Consumer Affairs Investigates Potential Irregularities in Bad Bunny Ticket Sales

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is set to investigate a "major ticket management company" over potential "irregularities" in the sale of tickets for the 12 concerts of the Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny in Madrid and Barcelona next year, 2026.

Although the department led by Pablo Bustinduy has not directly mentioned Bad Bunny by name, they have explained that they have received complaints from consumers about possible illicit charges in the online sale "of tickets for concerts in Spain by a well-known international artist," with sales organized by Ticketmaster.

Bustinduy indicated yesterday that his ministry will "study" the price hikes that occurred in ticket sales. "This has been quite an extraordinary process, I must say, the purchase of tickets for these shows. And we will study it, of course, like all the complaints we receive," Bustinduy stated in an interview with Cadena SER.

Bustinduy explained that he does not want "tricks" in the management fees of tickets and has stated that the final price "must be reflected from the beginning."

Additionally, the minister recalled that companies will be required through the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users to include management fees in the final price when acquiring services such as cinema, concert, or nightclub tickets.

"This law includes a provision whereby the final price must be reflected from the beginning so that we have the information and can decide if we want to buy something. No, it's not acceptable to 'hook you with something and then keep adding,'" Bustinduy denounced.

Thus, this investigation is incorporated into an informative file that Consumer Affairs has open against several companies dedicated to the online sale of tickets for concerts or other activities.

The Consumers and Users Organization (OCU) filed a complaint this Monday, May 12, against Ticketmaster with the General Subdirectorate of Inspection and Sanctioning Procedure of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs for the "irregular and abusive" charges of the same tickets.

From the Ministry, they recall that in 2024 an informative note was already published warning these companies of the requirements they must meet in applying surcharges and other management fees for online ticket sales.