I just bought tickets for a show in December and at checkout there was automatically checked a 'event protection' option that I hadn't selected. Is that even legal? How can I complain or prevent them from charging me that?
First thing is to contact the ticket sales platform directly and ask them to review the charge - they'll usually remove it without a problem if you show them the receipt because legally they can't charge you for something you didn't explicitly agree to. If they don't refund you, file a chargeback with your bank or credit card saying it was an unauthorized charge; in most cases they have protection for these situations and can reverse the money. Also, check the platform's terms because some countries have already banned this practice of having pre-checked boxes, so you might have more arguments for your claim!
You brought up an important point, but there's a detail that's not as straightforward as it seems. Yeah, default options are legally questionable, but it varies a lot depending on where you buy (each country has different regulations) and what exactly the contract you accepted when purchasing says. Before assuming "they legally can't charge you," check the platform's terms and conditions carefully, because some sites do allow it if it's visible at checkout, even if it's shady. Your best bet is to send an email with screenshots showing the screen and asking for a refund, but be ready for them to say they saw agreement in the terms; if they refuse and you're sure it wasn't your click, escalate it to consumer protection.
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