Regulators have been steadily tightening the screws on “junk fees” across the economy — from hotel resort fees to “service” and other charges when buying live event tickets. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) rule on unfair or deceptive fees (FTC’s Fees Rule), which took effect on May 12, 2025, is a centerpiece of that effort, requiring businesses to show consumers the full price up front. The latest enforcement action targets one of the biggest players in the live event ticketing market: StubHub.

On April 9, the FTC announced that StubHub, the nation’s largest ticket resale platform, will pay $10 million to resolve allegations that it violated both the FTC Act and the FTC’s Fees Rule. According to the complaint, filed on April 9, 2026, along with the proposed court order for injunction (filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York), for several days after the Fees Rule went into effect on May 12, 2025, StubHub continued to advertise ticket prices online without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price — including all mandatory fees — at every point where prices were shown.

The FTC says that the timing of StubHub’s conduct was particularly notable because it came at a moment in mid-May when demand for NFL tickets was particularly high following the announcement of the season’s schedule. StubHub’s first three screens of the buy-flow failed to show customers the full total price they would have to pay, and the first two buy-flow screens also omitted mandatory fees.

This came after the FTC had already sent StubHub a warning letter on May 14, 2025, two days after the FTC’s Fees Rule took effect, and against the backdrop of a March 2025 executive order on ticketing directing the FTC to ensure price transparency across both primary and secondary ticket markets.

Terms of the Settlement: Under a proposed court order for injunction, StubHub must:

  • Pay $10 million for consumer redress for customers who purchased tickets for live events in the U.S. between May 12 and May 14, 2025.
  • Stop misrepresenting prices and fees.
  • Comply with strict price-disclosure requirements.

Specifically, StubHub may not:

  • Offer, display, or advertise any price without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price;
  • Display any other pricing information more prominently than the total price; or
  • Fail to clearly and conspicuously disclose the amount and purpose of any fees excluded from the total price, as well as the final payment amount, before the consumer agrees to pay.

Why It Matters. This case is a clear signal that the FTC intends to actively enforce its Fees Rule. For ticketing platforms and short-term lodging sites that involve or display fees, it’s a reminder that the total price — including mandatory fees — must be front and center from the start.