Are ticketmaster about to get a slap?

[CarylB]

Received this email today:

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES


CURT SCHLESINGER and PETER LO RE, )
on behalf themselves and the Certified Class, ) No. BC304565
Plaintiffs, )
v. )
TICKETMASTER, a Delaware Corporation, )
Defendant. )

NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION
TO: All persons who purchased tickets using ticketmaster.com during the period from October 21, 1999 through May 31, 2010 and were residents of the United States at the time of the purchase.

WHAT THIS LAWSUIT IS ABOUT: Plaintiffs filed this case on October 21, 2003. The case is proceeding as a class action on behalf of United States residents. The claims challenge Ticketmaster’s Order Processing Fee and the fee it charges customers who select the UPS Delivery option on Ticketmaster’s website, www.ticketmaster.com (the “Website”), for ticket purchases made by United States residents over the Website between October 21, 1999 and May 31, 2010.

The purpose of the notice is to advise you about the class action, including your rights in connection with the case. This notice is not intended to be an expression of any opinion by the Court as to the merit of the claims or defenses in this case.

The Order Processing Fee Claim. Plaintiffs assert that Ticketmaster’s Order Processing Fee is deceptive and leads consumers to believe that it represents Ticketmaster’s costs to process their orders, and that the Order Processing Fee is just a profit component for Ticketmaster, unrelated to the costs of processing the orders. Ticketmaster disputes these allegationsand disputes that the Order Processing Fee is deceptive.

The UPS Delivery Claim. This claim is brought only on behalf of the Class members who selected and paid for the UPS Delivery option. Plaintiffs allege that Ticketmaster’sUPS Delivery option is deceptive because it leads consumers to believe the price they are paying Ticketmaster is a pass-through of the fees that UPS charges to Ticketmaster and that Ticketmaster substantially marks-up the amount it actually pays to UPS. Ticketmaster disputes these allegationsand disputes that its UPS Delivery option is deceptive.

The Honorable Kenneth R. Freeman has ordered that these claims, made under California’s False Advertising Law and Unfair Competition Law may proceed as a class action consisting of: all United States residents who purchased tickets using the Website during the period from October 21, 1999 through May 31, 2010 (the “Class”).

Just shows how unhappy people are with the hugel inflated "process" and "delivery" costs TM are charging off the back of their stranglehold on the market. Hope the plaintiffs are successful and TM has to revise their charges before other claims follow.

If Plaintiffs win they will ask the Court to award appropriate relief, including requiring Ticketmaster to repay to each Class member any money that Ticketmaster has made as a result of any conduct found to be illegal. The Court has set the case for non-jury trial beginning January 26, 2011.

If you are a member of the Class and wish to remain in the suit and participate in any potential recovery, you DO NOT need to do anything at this time. You will be represented by the attorneys for Plaintiffs and the Class, who have taken the case on a contingency basis, meaning they will be paid only if they obtain a recovery for the Class. Any fee eventually paid to Plaintiffs’ counsel must be approved by the Court, which may require the payment to be deducted from any recovery obtained in this case, or paid by Ticketmaster, or both.

Here's hoping

Caryl

[Evil One]

It's good in theory but if they lose then Ticketmaster will just bump up their regular price to make up for whatever they lose in settlements and future sales, so concert goers will still lose out.

[allrevvedup]

moving this thread to Off topic as it's not directly Meat Loaf related

[Monstro]

In the UK there's a program called "Watchdog", they try to right the wrongs of sellers of goods/services etc. Next Thursday they're doing a bit on Ticketmaster

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Their fees really are ridiculous, like how they charge a "delivery" fee for Ticketfast, where you print your own tickets. IMO, that option should always be free (sometimes it is). But, that's the price we have to pay to go to a show.

[AndrewG]

Try Easyjet with their now £10.75 surcharge on a flight for paying with credit card. As I work in the web industry and have built many payment solution integrations, I know for a fact such transactions only cost the company £0.20 tops on the volume they process. Sure their flights may be cheaper but it is beyond comprehension they can get away with adding such fake charges just like with Ticketmaster.

[Steve6]

Originally Posted by Julie in the rv mirror

Their fees really are ridiculous, like how they charge a "delivery" fee for Ticketfast, where you print your own tickets. IMO, that option should always be free (sometimes it is). But, that's the price we have to pay to go to a show.

Ticketmaster are always ripping people off with their ad-ons, but they aren't the only ones. They are a billion dollar company, if they lose this case it's only pocket change to them.

[24K]

I call them tickettw@t for a reason !

[Steve6]

Or ticketdisaster.