Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TACOMA — As golf enthusiasts anticipate June’s U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, in University Place, Wash., many are looking to score a hole-in-one with sought-after tickets.

As an alternative to buying tickets directly from the sporting event organizer, some fans turn to ticket resellers.

Consumers may recall the recent Super Bowl ticket heartbreak when some fans showed up at the game, only to find the tickets they bought through a reseller did not exist. To protect consumers and make clear that deceptive ticket reseller practices won't be tolerated, the Washington State Attorney General's Office (AGO) filed a lawsuit against SBTickets.com.

The United States Golf Association does not have an authorized ticket reseller. If consumers decide to pursue U.S. Open tickets on the secondary market, it’s their choice which reseller to choose.

While many resellers are legitimate, the AGO urges caution when looking to make a secondary market purchase.

Here are some tips:

  • Research the reseller via the internet:

  • Ask the reseller specific questions before you buy:

    • Do they have the tickets currently in hand? If not, when?

    • When will they deliver the ticket? Try to get the ticket well before the event.

    • What is their guarantee if the ticket does not arrive, or is counterfeit?

  • Purchase by credit card. This can often provide some protection (check with your card provider).

  • If you don’t receive your ticket, or it is counterfeit:
    • Complain immediately to the reseller, preferably in writing.

    • Contact your credit card company, and attempt to initiate a chargeback. There are time restrictions on initiating a chargeback, so do not let this wait.
  • As with many consumer deals, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, file a consumer complaint with the AGO. Visit www.atg.wa.gov and click the “Consumer Complaint” button, or call 1-800-551-4636 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is working hard to protect consumers and seniors against fraud, keep our communities safe, protect our environment and stand up for our veterans. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

Contacts: Peter Lavallee, Communications Director, (360) 586-0725; PeterL@atg.wa.gov

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