B.C. ticketing firms breached consumer protection laws
FIFA subsidiary, Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats violated ticket sales rules. Consumer Protection BC issued undertakings requiring changes by June 26.
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B.C.'s consumer protection authority has found FIFA's Canadian subsidiary and two major ticket retailers breached the province's laws governing ticket sales.
Consumer Protection BC laid out the contraventions of the Ticket Sales Act in three separate undertakings released Monday. Under B.C. law, ticket sellers must guarantee full refunds if an event is cancelled, if a ticket is invalid, counterfeit, misrepresented, or bought via bot software, or if entry is denied. They must also provide any other legally required guarantees.
FWC26 Canada Football Ltd., the FIFA subsidiary incorporated in Victoria in 2021 to manage the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, was found to have breached the act when it failed to disclose all terms and conditions on its secondary ticketing platform. The company agreed to make necessary changes by June 19.
Ticketmaster Entertainment LLC failed to ensure tickets disclosed the reseller's name, location and contact information. The company also contravened requirements to provide itemized lists of fees, service charges and applicable taxes in a prominent, clear way.
Vivid Seats LLC, the Chicago-based reseller, failed to disclose itemized taxes, face values, seat locations, guaranteed refunds, clear terms and conditions, reseller contact information, and restrictions on ticket transfer. The company has rolling deadlines ending June 26 to make changes.
Failure to comply leaves the door open for further enforcement actions and penalties.