Two items of laws aimed toward reigning in excessive ticket costs have superior via Congress. The U.S. Home Vitality and Commerce Subcommittee unanimously handed the STOP Act, transferring it ahead for Home vote. Right here’s the most recent.
The STOP Act was launched by Rep. Gus Bilirakus (R-FL) and Jan Schajowsky (D-IL) and is aimed toward stopping each misleading ticketing practices and speculative ticket pricing. It requires ticketing firms like Ticketmaster to show ‘all-in’ pricing firstly of the acquisition—so there are not any surprises. The primary worth that you simply see marketed must be the one you pay with charges and taxes inclusive.
It additionally protects consumers within the occasion of a live performance cancellation or postponement. Below the STOP Act, consumers could be eligible for a full refund or a alternative ticket if the occasion is postponed. It additionally requires ticket sellers to tell shoppers when they’re buying from a main ticket vendor or a secondary market. It additionally bans the observe of speculative ticketing—which ought to assist sort out secondary marketplaces promoting phantom tickets.
“The dwell occasion ticketing system must be cured of deep flaws that end in clients being abused earlier than tickets go on sale, whereas they’re on the market, and thru the second they’re scanned for entry,” the Ticket Purchaser Invoice of Rights Coalition mentioned in regards to the laws. “We’re happy the committee immediately expanded the scope of the bipartisan TICKET Act past its unique deal with worth transparency to now embody different necessary shopper protections.”
“As a mixed package deal, this laws will take necessary steps towards enhancing the damaged ticketing system. We hope this invoice advances and in the end turns into legislation, and that its passage out of committee is a primary step towards enacting broader ticketing market reform that’s wanted.”
The Senate companion invoice the TICKET Act, sponsored by Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) has handed the higher chamber’s commerce committee in July and now awaits a full vote within the Senate. Now that each the Home and the Senate have ticket reform packages ready to be voted on, ticket reform could also be nearer than ever.