SEATTLE — Brown Paper Tickets, a Seattle-based virtual box office company, has been ordered to fully refund all customers who bought tickets to events that were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company has agreed to pay back roughly $9 million to an estimated 45,000 ticket purchasers and event organizers.
On Monday, Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a consent decree in King County Superior Court, about five months after filing a lawsuit against Brown Paper Tickets.
"Today’s resolution ensures Brown Paper Tickets will uphold its promises to these essential community spaces by returning the millions of dollars it owes them, and puts money back into the pockets of thousands of individuals across the country,” said Ferguson.
According to the AG's office, from March 19, 2020 through Feb. 23, 2021, the office received 1,200 complaints from consumers regarding the company's conduct. The lawsuit says roughly 45,000 people were affected nationwide, many of whom either attended or organized small, nonprofit or community-based events.
On average, Brown Paper Tickets owes less than $50 to ticket buyers, according to the Attorney General's Office. It owes as much as $1,000 to $10,000 to event organizers.
About 90% of consumers who are entitled to refunds are ticket buyers.
Customers don't have to file a claim to receive their restitution. Brown Paper Tickets will contact ticket holders and event organizers to arrange a refund.
Under the decree, Brown Paper Tickets must submit a detailed report on the progress of the refunds to the Attorney General's office every 30 days.