Trying to transfer tickets on Ticketmaster but running into issues? You’re not alone. Ticket transfers can fail for a number of reasons. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the top reasons your Ticketmaster ticket transfer may not be working and show you how to troubleshoot the problem.
What is Ticket Transfer on Ticketmaster?
The Ticket Transfer feature on Ticketmaster allows ticket buyers to securely transfer tickets they can no longer use to someone else. Rather than reselling tickets, which is prohibited on Ticketmaster for many events, Ticket Transfer provides a safe way to get tickets to another fan if you can’t make the event.
To use Ticket Transfer, you must have a Ticketmaster account and have purchased the tickets you want to transfer through Ticketmaster. The recipient of the transferred tickets must also have a Ticketmaster account to receive the tickets.
Here’s a quick rundown of how Ticket Transfer works:
- Log into your Ticketmaster account and go to your “My Tickets” page. Find the tickets you want to transfer.
- Select “Transfer Tickets” next to the ticket listing. This will start the transfer process.
- Enter the recipient’s email address or Ticketmaster account username. Ticketmaster will send them a transfer invitation.
- The recipient must accept the transfer invitation within 7 days or the tickets will be returned to you.
- Once accepted, the tickets are transferred from your account to the recipient’s account.
It’s a convenient way to get tickets to someone when needed. However, sometimes the process doesn’t go smoothly. If you’re having trouble with a ticket transfer on Ticketmaster, there are a few things you can check.
Reason 1: Recipient’s Account Not Eligible
One of the most common reasons a Ticketmaster ticket transfer may fail is if the recipient’s account is not eligible. There are a few account restrictions that can block a transfer:
- New accounts – If the recipient recently created their Ticketmaster account, there may be a waiting period before they can receive transferred tickets. This is generally 24-48 hours.
- Anonymous accounts – If the recipient’s Ticketmaster account is anonymous and does not have an email attached, transfers are restricted.
- Child accounts – Minor accounts (under 18 years old) cannot receive ticket transfers in most cases.
- International accounts – Due to ticket delivery restrictions, accounts based internationally may not be eligible.
If you receive an error that the recipient is ineligible to receive a transfer, confirm their account does not fall into one of these categories. If needed, wait until their account meets the requirements to complete the transfer.
Reason 2: Event Transfer Restriction
Certain events prohibit electronic ticket transfers on Ticketmaster. This restriction comes from the event organizer or venue, not Ticketmaster. If ticket transfers are disabled for an event, you’ll receive an error when trying to transfer those tickets.
Common events where transfers may be restricted include:
- Major concerts, festivals, and live events
- High-demand sporting events
- Theater performances and comedy shows
Before initiating a transfer, check the event details on Ticketmaster to see if transfers are allowed. If not, you unfortunately cannot transfer those tickets electronically. As an alternative, you would need to coordinate meeting the recipient and physically delivering the tickets.
Reason 3: Transfer Period Expired
Ticket transfers on Ticketmaster can only be initiated within a certain transfer window:
- The transfer window opens 72 hours after the original ticket purchase.
- The transfer window closes 3-14 days before the event, depending on the event.
If you try to transfer tickets outside of the valid transfer period, the transfer will fail. Be mindful of the transfer expiration date shown in your ticket listing when initiating a transfer.
Additionally, transfer invitations sent to recipients are only valid for 7 days. If the recipient does not accept the transfer within 7 days, the invitation expires and you must resend the invitation (assuming you are still within the valid event transfer period).
Reason 4: Original Ticket Purchase Incomplete
In rare cases, a transfer may fail if the original ticket purchase was never fully completed. Here are some scenarios where this could occur:
- Tickets purchased but payment failed or was declined
- Order placed but payment is still pending (e.g. bank verification needed)
- Payment processing error resulted in incomplete order
If the ticket transaction was not fully finalized, Ticketmaster’s records may show an incomplete purchase. Complete ticket purchases are required to initiate transfers.
If you suspect this is the issue, check that your ticket order shows as fully paid. Contact Ticketmaster Customer Support if needed to resolve any payment issues.
Reason 5: Technical Errors
Like any website, Ticketmaster can suffer intermittent technical glitches. Heavy traffic volumes can sometimes cause the site to run slow or produce errors. There may also be random bugs that pop up in the Ticket Transfer system.
Some examples of technical issues that could disrupt transfers include:
- Error messages when loading your tickets or initiating transfer
- Transfer invitation fails to send to recipient
- Transfer confirmation gets stuck in loading mode
- Transfer acceptance link doesn’t work for recipient
Technical problems are frustrating when transfers fail due to a system bug. If you run into obvious technical errors, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Refresh the page and retry the transfer
- Clear browser cookies and cache
- Try again on a different device or web browser
- Check Ticketmaster’s system status page for known issues
Most technical glitches are temporary and your transfer should go through if you give it another try after some time. Persistent technical issues may require contacting Ticketmaster Customer Support to investigate further.
How to Troubleshoot Ticket Transfer Problems
If your Ticketmaster ticket transfer isn’t working, use these steps to troubleshoot the issue:
- Confirm the transfer window is open – Make sure you are initiating the transfer within the valid transfer period.
- Check recipient’s account – Ensure the recipient’s Ticketmaster account meets transfer eligibility requirements.
- Verify the event allows transfers – Certain events have transfer restrictions in place.
- Review original order – Check your ticket purchase confirmation and make sure payment was fully processed.
- Try again later – Retry the transfer if you see any technical errors. Site issues are often temporary.
- Contact support – If the problem persists, reach out to Ticketmaster Customer Support for assistance.
With some diligent troubleshooting, you should be able to resolve most failed Ticketmaster transfers. Be sure to act quickly as transfer windows close 3-14 days out from an event.
How to Cancel a Transfer on Ticketmaster
If you need to cancel a ticket transfer on Ticketmaster that is still pending, follow these steps:
- Log into your Ticketmaster account and go to your tickets page.
- Locate the pending transfer. There should be a “Cancel Transfer” option.
- Click “Cancel Transfer” to void the outgoing transfer invitation.
- The tickets will return to your account if the recipient has not yet accepted.
- You can start a new transfer if needed, as long as the event transfer window is still open.
Once a recipient accepts the transfer, you can no longer cancel it yourself. The recipient would need to initiate a new transfer back to you.
If you have immediate trouble cancelling a transfer, contact Ticketmaster Customer Support for help.
Key Takeaways
- Check recipient’s account status – Things like new accounts, anonymous accounts, and international accounts may be transfer ineligible.
- Ensure the event permits transfers – Certain events block electronic ticket transfers.
- Confirm you are within the transfer window – Transfers must be initiated 3-14 days before an event.
- Retry technical issues later – Temporary glitches can cause transfer failures.
- Contact support for persistent problems – Ticketmaster can investigate failed transfers and assist with cancellations.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster’s Ticket Transfer feature provides a convenient way to digitally send tickets to another fan when needed. However, failed ticket transfers can happen due to account restrictions, event policies, technical errors, and other issues.
By understanding the top reasons transfers fail and following troubleshooting tips, you can hopefully resolve your Ticketmaster transfer problem. Just be sure to take action quickly, as transfer windows close 3-14 days before an event.
With a mix of diligence and patience, you should be able to securely transfer your extra tickets. The lucky recipient can then enjoy the show or game thanks to your digital transfer!