Ticketmaster is facing a Quebec class-action lawsuit over 'abusive' fees — Here's how to join
A Quebec law firm announced on Thursday that it has filed a class-action lawsuit against Ticketmaster.
In a press release, Paquette Gadler Inc. accused the ticket sales and distribution giant of "imposing abusive and disproportionate fees on Quebec consumers," which it says violates Quebec's Consumer Protection Act as well as the Civil Code of Quebec and the Competition Act of Canada.
"This Class Action targets, among other things, the effect of 'dynamic pricing' practices on the amount of service fees of all kinds imposed on consumers when they purchase Event Tickets from Ticketmaster, a practice which is denounced in several Western countries," the press release says in French.
If you haven't heard the term "dynamic pricing" before, perhaps you've heard of 'surge pricing,' 'demand pricing,' or 'time-based pricing.' Basically, it's when a company fluctuates its prices, changing them based on external factors and real-time market conditions — like when Uber bumps up the cost of its rides during busier periods.
In the case of Ticketmaster, this has resulted in added fees amounting to over 75% of a ticket price's face value — but has also led to reduced fees when there's been a lack of demand.
Either way, Ticketmaster has been making headlines around the world for years, as concert-goers and lawmakers express their rage online, stage boycotts and, yes, file lawsuits. In fact, just a couple of months ago, the United States Justice Department sued Ticketmaster "for monopolization and other unlawful conduct that thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry."
Now, Quebecers who feel they have been wronged by Ticketmaster have an opportunity to take them to court. Any Quebec consumer who has purchased a Ticketmaster event ticket since July 26, 2024 could be eligible to join the Paquette Gadler Inc. lawsuit and, should they win, recuperate some funds.
If you're interested in getting involved, you can register on the Paquette Gadler website.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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