"We are in possession of 6 tickets to the tune of 1500 dollars," the enraged fan told Seven On Your Side's Tappy Phillips.
Chris is just one of hundreds of fuming Bruce fans who bought tickets online last Monday on Ticketmaster's website.
The stories are similar. Minutes after Springsteen tickets went on sale, fans were shuttled to TicketsNow. Many unknowingly bought tickets for hundreds over face value. As it turns out TicketsNow is a secondary ticket broker site, owned by, you guessed it, Ticketmaster.
"I think it was such a scam I just think it was such an unethical practice of business," said Chris.
"This has created a storm that has flooded the (New Jersey) Department of Consumer Affairs with complaints." NJ Consumer Affairs Director, David Szuchman says his office has received more than 1500 complaints from unhappy fans. He says that number is climbing by the minute. That's why his office is presently investigating Ticketmaster's sales practices.
"We're learning, of course, that this wasn't limited to Bruce Springsteen. This is a practice that was existing at a lower level prior to this," says David Szuchman.
That's exactly what our investigation uncovered.
"This is an extreme outrage, it really is." Mary Bezirjian bought Paul Simon tickets on Ticketmaster the day before Springsteen tickets went on sale. She thought she was paying around $80 apiece. The reality? She was charged $188 per from TicketsNow.
"I absolutely didn't agree to pay $879 for four tickets," said Mary.
But good news, after our first report, Bruce Springsteen came out condemning Ticketmaster's practices. And now Ticketmaster has apologized and promised to refund the ticket mark-ups for Springsteen fans.
And we were there when Chris called TicketsNow and got her Bruce tickets reduced to face value.
"I saved around $900," beamed a relieved Chris. "7 was really on my side. Thank you very much."
For refunds, call TicketsNow: (800) 927-2770
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Story by: Tappy Phillips
Produced by: Steve Livingstone
