It is best to purchase show or event tickets from the official ticket office, rather than a reseller, to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Where to purchase tickets?
What to do:
Go to the official website of the artist, the event or the venue where the activity will be taking place
- You will have access or be redirected to the official ticket office.
- You will be sure to get authentic tickets, and not copies or counterfeits.
- You will pay the right price and receive customer service if the show is cancelled, for example.
What not to do:
Look for tickets for sale using a search engine
- You will probably come across resale websites, perhaps even unknowingly.
- You run the risk of paying a higher price than if you dealt with the official ticket office.
Purchasing a ticket from a consumer
The resale of tickets between two consumers is authorized. Tickets can be put up for sale, for example, on a classified ad website, at a price that suits the seller.
If you purchase a ticket from a consumer, it is recommended that you:
- check the ticket’s authenticity, for example, by contacting the venue before purchasing it;
- pay via a password-protected electronic transfer and provide the answer only once you have received the ticket.
Ticket resale by a merchant: what is prohibited
- A reseller may not offer you tickets at a higher price than the official ticket office, unless they have obtained the written authorization of the event’s producer and promoter
- A reseller may not offer you the tickets without informing you that they are being resold. The reseller is required to abide by a set of conditions so that you can make an informed purchase. If the reseller fails to provide you with all of the required information, you have the option of cancelling a purchase made online.
- A reseller may not use computer bots to purchase tickets and then resell them.
Some transactional ticket resale platforms claim they are exempt from these rules, as they are simply putting a seller and a buyer into contact with each other, much like a classified ad. Exercise caution: such websites are in fact subject to the Consumer Protection Act. They are under approximately the same obligations as a reseller.
Filing a complaint
If you are dealing with a reseller that you believe is acting illegally, you can file a complaint with the Office de la protection du consommateur. The information you provide will help us guide our interventions. Do not hesitate to contact our officers.
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