Sick of hidden fees on ticket-buying websites? New NC law will get rid of them. What to know
If you’ve ever bought tickets to any live event, then you know the struggle of ticket prices virtually doubling by the time you checkout.
Ticket sellers like Ticketmaster and Live Nation have been accused of hiding service fees, processing fees and facility charges added on to the price of tickets. A class action lawsuit was filed against both companies Tuesday, March 18, alleging they illegally conceal the full price of tickets until online checkout.
Those hidden fees can be annoying, but a North Carolina law that goes into effect Tuesday, April 1 will make them a thing of the past.
Here’s what to know.
What does the ticket prices law say?
The law requires ticket sellers to meet the following requirements when listing a ticket for sale:
Sellers must disclose the total price of the ticket upfront before the transaction is complete, including any mandatory fees and the maximum order processing fee.
The total price of the ticket initially displayed shall not be increased during the ticketing session.
However, the law says sellers are not required to display delivery charges, taxes and “reasonable” processing fees with the all-in price.
“I was pleased to work with legislators of both parties to protect people’s money and help them make informed decisions about their purchases,” Attorney General Josh Stein said in a news release.
“I also want to thank ticket sellers for being part of the solution by agreeing to a fairer playing field for North Carolinians who want to attend and enjoy live shows. Now, when you buy a ticket to something, you won’t see one price at the beginning and a different, significantly higher price at checkout.”
What happens to ticket sellers that don’t follow the law?
A violation of the law is considered an unfair trade practice, the law says.
State law says courts can fine companies up to $5,000 for each violation if they are found guilty of an unfair trade practice.
How to report ticket sellers in NC
If you still notice hidden fees at checkout when purchasing tickets to an event, you can file a complaint with the N.C. Department of Justice. There are three ways to do that:
Online at ncdoj.gov.
By phone at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM
By hard copy by calling the consumer assistance line at (919) 716-6000, to request a complaint form.
After your complaint is reviewed, it will be forwarded to the business complained about for response.
This story was originally published March 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM with the headline "Sick of hidden fees on ticket-buying websites? New NC law will get rid of them. What to know."
