A Quebec court has greenlit a class-action lawsuit against global ticketing behemoth Ticketmaster, setting the stage for a legal battle over allegedly abusive service fees charged to consumers in the province.
Court Gives Go-Ahead for Consumer Lawsuit
On Monday, Quebec Superior Court Justice Eleni Yiannakis ruled that the plaintiffs had successfully met the legal requirements to proceed with a full trial. This pivotal decision means the lawsuit, which seeks compensatory damages for affected customers, can move forward. If successful, Ticketmaster could be forced to pay out significant sums to Quebecers who purchased tickets.
Allegations of Violating Consumer Laws
The class action was initially filed in 2024 by the Montreal law firm Paquette Gadler. It alleges that Ticketmaster's practice of charging service fees violates both the Consumer Protection Act and the Civil Code of Quebec. Central to the claim is the accusation that the company bases its fees on the price of the ticket rather than the actual cost of providing the service.
The lawsuit argues this pricing model is inherently abusive and lacks transparency, a long-standing criticism from consumer advocates who say add-on fees can drastically inflate the final cost for fans.
Who Is Affected and What's Next?
The action was filed on behalf of plaintiff Felipe Morales and seeks to represent all Quebec residents who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster for events in North America since July 2021.
Ticketmaster, which merged with concert promoter Live Nation in 2010 to form Live Nation Entertainment, dominates the global ticketing market. The company's fee structures have drawn scrutiny from regulators in multiple jurisdictions, including Quebec.
When contacted by The Canadian Press for comment on the court's authorization, Ticketmaster did not respond. The case now proceeds to the trial phase, where the allegations will be tested in court.
