StubHub to Pay $10M in Settlement Over Deceptive Pricing

FTC says ticket resale platform misled customers on final ticket costs.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:29am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a crumpled ticket stub, a pen, and a calculator arranged on a clean white background, symbolizing the hidden fees and lack of pricing transparency in the online ticket resale industry.A settlement over deceptive ticket pricing practices aims to bring more transparency to the online resale market.Oklahoma City Today

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that ticket exchange and resale company StubHub has agreed to pay $10 million to settle charges that it misled customers about the final prices of tickets on its platform. The settlement resolves the FTC's allegations that StubHub hid mandatory fees from customers until the final step of the checkout process.

Why it matters

This settlement is a significant enforcement action by the FTC against deceptive pricing practices in the online ticket resale industry, which has long faced criticism for lack of transparency around fees and surcharges. The case highlights ongoing consumer protection concerns around hidden fees and lack of price transparency, especially for popular events where ticket demand is high.

The details

According to the FTC, StubHub violated the FTC Act by not disclosing mandatory fees upfront in the ticket listing prices, instead only revealing them later in the checkout process. This practice made it difficult for consumers to comparison shop and understand the true total cost of tickets. The $10 million settlement requires StubHub to provide refunds to affected customers and implement changes to its pricing display to be more transparent.

  • The FTC announced the settlement on April 10, 2026.

The players

StubHub

An online ticket exchange and resale platform owned by eBay that allows consumers to buy and sell tickets to various events.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The United States federal agency responsible for consumer protection and promoting competition.

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What they’re saying

“Ticket resellers need to be upfront with consumers about the total cost of tickets, including any mandatory fees. This settlement ensures StubHub will be transparent about prices, so people can make informed purchasing decisions.”

— Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection

What’s next

The $10 million settlement requires StubHub to provide refunds to affected customers and implement changes to its pricing display to be more transparent about mandatory fees.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing need for stronger consumer protection and price transparency in the online ticket resale industry, where hidden fees and lack of upfront pricing information have long been a source of frustration for customers.