💳 I was charged after joining the waiting list

You joined the waiting list for a ticket, but the charge arrived later than you expected?

Here's why the charge happens, when you can be charged, and what you can do if you no longer want the ticket.

👉 Why was I charged without confirming anything?

When you join the waiting list, you authorize an automatic purchase if a ticket becomes available for you.

There's no additional purchase step or confirmation when the ticket is found. Your card is charged automatically and the ticket is generated for your account. You'll then receive a payment confirmation email with your ticket.

If a ticket isn't immediately available, you remain on the waiting list until one becomes available. Depending on when a ticket becomes available, you may receive a notification shortly before the automatic purchase takes place. If you receive this notification and no longer want the ticket, you can leave the waiting list before the purchase.

👉 Why was I charged immediately or much later after joining the waiting list?

There isn't always a waiting period between joining the list and being charged. You can be charged immediately after joining the waiting list, or much later.

If a ticket is already available when you join, your automatic purchase can happen right away. You don't get an additional period to decide whether you want the ticket.

If no ticket is available at that moment, you remain on the waiting list until one becomes available. This could happen a few days after you joined or even on the day of the event.

That's why it's important to join the waiting list only when you're ready to buy the ticket if one becomes available.

You stay on the waiting list until you leave it yourself. Buying a ticket somewhere else, buying one at the door, or simply deciding not to attend the event doesn't remove you from the list.

Leaving the waiting list is the only way to stop being considered for a ticket and prevent a future automatic charge. See I want to join or leave a waiting list for instructions on how to leave.

👉 I don't want the ticket anymore. Can I cancel it or get a refund?

Waiting list purchases work differently from regular ticket purchases. When you join the waiting list, you agree in advance to have your card charged automatically if a ticket becomes available for you.

Because of this, being charged for a waiting list ticket isn't, by itself, a reason for a refund. The ticket was purchased according to the terms you accepted when joining the waiting list, even if you later changed your mind, bought another ticket, or no longer want to attend.

What you can do depends on when you're asking:

→ The event hasn't happened yet?

If your ticket is eligible for resale, you can put it back on sale through Shotgun. You'll receive the resale amount if another person buys your ticket, so it isn't instant and it isn't guaranteed.

See I want to resell my ticket

→ The event has already happened?

Once the event has taken place, the ticket can no longer be resold. The waiting list purchase isn't automatically refunded because the ticket wasn't used.

If you have a specific reason you'd like to request a refund, you can contact the event organizer with your order number and explain your situation. The organizer can decide whether they are willing to offer a refund after the event.

See How can I contact the event organizer?

👉 How do I avoid this next time?

• Leave the waiting list as soon as you no longer want the ticket. Buying another ticket, deciding not to attend, or planning to buy one at the door won't remove you automatically.
• Keep Shotgun push notifications enabled. When a ticket becomes available after you've joined the waiting list, you may receive a notification before the automatic purchase takes place.
• If you've changed your mind, leave the waiting list before a ticket becomes available. Keep in mind that if a ticket is already available when you join the waiting list, the automatic purchase may happen immediately, without a notification beforehand.

👉 I was charged but I can't find my ticket

If you were charged for a waiting list ticket but can't find it in your account, start with the checks in I can’t find my ticket