Ticketmaster faces second class action lawsuit in Canada

Already facing one $500 million class action lawsuit North of the Border, Ticketmaster Entertainment has been served with another one in Canada, this one for $250 million.

According to the The Windsor Star newspaper, the new lawsuit was filed in Ontario Superior Court and alleges Ticketmaster’s fees and surcharges are excessive. Ticketmaster charges for several things, including “convenience,””building facility,” printing TicketFast tickets at home, and processing.

Ticketmaster has long been criticized for its fees and surcharges, which prompted the company to begin experimenting with an “all-in” ticket pricing model late last year for select Eagles tickets.

The new lawsuit was initiated by an Edmonton resident who separately bought tickets for comedian Jay Leno and recording artist David Byrne.

According to published reports, the Leno ticket carried a face value of $79, but ended up costing $84.60 after all the fees were included, and the Byrne ticket started at $55.50 but ended up costing $71.75.

Lawyers for the plaintiff said the fees allegedly violate an Ontario law that says tickets cannot be sold for a price above their original asking price.

The first lawsuit alleges Ticketmaster purposely redirects fans to its TicketsNow subsidiary where tickets sell for a premium, a complaint similar to one recently logged by rocker Bruce Springsteen. Ticketmaster has vehemently denied the allegation.