There are a few common reasons why a Ticketmaster ticket transfer may not go through successfully. Here are some things to check if your transfer is not working:
The recipient’s account is not eligible
In order to receive a ticket transfer, the recipient must have a Ticketmaster account that is eligible to receive mobile tickets. Here are some requirements for the recipient’s account:
- The account cannot be a fan-to-fan resale account. It must be a standard Ticketmaster account.
- The account must have an eligible mobile number or email address associated with it. Transfers can only be sent to a mobile number or email.
- The account must be in good standing. Accounts with past due balances or other issues may not be eligible.
If the recipient’s account does not meet these criteria, the transfer will fail. Make sure the recipient is using an eligible standard Ticketmaster account before re-attempting the transfer.
There is an issue with the recipient’s delivery method
When you initiate a transfer, you must choose how the ticket will be delivered to the recipient – either to their mobile number via text message or to their email address. If there is an issue with the delivery method, it will cause the transfer to fail. Here are some things to look out for:
- Make sure you entered the correct mobile number or email address for the recipient. Even a small typo will prevent delivery.
- The recipient’s mobile device may not be able to receive text messages. Make sure they have text messaging enabled and can receive normal texts.
- The recipient’s email address may have bounced back the message. Check their inbox for error notifications from Ticketmaster or look in spam/junk folders.
- The mobile provider or email domain may reject the transfer message. Some providers block these types of messages. Try sending to a different number or address.
Double check the recipient’s contact information and delivery capability before attempting the transfer again.
The transfer link has expired
The transfer link sent to the recipient’s mobile or email is only valid for a limited time. If the link expires before the recipient can click it, the transfer will fail. Here’s how the expiration period works:
- For mobile transfers, the link expires after 30 minutes.
- For email transfers, the link expires after 7 days.
So if the recipient does not open the transfer message and click the link within the expiration window, the link will no longer work. The only option is to cancel the initial transfer and start a new one. Make sure the recipient is ready to accept the tickets within the 30 minute or 7 day window.
You have reached the transfer limit
Ticketmaster limits each ticket owner to 6 transfer attempts per event. If you have already attempted to transfer a ticket 6 times unsuccessfully, any additional transfers will fail. When you reach the limit, you will need to either:
- Cancel one of the previous transfers to free up a transfer attempt
- Contact Ticketmaster customer support to remove the transfer limit temporarily
Carefully track how many transfers you have attempted for the event and make sure you have not exceeded 6 total.
There are ticket limits for the recipient
To help prevent unauthorized resale, Ticketmaster enforces ticket purchase and transfer limits per account. If transferring tickets to the recipient will cause them to exceed the ticket limit, the transfer will fail. Here are the standard limits:
- 8 ticket limit for standard events
- 4 ticket limit for high-demand events
Check how many eligible tickets the recipient already has in their account for the event. If transferring your tickets would put them over the limit, you will need to transfer to a different account that is still under the threshold.
You selected the wrong delivery timeframe
When initiating a transfer, you can choose when the tickets will be sent to the recipient. Options include:
- Now – tickets sent immediately
- Later – tickets sent within 3-5 days of the event
- Day of event – tickets sent on the day of the event
If you accidentally select the “Later” or “Day of event” options, the transfer will fail if the recipient tries to accept it right away. Make sure to choose the “Now” delivery timeframe if you want the recipient to get the tickets immediately.
There are issues with the tickets
In rare cases, issues with the tickets themselves may prevent them from being transferred. Here are some situations that could cause problems:
- The tickets have already been refunded, transferred, or are otherwise invalid
- The tickets are Will Call only and cannot be transferred digitally
- The original ticket purchase violated Ticketmaster’s Terms of Use
- You purchased the tickets from a resale site and do not technically own them
Carefully review your tickets in your Ticketmaster account before attempting to transfer. If you see any indicators the tickets cannot be transferred, you will need to contact Ticketmaster support for assistance before sending to a recipient.
There are account security restrictions
For security reasons, Ticketmaster places restrictions on accounts that show suspicious patterns or activity. If your account is restricted, some features like ticket transfers may be temporarily disabled. Here are some things that can trigger security actions:
- Too many failed login attempts
- Unusual login locations detected
- Suspicious purchases identified
- Multiple duplicate accounts associated with your identity
Check your Ticketmaster account settings and messages for any notifications about security holds or restrictions. You may need to contact Ticketmaster support to remove temporary blocks on your account before transfers will work.
Conclusion
With so many steps involved, it’s not uncommon for Ticketmaster transfers to fail occasionally. If a transfer is not going through, carefully check the recipient’s account eligibility, contact info, delivery capability, and ticket limits. Also verify the transfer link or code has not expired and that there are no issues with the tickets themselves or security blocks on your account. With persistence and methodically working through possible reasons, you should be able to successfully send your Ticketmaster tickets to another fan.
Troubleshooting Ticketmaster Transfer Issues
Checking account eligibility
To receive transferred tickets, the recipient’s Ticketmaster account must:
- Be a standard Ticketmaster account, not a fan resale account
- Have an eligible mobile or email tied to the account
- Be in good standing with no past due balances
Confirming contact information
Double check you entered the correct:
- Mobile number – including area code
- Email address – including full domain
Even small typos will cause failure.
Testing delivery capability
Make sure the recipient can receive transfers via:
- Text message on their mobile device
- Email to their email address
Some providers block transfer messages.
Watching for expiration
Transfer links expire after:
- 30 minutes for mobile transfers
- 7 days for email transfers
Recipient must accept transfer before link expires.
Checking ticket limits
Standard Ticketmaster ticket limits per account:
- 8 tickets for regular events
- 4 tickets for high-demand events
Transfers will fail if over recipient’s limit.
Reviewing delivery timeframes
When transferring, choose the delivery timeframe:
- Now – immediate delivery
- Later – within 5 days of event
- Day of – day of event
“Later” and “Day of” will fail immediate acceptance.
Checking ticket status
Tickets cannot be transferred if they are:
- Refunded
- Already transferred
- Will Call only
- Purchased improperly
- From an unauthorized resale site
Reviewing account security
Security blocks can prohibit transfers. Check for:
- Failed login notifications
- Unusual login location notices
- Suspicious purchase flags
- Duplicate account warnings
Contact Ticketmaster to remove security blocks.
Issue | Solution |
---|---|
Recipient account not eligible | Use recipient’s standard Ticketmaster account |
Incorrect contact info entered | Double check mobile number or email address |
Delivery method blocked | Try different mobile provider or email address |
Expired transfer link | Resend transfer within 30 min (mobile) or 7 days (email) |
Exceeds recipient ticket limit | Transfer to account under ticket threshold |
Wrong delivery timeframe selected | Choose “Now” if immediate delivery needed |
Issues with ticket validity | Ensure ticket is transferrable and original purchase authorized |
Account security restrictions | Contact Ticketmaster to remove security blocks |
With some troubleshooting and testing, you should be able to resolve any Ticketmaster transfer failures. Reach out to their customer support for help if you have tried all other solutions.