Fair Ticket Resales and Easy Cancellations

Summary#

• This Quebec bill changes consumer protection rules for ticket resales and online subscriptions.

• It aims to stop confusing or abusive practices when fans buy resold tickets and when people start or renew online subscriptions.

• Key changes:

  • Ticket resale sites must clearly say they are resale platforms and that official tickets may be cheaper.
  • Resellers must disclose key facts (it’s a resale, seat location, official price, and last ticket owner) before you buy.
  • Resale above the official price is banned unless the show producer approves and the cap is shown to the buyer.
  • No fees can be charged to transfer a ticket. Sellers must quickly inform buyers of cancellations or changes.
  • Online subscriptions that can be canceled without reason must include a clear cancel button. Free trials or intro offers require a written reminder 2–10 days before the higher price starts.
  • Ads for phone, internet, or TV service must show any one-time fees right next to the monthly price.
  • Businesses cannot gag customers from posting reviews. Any illegal charges must be refunded.
  • The consumer protection office gets clearer powers and new fines to enforce these rules. Debt collection permits can be suspended or canceled for financial risk or misconduct.

What it means for you#

• Ticket buyers and fans

  • You’ll see a clear notice when you’re on a ticket resale website, and that official tickets might be cheaper.
  • Before you buy, resellers must tell you it’s a resale, your seat location, the official seller’s price, and who last owned the ticket.
  • Resale prices cannot exceed the official price unless the show producer allows it and the maximum is shown to you.
  • You cannot be charged a fee to transfer a ticket to someone else.
  • If a show is canceled or moved, the seller or reseller must tell you quickly.

• People with online subscriptions

  • If you can cancel online, there must be an easy-to-find cancel button.
  • If you have a free trial or intro rate, you’ll get a written reminder 2–10 days before the price goes up, with the date and the new price.

• Phone, internet, and TV customers

  • When a monthly price is advertised, any extra non-monthly fees must appear clearly right next to it. In verbal ads, those fees must be said right after the monthly price.

• All consumers

  • A business cannot stop you from posting a review about a product, service, or how the business treated you.
  • If a business charges a fee it was not allowed to charge, it must refund that money, even if you got a service in return. You still keep other rights and remedies.

• Ticket resale platforms and marketplaces

  • If your technology lets others resell tickets and get paid, you’re treated as part of the resale and must follow the ticket rules.
  • You face fines if you fail to show required notices or disclosures.

• Businesses and marketers

  • New disclosure duties apply to subscriptions, free trials, and ads for remote services.
  • Some consumer protection rules and penalties can also apply in certain business-to-business situations.

• Debt collection agencies (agents de recouvrement)

  • The regulator can suspend or cancel a permit if your finances put clients at risk or if you can’t operate honestly and competently in the public interest.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Protects fans from confusion and price gouging by making resale sites and prices clear.
• Reduces surprise charges: bans ticket transfer fees and forces clear fee disclosure in telecom ads.
• Cuts “free trial” bill shock with advance reminders and easy online cancellation.
• Holds platforms accountable so they cannot dodge rules by calling themselves intermediaries.
• Strengthens consumer voice by banning clauses that silence honest reviews.
• Ensures quick notice of show changes and automatic refunds of illegal charges.
• Adds practical enforcement tools and fines to make the rules stick, and protects the public from risky debt collectors.

Opponents' View#

• Price caps and extra rules could shrink the secondary ticket market, limit flexibility, or push sales to informal channels.
• Requiring the “last owner” name may raise privacy concerns for individual resellers.
• A ban on transfer fees could shift costs elsewhere (higher base prices or service charges).
• Compliance may be costly for small platforms and businesses (website changes, new notices, tracking rules).
• Easy cancel buttons and short reminder windows could increase churn and fraud risks for subscription businesses.
• Stricter platform liability and more penalties might deter innovation or lead some services to limit operations in Quebec.
• Letting all customers post reviews may expose businesses to unfair or false comments, raising moderation burdens.