There are a few possible reasons why you may receive a “forbidden” error message when trying to accept tickets on Ticketmaster:
Your IP address is blocked
One common reason for the “forbidden” error is that Ticketmaster has temporarily blocked your IP address. This can happen if Ticketmaster detects suspicious activity from your IP, such as:
- Trying to accept a large number of tickets very quickly (purchasing tickets faster than a human reasonably could)
- Using bots or automated tools to try to buy tickets
- Accessing the Ticketmaster website from an IP address linked to previous suspicious activity
Ticketmaster aims to block IP addresses being used for ticket scalping or unfair advantages. If your IP gets blocked, you will receive the “forbidden” error when trying to accept tickets.
The block is usually temporary, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. The best solution is to wait it out until your IP is unblocked. Using a VPN to mask your IP address could also resolve the issue more quickly.
Payment issues
Another potential cause of the “forbidden” error is payment issues when trying to accept tickets. Some possibilities include:
- Your payment method being declined by your bank or credit card company
- Your payment details being incorrect or outdated
- Your payment method not matching the billing address for your account
Ticketmaster may restrict your account if there are too many failed payment attempts. Check that your payment information is all valid and up-to-date to resolve payment-related errors.
Account restrictions
In some cases, Ticketmaster may place restrictions on your account that prevent you from accepting tickets. This can happen if Ticketmaster detects activity that violates their Terms of Use, such as:
- Reselling tickets for profit (“ticket scalping”)
- Using bots, scripts or specialized tools to gain an unfair advantage
- Circumventing ticket limits by creating multiple accounts
Account restrictions may include limits on how many tickets you can purchase, blocking you from certain events, or even a complete ban. You will need to contact Ticketmaster support to restore access to your account if restrictions have been placed.
Technical issues
Less commonly, technical glitches on Ticketmaster’s side could also produce a “forbidden” error. Issues like website bugs, overloaded servers, or service outages could prevent access to the ticket checkout and cause the forbidden message to appear.
For technical issues, try the following troubleshooting tips:
- Clear your browser cookies and cache
- Try a different browser or device
- Disable any ad blockers or VPN software temporarily
- Use a wired internet connection instead of WiFi
- Wait a while and try again later
If the problem persists, it’s likely due to a temporary technical problem on Ticketmaster’s end. Contacting their customer service team can help confirm if technical issues are causing the “forbidden” error.
Event ticket limits have been reached
For extremely popular events, tickets will often sell out completely within minutes. In those cases, you may receive a “forbidden” error or messages like “No tickets available” once the ticket allotment has been purchased.
If an event shows as sold out, unfortunately there is nothing you can do to bypass the ticket limits. You will need to try again if more tickets are released at a later date.
Tips for avoiding “forbidden” errors
Here are some tips to avoid seeing the “forbidden” message when purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Don’t try to buy tickets faster than humanly possible, as this looks like bot activity
- Stick to ticket limits – don’t create multiple accounts or have others buy on your behalf
- Use a payment method and billing address that matches your Ticketmaster account
- If your IP gets blocked, stop activity and wait a while before trying again
- Don’t use prohibited tools like ticket bots that violate Ticketmaster’s policies
Following Ticketmaster’s rules and purchasing tickets fairly will help minimize the chances of restrictions being placed on your account.
Getting help with “forbidden” errors
If you continue experiencing “forbidden” messages and cannot determine the cause, reaching out to Ticketmaster customer support can help. There are a few ways to contact them for assistance:
- Live chat support on Ticketmaster.com
- The “Help” section on Ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster app
- Calling Ticketmaster support by phone
- Contacting Ticketmaster on social media like Facebook or Twitter
When you contact Ticketmaster support, provide details like:
- The exact error message you received
- What you were trying to do when the error occurred
- Screenshots documenting the issue
- Any troubleshooting you have already tried
Their team can then investigate the specific cause in your case and let you know the best solution, whether that requires waiting for an IP block to lift, updating your payment method, or removing account restrictions.
Conclusion
In summary, “forbidden” errors on Ticketmaster typically stem from one of these common causes:
- Your IP address being temporarily blocked
- Invalid payment details or failed payments
- Restrictions placed on your Ticketmaster account
- Technical issues or glitches on Ticketmaster’s website
- Ticket allotments for an event being entirely sold out
Following Ticketmaster’s policies, double-checking your account details, and contacting support can help resolve many “forbidden” errors. With the right troubleshooting, you should be able to bypass the forbidden message and successfully purchase event tickets.