A Quebec judge has given the green light to a class-action lawsuit against Ticketmaster, allowing claims over its ticket service fees to proceed to a full trial.
In a decision dated Monday, Justice Eleni Yiannakis of the Quebec Superior Court ruled that the case meets the legal requirements to move forward. The judge also said that financial compensation could be ordered if the plaintiffs are successful, according to the Canadian Press.
The lawsuit alleges the U.S.-based ticket seller charged service fees that violate Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act and the province’s Civil Code. It argues the fees are abusive because they vary based on the price of a ticket rather than the actual cost of providing the service.
The proposed class action was filed in August 2024 by Montreal law firm Paquette Gadler. It was brought on behalf of plaintiff Felipe Morales and includes Quebec residents who bought tickets through Ticketmaster for North American events since July 2021.
The feds have taken some steps to curb so-called junk fees, but enforcement has been limited. In 2019, the Competition Bureau fined Ticketmaster $4.5 million and required changes to its advertising practices after finding its pricing was misleading, and Ottawa has since signalled it wants clearer, all-in pricing rules, though broader, binding regulations have yet to be implemented nationwide.
It’s not just Ticketmaster that is facing class action lawsuits over these fees. Cineplex is facing its own class action over its online booking fees.
Beyond these fees, being able to buy tickets from Ticketmaster for big events sometimes feels impossible, as scalpers and bots seemingly snap up tickets instantly. If the case succeeds, eligible customers could receive refunds tied to the service fees they paid.
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