Vivid Seats Fee Disclosure Class Action

Vivid Seats, one of the largest secondary ticket marketplaces, has faced multiple class action lawsuits and settlements over allegations that it failed to disclose ticket fees transparently. The most significant recent case stems from New York’s “All-In” pricing law, which requires ticketing platforms to show the total cost—including all fees—before a customer selects a specific seat. According to a February 2024 lawsuit, Vivid Seats allegedly displayed an initial ticket price and only revealed the true total cost at checkout, violating New York law that took effect in August 2022.

A specific example cited in the complaint involves a Mets game ticket at Citi Field purchased in August 2023, where the price increased significantly after the initial selection. Beyond New York, Vivid Seats has a documented history of fee disclosure problems. A Quebec court authorized a class action settlement in September 2018 after the company allegedly failed to disclose that tickets were priced in US Dollars rather than Canadian Dollars, resulting in unexpected currency conversion charges for consumers. These cases highlight a pattern: Vivid Seats has allegedly used “drip pricing” tactics—revealing fees incrementally rather than upfront—to make ticket prices appear lower than they actually are.

Table of Contents

• What Is the New York “All-In” Pricing Lawsuit Against Vivid Seats?
• The Quebec Currency Disclosure Settlement and Its Implications
• How Does Drip Pricing Work and Why Is It Deceptive?
• Who Is Eligible to File a Claim and How Does the Process Work?
• What Are the Limitations of Class Action Settlements in Fee Disclosure Cases?
• How to Check If You Were Affected by Vivid Seats Fee Practices
• What Happens Next for Vivid Seats and Consumers?

What Is the New York “All-In” Pricing Lawsuit Against Vivid Seats?

New York passed amendments to its Arts & Cultural Affairs law specifically designed to prevent deceptive ticket pricing. Starting in August 2022, all ticketing platforms operating in New York must display the all-in price—including all fees, charges, and taxes—before a customer selects a specific event or seat. The law aims to end the practice where platforms show a low base price then add substantial fees during checkout, making it difficult for consumers to compare prices across platforms or decide whether to purchase.

The lawsuit alleges that Vivid Seats violated this law by continuing to show an initial ticket price without fees, then only displaying the total cost after a seat selection. According to TicketNews, the complaint estimated that Vivid Seats sold at least 100,000 tickets to New York events during the applicable period, supporting damages claims of at least $5 million. Under New York law, consumers may be entitled to statutory damages of at least $50 per ticket. This is a significant exposure for the platform, as even a partial share of affected transactions represents substantial liability.

The Quebec Currency Disclosure Settlement and Its Implications

Before the New York lawsuit, Vivid Seats faced a similar class action in Quebec over hidden currency charges. On September 6, 2018, Quebec’s Superior Court authorized a settlement that capped the company’s total payout at CAD $530,250, with a maximum of $360,000 dedicated to reimbursing customers for foreign exchange charges. The settlement limited reimbursements to a maximum of 30% of the ticket order amount per claim, which means consumers who paid significantly more due to currency conversion may not have been fully compensated.

The Quebec case illustrates an important limitation of class action settlements: the monetary relief often falls short of actual consumer losses. If you purchased tickets through Vivid Seats and paid in Canadian Dollars while the tickets were priced in US Dollars without clear disclosure, you may have overpaid due to unfavorable exchange rates. However, the settlement cap and percentage limits mean that claiming compensation requires proof of purchase and that your claim must be submitted within any remaining claim period. This case demonstrates why consumers should carefully document their transactions when considering whether to join or file claims in ongoing actions.

How Does Drip Pricing Work and Why Is It Deceptive?

Drip pricing is the practice of revealing costs incrementally rather than upfront, making the initial price appear lower than the final cost. For ticket sales, this typically works as follows: a platform shows a base ticket price, then adds fees for processing, facility charges, service fees, and other surcharges at later stages of the checkout process. By the time a consumer reaches the final confirmation page, the total may be 20-40% higher than the initially advertised price. The Maryland federal case Cheezum v. Vivid Seats, Inc.

