WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ticket buyers who were shown incomplete prices online may receive refunds after federal regulators ordered StubHub to pay $10 million and change how it displays ticket costs.
What This Means for You
- Some customers who bought tickets in May 2025 may receive compensation
- Ticket sellers must now show full prices upfront, including all mandatory fees
- Companies can face penalties if they hide or misrepresent total costs
The Federal Trade Commission said StubHub violated federal consumer protection law by advertising ticket prices without clearly showing the full amount customers would pay, including required fees.
The case centers on the FTC’s Fees Rule, which took effect May 12, 2025. The rule requires businesses to display the “total price”—meaning the full cost a consumer must pay, including all mandatory fees—clearly and prominently whenever a price is shown.
What Regulators Found
According to the FTC’s complaint, StubHub continued displaying incomplete prices after the rule took effect.
The agency said that in mid-May 2025, the company failed to include mandatory fees in early price listings on its website. In some cases, prices shown to consumers did not reflect the final amount due. Even when fees were listed later in the purchase process, the total price was not clearly presented.
The FTC cited examples involving high-demand National Football League tickets around the May 14, 2025, schedule release, where initial listings did not include full costs.
Settlement Terms
Under the proposed settlement, StubHub will pay $10 million. The funds will be used to compensate eligible consumers through a refund program.
The order also requires StubHub to change its pricing practices. The company is barred from:
- Advertising prices without clearly showing the total cost
- Displaying partial pricing more prominently than full pricing
- Misrepresenting fees, including their purpose, amount, or refundability
- Failing to show the final payment amount before a purchase is completed
The company must also clearly disclose any fees not included in an advertised price and explain what those charges are for.
Who May Receive Refunds
StubHub must provide compensation within 90 days to two groups of customers:
- Those who were not shown a total price in the first price display
- Other customers who purchased tickets between May 12 and May 14, 2025
Enforcement and Next Steps
The FTC voted 2-0 to authorize the complaint and settlement. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where a judge must approve the order before it takes effect.
FTC officials said the action follows earlier warnings to StubHub and aligns with a broader federal push to improve price transparency in ticket sales.
The complaint represents allegations, and the settlement carries the force of law only if approved by the court.
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