The Federal Trade Commission has forced StubHub to pay $10 million to customers after the nation’s largest ticket resale platform deliberately hid mandatory fees from ticket buyers, violating federal consumer protection rules in a deceptive pricing scheme that caught thousands of Americans off guard.

Hidden Fees Cost Buyers Hundreds Extra

The FTC settlement targets StubHub’s deceptive advertising practices during three days from May 12 to 14, 2025. Customers who purchased tickets during this window saw advertised prices that excluded mandatory fees. The agency highlighted one egregious example where Philadelphia Eagles versus Dallas Cowboys tickets appeared listed at $236 each, but the actual cost jumped to $319 after a $59 fee and $24 in taxes appeared only after selection. The FTC called this practice a clear violation of federal rules requiring upfront disclosure of total costs.

StubHub on the hook for $10M settlement – find out if you're eligible https://t.co/jTQLqE37Bz pic.twitter.com/isVTeRLG3U

— New York Post (@nypost) April 15, 2026

StubHub claimed in a statement that it has long supported transparent all-in pricing. The company insisted the settlement covers only a limited number of transactions over three days, where some listings may have displayed prices without fees. Despite this explanation, StubHub agreed to refund customers rather than fight the charges, though the company stated it strongly disagrees with the FTC’s interpretation of the case.

Automatic Refunds Coming This Summer

Consumers who bought tickets from StubHub between May 12 and 14, 2025, qualify for settlement payments without taking any action. The company has already contacted eligible customers with details. Refunds will arrive in the original payment method or through PayPal if the first method fails. The FTC order requires StubHub to begin issuing payments by July 8, exactly 90 days after the April 9 order. Customers will receive reimbursement for fulfillment and service fees they paid on their tickets.

Federal Crackdown On Junk Fees

The StubHub case represents the first major enforcement action under the FTC’s Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, commonly called the Junk Fees Rule, which took effect May 12, 2025. The agency sent StubHub a warning on May 14, 2025, noting inaccurate ticket prices for the 2025 NFL season. This crackdown targets businesses across industries that hide mandatory charges from consumers until checkout. The settlement sends a clear message that companies must display complete pricing upfront, protecting Americans from deceptive business practices that inflate final costs without warning.