Every fan knows that buying tickets to see your favorite artist or band in concert can be a treacherous experience, given it can be confusing as to what exactly you’re paying or who exactly you’re buying the tickets from. Well, thankfully, the process will be clearer in Colorado due to the new bill just signed into law this past week on June 5, 2024.
The new law applies to ticket sales operators and resellers in Colorado.
There are four important components of House Bill 1378:
Prohibit Hidden Fees
Ticket agencies can no longer “sell a ticket to an event without disclosing the total cost of the ticket, including the cost of any service charge or other fees that must be paid, or display service charges and fees less prominently than the total price of the ticket.”
You will now know the total cost of a ticket upfront. Fans can make a more informed decision before deciding to click “buy”.
Ban Ticket Price Increases
Ticket agencies can no longer “increase the price of a ticket once the ticket has been selected for purchase, with the exception of adding delivery fees.”
No more arbitrary price increases for whatever reason. You will no longer think you’re paying one price only to find it’s more at checkout. With the exception of delivery fees, there will be no more surprises at checkout.
No More Misleading Sites
Ticket agencies can no longer “display trademarked, copyrighted, or substantially similar web designs, URLs, or other images and symbols with the intent to mislead a purchaser.”
No more deceptive practices by a ticket reseller trying to trick you into thinking they’re the “official” site or ticket seller for a particular venue, show or artist.
Guaranteed Refund
The bill requires “operators and resellers to guarantee refunds to purchasers of tickets under certain circumstances“, including if a concert or event is canceled for any reason.
No more battle to get a full refund for a cancelled show or event. In the past, some ticket sellers made fans hold on to tickets until a new date was scheduled, delayed the refund process or issued credit for a future show.