Concert ticket fees spark anger: €89 ticket ends up costing €96.51
Social media users are complaining about mandatory booking commissions on concert tickets, with a €89 Calvin Harris ticket ending up at €96.51. Latvia's Biļešu Serviss has yet to explain the extra charges.
A user on Threads has drawn attention to extra charges added when buying concert tickets. A ticket for a Calvin Harris concert was listed at €89, but the final payment came to €96.51. According to the user, the difference consisted of three mandatory commission fees, and he wondered whether a fourth fee might appear by the end of the year.
Another user, Anna, calculated that if at least 20,000 tickets are sold for a show, the added commissions could earn the platform €100,000. She had assumed the ticket price already included venue rental and fees for the performer.
A user named Sergejs suggested the extra charge could include insurance for the stage structure, possibly recalling the recently cancelled Pitbull concert.
Comments note that such fees are not unique to Latvia. One user shared an experience from Finland: her daughter does ballet, costs €70 a month, once a year performance, and buying a ticket required a service fee. She said this shows Latvia is not the only place where such things happen.
Diana pointed out that if an event is cancelled, the added commissions may not be refunded. Aina reminded that tickets can still be bought in person at box offices, where such fees should not apply.
LA.LV has contacted Biļešu Serviss to learn how the three extra fees are calculated and whether all are mandatory. The article will be updated once the company responds.
