When you purchase tickets through Ticketmaster, there are often various fees and charges added to the base ticket price. These extra costs may show up under different names on your bank or credit card statement after completing a Ticketmaster transaction.
Ticket Price
The ticket price is the base cost of the event ticket itself. This will be listed as the main charge and will typically include the section and row or seat number in the description. For example, a $50 ticket may show up on your statement as “Concert Tickets A15” or something similar.
Service Fees
Service fees are charges added by Ticketmaster for using their platform to purchase tickets. There are usually multiple different service fees that may apply:
- Convenience fees – For the convenience of purchasing tickets online/by phone
- Order processing fees – For processing the ticket order
- Delivery fees – For digital or physical ticket delivery
These fees can range from $5-$20+ per ticket depending on the event. On your statement, the fees may show up separately with names like “Ticketmaster Convenience Fee” or may be bundled together as “Ticketmaster Service Fees.”
Facility Fees
Facility fees are charged by the concert venue or event facility, and Ticketmaster passes them on to the customer. These fees help cover venue maintenance, upkeep, utilities, and other operating costs. Facility fees are typically $5-$20 per ticket and may show up as “Facility Charge” or similar on your statement.
Taxes and Government Fees
There are often local and regional taxes applied to event tickets. These may include sales tax, entertainment tax, municipal fees, etc. Depending on your location, these taxes and fees can add 10-25% or more to the overall cost. Your statement will likely show these charges with the tax category in the description (i.e. “Sales Tax” or “Entertainment Tax”).
Order Processing Fees
Order processing fees cover the cost of processing your complete ticket order and preparing them for delivery. They may also include customer service fees for access to help centers. Order processing fees are usually around $5-$10 per ticket order and will show up with a description like “Order Processing Fee.”
Ticketmaster Delivery Fees
If you choose to have your tickets delivered digitally or shipped to you, Ticketmaster charges delivery fees. For digital “Instant Download” tickets, this is around $5 per order. For expedited shipping, fees can be $20+ per order. Your statement will show these delivery fees with a description indicating the method, such as “Instant Delivery Fee” or “Overnight Shipping.”
Ticketmaster Verified Resale Fees
If you purchase tickets through Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace from other fans, you may see additional “Verified Resale” fees. These are charged on top of the ticket price and help cover costs associated with facilitating safe resale. The fees are generally around 15% of the resale ticket price.
Summary of Common Ticketmaster Charges
Fee | Amount | Description on Statement |
---|---|---|
Convenience Fees | $5-$20 per ticket | “Convenience Fee” |
Order Processing Fees | $5-$10 per order | “Order Processing Fee” |
Delivery Fees | $5-$20 per order | “Instant Delivery Fee” or “Shipping Fee” |
Service Fees | $10-$30 per ticket | “Service Fee” or “Ticketmaster Service Fee” |
Facility Fees | $5-$20 per ticket | “Facility Fee” or “Venue Charge” |
Taxes and Government Fees | 10-25%+ per ticket | “Sales Tax” or “[City] Entertainment Tax” |
Verified Resale Fees | Around 15% of resale ticket price | “Verified Resale Fee” |
So in summary, while the base ticket price may seem reasonable, all the extra Ticketmaster fees can really add up. It’s important to factor them in when budgeting for an event to avoid sticker shock when your statement comes. The various fees should show up individually on your statement, or may be bundled together as Ticketmaster service fees. But they allow Ticketmaster to make their profit on each ticket transaction.
Tips for Minimizing Ticketmaster Fees
If you want to try to reduce the amount of fees you pay when buying tickets, here are some tips:
- Buy season ticket packages or ticket packs – These usually have lower per-ticket fees compared to single tickets
- Purchase tickets directly at the venue box office – This avoids most of Ticketmaster’s processing fees but is less convenient
- Buy group tickets – Fees are often lower when purchasing large groups of tickets together
- Get tickets from the official fan club presale – Some groups offer special presales through their fan clubs with reduced fees
- Use a Ticketmaster rewards credit card – Can sometimes get access to special fee discounts or rebates
- Buy verified resale tickets – May be cheaper overall compared to fees added to new tickets
While you probably can’t eliminate all fees, using some of these buyer tips can potentially save you money next time you purchase through Ticketmaster.
Contacting Ticketmaster About Charges
If you have any questions about charges that appear on your bank or credit card statement after buying Ticketmaster tickets, you can contact their customer service for assistance:
- Call their toll-free support line at +1 800-653-8000
- Initiate a live chat through their online help center
- Email them at [email protected]
- Reach out via their Contact Us form on the Ticketmaster website
Just have your order number handy when you contact them. This will allow their support team to pull up your purchase details and provide clarification on any fees or charges.
Disputing Unrecognized Charges
If you notice any charges on your statement from Ticketmaster that you don’t recognize or believe were applied incorrectly, you have a few options to dispute them:
- Contact Ticketmaster first – Explain the issue and request a refund of the disputed amounts.
- File a dispute through your bank or credit card company – Most have dispute processes you can initiate online or by phone.
- Report issues to consumer protection groups – Such as the Better Business Bureau to have them address the problem.
- Avoid paying the charges until resolved – This may impact your account standing if not resolved.
It’s best to address unfamiliar Ticketmaster charges promptly to get them reversed before paying your statement. Being proactive helps resolve these billing errors efficiently.
Avoiding Surprise Fees in the Future
To avoid being caught off guard by fees when buying tickets through Ticketmaster, make sure to:
- Carefully read all terms and fees before completing a purchase.
- Check the final price including fees before confirming your order.
- Review your statement when it comes to identify all charges.
- Only purchase from official sources like Ticketmaster.com to prevent scams.
- Use a protected payment method in case you need to dispute charges.
Being an informed and vigilant customer will prepare you for the full cost of Ticketmaster tickets and help minimize bad surprises. Do your homework ahead of time so there are no unexpected charges.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster service and convenience fees are essentially unavoidable if you want to buy tickets through their platform. But knowing what the charges are for and what terminology is used can at least prevent confusion down the road. Expect to see order processing fees, delivery fees, venue fees, and more all itemized when your statement comes after purchasing tickets. If you see any erroneous or fraudulent charges, contact Ticketmaster customer service or your bank right away to dispute them. Being aware of the full cost upfront, including all Ticketmaster’s add-on fees, allows you to budget accordingly so there are no nasty surprises later on your statement.