Quebec Cracks Down on Ticket Resales, Subscriptions

Summary#

• This Quebec bill changes the Consumer Protection Act to crack down on abusive ticket resales and tricky online subscription renewals.

• It forces clearer warnings on resale sites, limits ticket markups, and bans fees to transfer tickets. It also makes online cancellations easier and stops surprise charges after free trials.

• Key changes:

  • Resale platforms must tell you right away that they are a resale site and that cheaper tickets may be available from the authorized seller.
  • Before reselling a ticket, the reseller must clearly share who the authorized seller is, the official price, that it is a resale, the seat, and the last owner’s name.
  • Resale price cannot be higher than the official price unless the producer agrees and tells the buyer the allowed maximum.
  • No fees are allowed to transfer a ticket.
  • Producers and sellers must quickly inform buyers of any cancellation or change of time or place.
  • Online subscriptions that you can cancel without reason must include a clear “cancel” button.
  • If a contract includes a free or reduced-price period, the merchant must send a written notice 2 to 10 days before it ends, with the new price.
  • Ads for phone, internet, cable and similar distance services must show any one‑time fees right next to the monthly price.
  • Merchants cannot block consumers from posting reviews.
  • Wrongly charged amounts must be refunded to the consumer. Penalties apply for violations.

What it means for you#

• Consumers buying event tickets

  • You will see clear warnings when you are on a resale site, and that official tickets may be cheaper.
  • You must be told the seat, that it is a resale, the official seller, the official price, and the last owner’s name.
  • You should not pay more than the official price unless the producer approved a higher cap and this cap is shown to you.
  • No fees can be charged just to transfer a ticket to someone else.
  • If a show is cancelled or moved, sellers must inform you quickly.

• People with online subscriptions (streaming, news, gyms, apps, etc.)

  • You will have an easy-to-find online button to cancel when the contract allows cancellation without reason.
  • If you had a free trial or reduced price, you will get a written notice 2 to 10 days before it ends, with the date and the price that will start after.
  • Phone, internet, and cable ads must show one-time fees right next to the monthly price, including in spoken ads.
  • If a merchant charges you an amount they were not allowed to charge, they must refund it, even if you received the service.
  • A company cannot ban you from posting a review about its product or conduct.

• Ticket platforms and resellers

  • You must display clear notices that identify resale listings and mention that official tickets may be cheaper.
  • You must disclose key facts before resale and respect the resale price rules.
  • You cannot charge fees to transfer tickets.
  • If your technology lets third parties resell tickets and get paid on your site, you are treated as taking part in the resale and must follow these rules.
  • You face administrative penalties and offences if you do not comply.

• Collection agencies

  • The consumer protection office can suspend or cancel a permit if the agency cannot meet its obligations due to finances or cannot ensure honest and competent conduct in the public interest.

• Timing

  • Most rules take effect three months after the bill becomes law. Some parts take effect on the day of sanction.
  • The notice-before-end-of-promo rule does not apply to contracts already in force when that rule starts.

Expenses#

• No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• This will reduce ticket scalping and extreme markups by capping resale prices unless the producer authorizes otherwise.
• Buyers will get clear, early warnings on resale sites and better details before they pay.
• People will avoid surprise charges after trials, thanks to the required advance notice and the easy cancel button.
• Ads for telecom-type services will be clearer by showing one‑time fees next to the monthly price.
• Banning “no-review” clauses protects free speech and helps other consumers.
• Refunds of unlawful charges and new penalties will improve compliance and trust.

Opponents' View#

• Price caps on resales may push sales to unregulated markets or outside Quebec, reducing ticket availability on legal platforms.
• Compliance will add costs for platforms and merchants (website changes, notices, monitoring), which could be passed to consumers.
• Treating platforms as “resellers” when they only enable third-party sales could overreach and chill innovation.
• The 2–10 day notice window before a promo ends may be missed by consumers, or cause too many emails without real benefit.
• Enforcement could be complex, and penalties may not deter bad actors operating offshore.