AG Ken Paxton announces investigation of StubHub following fan complaints
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office is investigating StubHub following claims that the ticket resale platform failed to provide World Cup Tickets to people who had paid for them, according to a news release from Paxton’s office.
World Cup fans across Texas have been reporting that StubHub has either failed to provide their tickets or canceled them days before the game, according to the news release.
According to Paxton’s office, StubHub has blamed the incidents on “transfer problems” it claims are tied to FIFA’s ticketing platform.
Although the news release says that “the pattern of consumer complaints” lines up with a tactic known as “ghost ticketing,” where sellers sell tickets they do not have and then cancel the order after they have collected payment.
“My office is investigating reports that StubHub is failing to deliver tickets that Texas fans have rightfully purchased,” Paxton said. “In many cases, attending a World Cup match is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If StubHub is ghost ticketing Texans out of that experience, my office will use every tool available to hold them accountable and help fans who have been wronged.”
The Attorney General’s office encourages any Texan who has experienced these problems to file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
StubHub said it would not comment on the investigation, but sent a comment on its general involvement with the World Cup.
“StubHub was founded with the mission of making buying tickets easier and safer, and for 26 years we’ve helped millions of fans access the events they love. The World Cup is no exception, but even a single bad experience is deeply disappointing for fans and for us. That’s why, in the rare instance that problems arise, our FanProtect Guarantee provides replacement tickets or a full refund — and why we are working tirelessly to resolve ticket transfer issues and get every fan into their match.”
