Oregon’s House Bill Cracks Down on Deceptive Ticket Sales with Transparent Pricing and Hefty Fines

Gone could be the days when eager Oregon concert and theater-goers were hoodwinked into paying exorbitant prices for tickets, thanks to House Bill 3167 which is moving steadily forward to protect vulnerable consumers.

Hidden Fees Will Become a Thing of the Past

Hidden fees will become a thing of the past as ticket sellers or resellers will have to disclose the full cost of admission up front.

They will not be allowed to use website domain names or content that misleads the public into believing they are affiliated with the venue.

Resellers will not be allowed to offer tickets for purchase unless they can provide evidence that they contractually or physically owned the tickets before offering them for resale.

Resellers will also have to disclose details like when the tickets will be delivered and the location of the seats at the respective venues.

House Bill 3167 also prohibits the use of bots in the ticket-buying process, irrespective of whether they are buying or selling.

Violations Could Lead to Fines of Up to $25,000

Violations of the bill will be treated as illegal trade practices, punishable with civil penalties and injunctions of up to $25,000. Consumers will be able to take legal action for damages against ticket companies.

The Oregon House passed the bill last Thursday by 40 to 16 votes. No date has been set for a vote by the Senate but if it is passed, the bill will proceed to the Governor’s office for final sanctioning.

Oregon’s move follows similar legislation already adopted by more than 20 other states where the focus is on transparent pricing of tickets, the illegal use of bots, and other consumer protections in the resale market.