(Case No. 1:25-cv-03432) specifically names drip pricing and deceptive fee disclosure as the core allegations. This case represents a broader challenge to Vivid Seats’ pricing practices beyond the New York “All-In” law. Consumers filing in this case or seeking damages would need to demonstrate that they purchased tickets through Vivid Seats, encountered hidden or late-disclosed fees, and paid more than they would have if fees were disclosed upfront. The challenge with drip pricing cases is that some fees (like credit card processing) are relatively standard, but the timing and clarity of disclosure matters legally.

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim and How Does the Process Work?

Eligibility for Vivid Seats fee disclosure class actions depends on which case applies to you. For the New York lawsuit, you must have purchased tickets to an event in New York during or after August 2022 (when the law took effect) and before the litigation began. If you bought concert or sports tickets through Vivid Seats and noticed that the final price was significantly higher than the initially displayed price, you may have a claim.

To file a claim, you typically need to provide proof of purchase, such as your order confirmation email, transaction receipt, and credit card statement showing the charge. For the Quebec settlement (which may still have an open claim period), Canadian consumers need similar documentation. The process involves submitting a claim form with Concilia Services (the settlement administrator for the Quebec case) or with the administrator designated for the New York case once it reaches settlement. A practical tip: keep all documentation from your Vivid Seats purchases, including screenshots of prices at different checkout stages, as evidence of drip pricing is stronger when you can show the price differences.

What Are the Limitations of Class Action Settlements in Fee Disclosure Cases?

Class action settlements for fee disclosure rarely compensate consumers for the full amount they overpaid. In the Quebec settlement, the $360,000 reimbursement fund was divided among potentially thousands of affected consumers, resulting in minimal payouts per claim. Additionally, settlement administrators typically require claims to be filed within 12-24 months of settlement authorization, and many consumers never receive notice or miss the deadline. Another significant limitation is that settlements often come with strict proof requirements.

You may need to provide the exact transaction date, event name, and original ticket price to qualify for reimbursement. If you’ve deleted your Vivid Seats account or lost your email confirmation, proving your purchase becomes difficult. Additionally, some settlements cap the reimbursement per claim (as the Quebec case did at 30% of order value), meaning you won’t recover the full amount you overpaid. Before pursuing a claim, verify the settlement status and any remaining deadline; many older settlements have already closed to new claims.

How to Check If You Were Affected by Vivid Seats Fee Practices

If you’ve purchased tickets through Vivid Seats, check your purchase history in your account (if your account still exists) or your credit card and email statements. Look for events purchased in New York after August 2022, or any purchase where you noticed a large price jump between the initial selection and final checkout. Calculate the difference between the base ticket price and the final total, including all fees.

The clearest red flag is when the final price exceeds the initial price by more than typical processing fees (usually 10-15% of the ticket price). If you see increases of 20% or more, particularly if fees were not clearly displayed before you selected a seat, you may have grounds for a claim in the New York lawsuit or the Maryland federal case. Document this information by taking screenshots of your purchase confirmation and credit card statement, then cross-reference it with any active settlement or lawsuit to determine if you’re eligible to file.

What Happens Next for Vivid Seats and Consumers?

The outcome of the New York and Maryland cases could significantly impact how Vivid Seats and other secondary ticket platforms price tickets going forward. If Vivid Seats is required to pay substantial damages and implement new pricing practices, it may set a precedent for other platforms. Already, some ticketing platforms have adjusted their websites to show all-in pricing more prominently at the initial search stage, suggesting that legal pressure is influencing industry behavior.

For consumers, staying informed about ongoing litigation is important because settlement notices may be sent to email addresses on file at the time of purchase—not current addresses. If you purchased from Vivid Seats and later changed your email, you might not receive settlement information automatically. Periodically search your name online along with “Vivid Seats settlement” or check with settlement administrator websites to see if you’re eligible to claim any compensation.

Sources

• Vivid Seats Hidden Fees Lawsuit: Maryland Drip Pricing Case — OpenClassActions.com’s lawsuit tracker entry, with the filings and the current posture.

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