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- Mark Savage
- BBC music reporter
The Cure hits include Friday I’m In Love, Boys Don’t Cry and Close To Me
Ticketmaster has offered partial refunds to fans who purchased tickets for The Cure’s upcoming US tour.
The company came under fire earlier this week when it discovered that in some cases the fees added up to more than the face value of the ticket.
The Cure frontman Robert Smith said he was “disgusted” by the “meltdown” and promised fans answers.
On Thursday night, he said Ticketmaster had agreed to charge “exorbitantly” and would refund some of the money.
As a “gesture of goodwill”, he said the company would refund $10 (£8) to anyone who bought the lowest-priced tickets, which cost $20 (£16).
All other fans will receive a $5 refund.
“If you already bought a ticket, you will get an automatic refund,” Smith tweeted. “All tickets sold tomorrow will be charged the lower fee.”
The band will begin their Shows of a Lost World North American tour in May, with a 30-day trek kicking off in New Orleans.
Ticket sales went awry on Wednesday when fans shared screenshots of Ticketmaster’s pricing structure.
One customer who bought four $20 (£16.54) tickets ended up paying $172,10 (£142), plus service, facility and order processing charges.
Another person wanting to see the band in Phoenix, Arizona, paid $72.25 (£59.75) for a ticket with a face value of $20 (£16.54).
Fees vary by venue – one fan reported a $16.75 (£13.87) cover charge in Massachusetts, while another reported $15 (£12.42) in Toronto – and they don’t always exceed the basic fare. For example, some of the more expensive seats cost $90 (£74.50) each.
Smith reacted strongly to the news, writing a series of tweets criticizing the extra fee.
“It is very clear that the artist cannot limit them,” he wrote.
“I’ve been asking them how it’s justified. If I get anything coherent through the answers, I’ll let you know,” he promised.
Ticketmaster has not independently confirmed the refund offer. The BBC has contacted the company for comment.
You can read Smith’s tweet about the refund below.
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