending on the situation. Next, we’ll look at some specific examples.
Refund Time for Canceled Events
If an event organizer cancels an event, Ticketmaster automatically issues refunds to all ticket purchasers. They aim to process these refunds within 30 days of the cancellation notice.
Many event organizers try to cancel events with as much advance notice as possible. But in some cases, events may be canceled last minute due to COVID-19 restrictions, low ticket sales, weather issues, or other unforeseen circumstances. The quicker the cancellation happens to the event date, the longer processing refunds may take as there are more to handle.
You should receive an email notification from Ticketmaster when your refund for a canceled event is processed. If it has been over 30 days since the cancellation with no refund, you should contact Ticketmaster customer service.
Refund Time for Changed Plans
If you can no longer attend an event that is still happening, refund timing depends more on the event organizer’s policies. Many have a no refunds or exchanges policy unless you purchased refundable tickets or insurance.
If refunds are allowed, it usually takes 5-15 business days after the event organizer approves the refund for Ticketmaster to process. Sports teams and large concerts often take the full 15 business days as they have the highest volume of refund requests to handle.
The type of tickets also matters. If you purchased paperless e-tickets, the refund may process faster since the tickets do not need to be physically returned. For traditional paper tickets, the event organizer may require you mail the tickets back before the refund is issued.
Refund Time by Payment Method
The original payment method used to purchase Ticketmaster tickets also impacts refund timing.
- Credit or debit card purchases – Refunds back to the original card typically take 5-7 business days after approval.
- Ticketmaster gift cards – Can take up to 3 billing cycles for the refund to appear back on the gift card balance.
- Cash at Ticketmaster box office – Must return to box office for cash refund after approval.
Debit and credit card refunds are fastest at just under a week in most cases. Gift card and cash purchases require some extra steps that add to the wait.
How to Check Refund Status
Wondering what the status is of your pending Ticketmaster refund request? There are a couple ways to check:
- Check your email inbox. You should receive emails from Ticketmaster when your refund is approved and processed.
- Sign into your Ticketmaster account online. Go to the order and click “View Details.” It should show the refund status.
- Contact Ticketmaster Fan Support. An agent can look up the status for you.
The order details in your Ticketmaster account are usually the fastest way to get an update. Refund statuses you may see include:
- Pending – Submitted, waiting for organizer approval
- Approved – Refund authorized, being processed
- Denied – Refund request rejected by organizer
- Refunded – Money returned to original payment method
If it has been over 30 days since an event cancellation or 15 business days since a refund approval with no money back, reach out to Ticketmaster support for help investigating.
How to Request a Refund
Need to request a new Ticketmaster refund? Here are the steps to take:
- Sign into your Ticketmaster account online or via the mobile app.
- Navigate to the order you want to refund.
- Select the “Request a Refund” option.
- Choose a reason for the refund from the drop-down menu.
- Confirm which tickets you want to return if not the entire order.
- Submit the refund request.
For paper tickets, you will need to mail them back to the event organizer following the instructions Ticketmaster provides. This will be required before the refund can process.
Make sure to submit refund requests as soon as possible. Most event organizers have a firm cutoff 14-30 days out from an event. Requests after the deadline have very little chance of being approved.
Contact Ticketmaster for Refund Help
Have questions on a pending Ticketmaster refund? Running into issues getting your money back? The best way to get help is contacting Ticketmaster Fan Support:
- By phone at (800) 653-8000
- Via live chat on Ticketmaster.com
- By emailing [email protected]
When you contact support, have your order number ready for reference. That helps them look up the status of your refund faster.
Some common reasons to contact Ticketmaster Fan Support include:
- Refund taking longer than advertised timeline
- Had refund denied unexpectedly
- Never received refund confirmation
- Can’t figure out how to submit request
The customer service agents can investigate delayed or missing refunds, explain reasons for any denies, walk you through the submission steps, and answer any other questions around the process.
Options for Fast Refunds
While most Ticketmaster refunds take 7-15 business days to process, there are some options to expedite the timeline in certain cases:
Refundable Tickets
Many event organizers offer more expensive refundable ticket options. These tickets guarantee a full refund if you can’t attend for any reason. Policies vary, but refunds are generally issued within 5-10 business days with these upgrade tickets.
Refund Insurance
Some ticketing platforms like TicketSmarter let you add refund insurance at checkout for a small fee. This also guarantees a timely refund for covered reasons. Can be a good idea for expensive events just in case.
Resale Marketplaces
If the event already happened and you can’t get a refund from Ticketmaster, try reselling the used tickets on StubHub, Vivid Seats, or other secondary marketplaces. You won’t get all your money back, but can recoup some of the cost.
Just make sure the tickets are still valid for entry if event hasn’t happened yet. Also beware of scam listings.
Conclusion
The bottom line is Ticketmaster refunds usually take between one to three weeks to process based on the situation. Canceled events and refundable ticket purchases will be on the quicker end at around 5-10 business days. Standard refunds can take the full 15 business days to appear.
Be sure to check on your refund status directly in your Ticketmaster account for the most up to date timeline. And don’t hesitate to contact customer support if your refund is late or you have other issues getting your money back. They can investigate what is holding things up.
With high demand events, it pays to purchase refundable tickets or refund insurance if you want cancellation flexibility. But otherwise, expect a bit of a wait to get your money back on Ticketmaster. Plan accordingly and hopefully you won’t need a refund at all!