Here’s what to do if your StubHub World Cup resale ticket is canceled

The Ticketing Nightmare

The World Cup ticket mess on StubHub has left many fans stranded, with some receiving notifications that their tickets did not exist just days or hours before the match. This is not an isolated incident, as StubHub has a history of failing to deliver promised tickets. According to Bradford Clements, an attorney and former Texas state prosecutor, StubHub often claims that the seller pulled out of the ticket swap at the last minute, but this is frequently not the case.

Consumer Protections and Advocacy

Consumer advocates are pushing for stronger protections for fans, including the passage of the Ticket Act, which bans speculative ticketing. The bill passed the House of Representatives last year but was sidelined. Advocates are also calling for the repeal of forced arbitration, which can make it difficult for consumers to get their money back. Fans can take action by contacting StubHub directly, disputing ticket charges on their credit card, and lodging formal complaints with the Federal Trade Commission and their state’s attorney general.

Seeking Resolution and Reform

Fans who want to get to a game can be persistent with customer service and demand that they get tickets. They can also escalate their issue in writing to a manager. However, fans should be aware that replacement tickets may not be of the same quality as the original tickets. The situation highlights the need for reform, including the outlawing of ghost ticketing and the strengthening of consumer protections. As Emily Peterson-Cassin, the director of competition and market fairness at the Consumer Federation of America, noted, the practice of ghost ticketing should be outlawed.