Biden administration asks Congress to crack down on ticket sellers’ ‘hidden junk fees’

CHARLOTTE — If you have ever purchased tickets online, you may have noticed the price is higher at checkout than it usually displays. The Biden administration is trying to crack down on this practice.

Cassie Bumgardner has a busy summer ahead attending shows by some of music’s biggest stars, including Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and Taylor Swift.

She knows all too well about ticket prices and how the first price on the screen isn’t always the price at checkout.

“You have this budget planned, and then it just throws you for a loop,” she said.

The Biden administration wants to crack down on hidden junk fees and is calling on Congress to cap excessive fees and require them to be disclosed upfront in the ticket price.

Those fees can add up.

Channel 9 reviewed ticket prices for the Fantasia and Joe concert at Bojangles Coliseum. The ticket price on Ticketmaster shows $64. But when you go to checkout, it spikes to $83 because of service and processing fees and tax.

The same spike happened with a resale ticket for Scotty McCreery at Coyote Joe’s. It jumped from $192 to $248.

Congressman Jeff Jackson says this is an issue worth addressing.

“As rare as bipartisanship is these days, I bet you we are going to find it on this issue,” he said.

Ticketmaster says the company supports calls for fee transparency but adds it will only work if everyone has to comply. Ticketmaster offers the ability for users to change their preferences to show the full cost of tickets.

VIDEO: North Carolina AG to investigate Ticketmaster after Taylor Swift public ticket sales canceled

North Carolina AG to investigate Ticketmaster after Taylor Swift public ticket sales canceled

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