From $450 to $616: One Consumer’s Experience
Cheezum said she purchased two tickets through Vivid Seats in February that were initially listed at $225 each, expecting a total of $450. But after the hidden fees appeared — minus a small $20 discount — the final charge ballooned to $616.24.
The proposed class includes all Maryland residents who bought tickets through Vivid Seats after July 1, 2024, when the state’s anti-drip pricing law took effect, as well as customers dating back to 2022.
According to a declaration by Kevin Boone, a Vivid Seats business analyst, more than 75,000 Maryland customers paid service fees between September 2022 and May 2025, when the company allegedly changed its pricing practices.
FTC Crackdown and Timing of Policy Shift
The timing of that policy change has drawn attention. Just days before the FTC’s new rule allowing civil penalties for drip pricing took effect in May 2025, Vivid Seats updated its website and mobile app to show the total “all-in” price upfront — potentially shielding itself from harsher penalties.
Still, the lawsuit claims that Vivid Seats benefited for years from “bait-and-switch” tactics that manipulated customers’ purchasing behavior.
“By hiding the true cost until checkout, companies can charge excessive junk fees while skirting economic consequences,” Cheezum argues in her filing.
