South Michigan News

State Rep. Nancy Jenkins-Arno (R-Rollin Township) has introduced new legislation aimed at protecting Michigan consumers from deceptive practices in online ticket sales. The proposed bill, House Bill 4755, seeks to address concerns about misleading websites and hidden fees that can result in buyers paying more than they expected.

“Buying tickets to a concert or sporting event should be simple,” Jenkins-Arno said. “Instead, too many people are misled by look-alike websites or hit with surprise charges that only appear at the very end of a purchase. This bill will put an end to those deceptive practices.”

The legislation would prohibit several common tactics used by some online ticket sellers. These include using internet domain names or subdomains that closely resemble the names of venues, events, performers, or entities without written authorization; displaying website content that mimics official operators in ways that could confuse customers; selling tickets without clearly disclosing the total cost—including all service charges and fees—or displaying those fees less prominently than the overall price; making false or misleading disclosures about any part of the ticket price; and increasing ticket prices after they are first shown to buyers except under specific circumstances.

“This is a commonsense approach to ensuring Michigan families aren’t taken advantage of when purchasing tickets online,” Jenkins-Arno added. “People deserve to know exactly what they’re paying for and who they’re buying from.”