Ticketmaster Changes Refund Policy, Angering Ticketholders

The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused events worldwide to be cancelled or postponed until further notice. As a result refunds are offered to ticket holders and that’s what Ticketmaster originally agreed to as well. Ticketing companies are now in a frenzy to fulfill all of these refunds. However, Ticketmaster decided to clarify and change their refund policy quietly through a blog update. They are now solely offering refunds for events that have been cancelled. That means that Ticketmaster will not offer refunds for postponed or rescheduled events. The event organizer can decide to offer refunds and Ticketmaster will honor that.

The new refund policy has caused outrage and backlash. Ticket holders who may be in tight finances find themselves unable to get a refund for an event that’s postponed or rescheduled. The ticketing giant has already left a bad taste in people’s mouths with their excessive fees.

Ticketmaster should offer refunds even for shows that are postponed. Let people decide whether they are in a position to hold onto their seats. Acknowledge that these purchases were made when people were unaware they’d be out of work for 2 months or laid off entirely. Empathize.

— Samar 🏹 (@SamarRamy_7) April 8, 2020

i dropped $500+ on tickets, i better be getting my money back for something out of mine and the artist own control. this is why companies like ticketmaster and fucking corrupted man. they charge $100+ in fees and do THIS? disgusting. https://t.co/QW38RLkPys

— lizzy (@sobervalentine) April 13, 2020

ticketmaster changing their policy and not allowing refunds if a concert is postponed has to be one of the most idiotic moves ive ever seen, especially now that we're in the middle of a pandemic. fuck ticketmaster i think.

— ♡ nsfr (@koojms) April 13, 2020

This backlash from the Ticketmaster refund policy change may cause negative impacts on their business. We’ll see the consequences of their actions when live events resume, which may not be for a while.