Ticketmaster Ireland applies a service charge to all ticket purchases made through their website. This service charge is added on top of the face value ticket price and helps cover the costs of providing their ticketing services. Understanding what the Ticketmaster Ireland service charge consists of and the typical amounts can help consumers make informed decisions when purchasing tickets.
What Does the Ticketmaster Ireland Service Charge Include?
The Ticketmaster Ireland service charge includes several different fees that are bundled together into one charge added to ticket orders. Some key components of the Ticketmaster service charge include:
- Booking Fee – This covers the costs of processing the ticket order through their system.
- Delivery Fee – This covers the costs of getting the tickets to the purchaser, either via print-at-home, mail, or box office pickup options.
- Payment Processing Fee – This covers the costs of handling the payment transaction.
Bundling these fees into a single service charge allows Ticketmaster to simplify the checkout process compared to showing each individual fee separately. However, it does mean that consumers don’t have full transparency into what specific costs make up the total service charge.
How Much Is the Ticketmaster Ireland Service Charge?
The amount of the Ticketmaster Ireland service charge can vary based on factors like:
- The ticket price – Generally, higher cost tickets have a higher service charge.
- Delivery method – Print-at-home tickets tend to have lower fees compared to delivery by mail.
- Event/venue – Different venues or events may have different negotiated service charges.
- Number of tickets – Orders with more tickets can have progressively higher service fees.
That said, Ticketmaster does publish some guidelines on typical service charge amounts:
Ticket Price Range | Typical Service Charge |
---|---|
€0 – €12.99 | €1.95 per ticket |
€13 – €17.99 | €2.95 per ticket |
€18 – €28.99 | €3.95 per ticket |
€29 – €39.99 | €4.95 per ticket |
€40 – €59.99 | €5.95 per ticket |
€60 – €300 | 11% of ticket face value per ticket |
So for example, a €25 ticket would typically have a service charge of €3.95. A €100 ticket would typically have an €11 service charge added. This table provides a general guideline, but the specific service charge for a ticket order still depends on the various factors mentioned earlier.
Are There Any Other Fees?
In some cases, there can be additional fees beyond just the standard service charge added to Ticketmaster Ireland orders:
- Delivery Fee – For ticket delivery by mail, an additional delivery fee of €5.55 per order may apply if the service charge for your ticket order was less than €8.55 per order.
- Credit Card Fee – For credit or debit card purchases, a fee of 1.5% of the total transaction amount may apply. This is separate from the payment processing fee included in the standard service charge.
- Late Purchase Fee – For last-minute ticket purchases made within 5 days of an event, an additional €2.55 late purchase fee per ticket may apply.
However, in many cases the standard service charge is the only fee applied on top of the ticket’s face value. Be sure to review your full order checkout for details on any additional fees.
Does Ticketmaster Ireland Charge Any Other Fees?
Here are some other fees or charges that may apply to Ticketmaster Ireland orders in specific situations:
- Print-at-Home Fee – If you choose print-at-home ticket delivery, a €2.55 per order print fee applies.
- Donation Charge – Some events may include an optional donation to charity that is added to your order total.
- Insurance Charge – You may have the option to purchase ticket insurance to protect against lost, stolen, or forgotten tickets.
- Reserved Seating Fee – For seats in a reserved section, there is often an additional per ticket reserved seating fee.
Ways to Reduce the Ticketmaster Service Charge
If you want to avoid paying the Ticketmaster Ireland service charge, here are some tips that may help:
- Buy direct from the box office – Purchasing tickets directly from the venue’s box office can sometimes avoid service fees.
- Buy with a promoter pre-sale code – Use a special pre-sale code distributed by the event promoter or artist to access tickets before the general on-sale.
- Use a fan club pre-sale – Many bands or artists offer fan club members access to tickets before the general public.
- Look for ticket giveaways – Radio stations and sponsors will sometimes give away tickets that avoid fees.
- Find a group order discount – Ordering with a group of 6+ people can qualify you for a bulk order service charge discount.
However, these options are not always available for all events. For very popular events, paying the Ticketmaster service charges may be unavoidable to secure tickets conveniently online.
Is the Ticketmaster Ireland Service Charge Refundable?
If tickets are returned or refunded, typically only the face value of the ticket is refunded. The Ticketmaster service charge and any additional handling fees are usually not refunded.
However, if an event is canceled entirely and not rescheduled, Ticketmaster Ireland will provide a full refund of the service charge along with the ticket price. The service fee is only non-refundable for ticket returns, not full event cancellations.
Other Relevant Ticketmaster Policies on Refunds
- If tickets are lost, stolen, or forgotten, no refund is provided including the service charge.
- If the tickets are resold through Ticketmaster’s authorized resale platform, the service charge can be refunded to the original buyer.
- Service charges may still apply if exchanging tickets for a different performance of the same event.
- Refunds only apply within specific time limits, such as 48 hours before an event.
Conclusion
The Ticketmaster Ireland service charge consists of processing, delivery, and other fees bundled together for simplicity. Typical service charges range from around €2 to €11 per ticket depending on the ticket price, delivery method, and other factors. While this charge cannot be avoided on most direct online purchases, being aware of the fee structure and typical amounts can help consumers make informed ticketing decisions.