Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan joined six other Eastern Pennsylvania DAs in a consumer protection lawsuit against Vivid Seats. The secondary ticketing company is accused of hiding fees that inflate ticket prices by up to 80%.

Khan announced his office's entry into the case on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The lawsuit, originally filed by the Monroe County District Attorney's Office in Monroe County Court of Common Pleas, alleges Vivid Seats systematically violates Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL).

According to Patch, the complaint centers on three practices: drip pricing, fee misrepresentation and deliberate concealment of total costs. Vivid Seats allegedly advertises low ticket prices, then adds mandatory fees near the end of checkout. The platform also allegedly uses countdown timers and interface layouts designed to pressure buyers into completing purchases before they see the full price, according to the Bucks County government's announcement.

The local impact is direct. Khan's office said Vivid Seats regularly resells tickets for events at the Xcite Center at Parx Casino, the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope and the Sellersville Theater. Thousands of Bucks County residents also travel to Philadelphia for Phillies, Eagles, Sixers and Flyers games, the DA said, making them frequent targets of the alleged pricing scheme.

"Hiding massive fees until the final second isn't just bad business," Khan said in a statement. "It is deceptive, it is illegal under Pennsylvania law, and it directly undermines affordability for families across our county and state."

Vivid Seats pushed back. In a statement provided to FOX 29, the company called the lawsuit's claims alleged and unproven, describing them as historic practices. The company said a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule that took effect in May 2025 requires ticketing platforms to display all-in pricing, and that Vivid Seats has complied since then. The company also noted Pennsylvania legislators did not pass a similar all-in pricing bill, H.B. 636, during the 2023-2024 session.

The bipartisan coalition includes DAs from Bucks, Monroe, Montgomery, Lackawanna, Pike, Wyoming and Luzerne counties. Monroe County District Attorney Michael Mancuso's Consumer Protection Division spearheaded the case, with assistance from consumer rights law firm Tycko & Zavareei LLP.

Khan took office in January 2026. His office's transition report committed to using its civil and criminal authority to protect consumers, workers and the environment, according to TAPinto Doylestown.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt the alleged deceptive pricing statewide, full restitution for affected consumers, civil penalties and recovery of legal costs. No hearing date has been set publicly.