$138,000 in Commissions Voided Overnight – Viagogo Affiliate Warning

Hi Affiliates,


I’ve been working with Viagogo via Partnerize for over a year, generating sales steadily. My account Turi--- had over $138,000 in commissions (confirmed + pending).


The domain I used was approved by Viagogo from the start. Recently, after a huge spike in sales, Viagogo suddenly terminated my account, citing “domain policy violation,” and voided all commissions, including over $30,000 confirmed earnings.


I have full proof — screenshots from Partnerize showing the earnings, order values, and approved domain records.


Has anyone here faced a similar issue? How did you escalate it successfully? I’m considering legal action and public exposure of such practices to protect other affiliates.


Screenshots attached for reference. Any advice from experienced affiliates or those who dealt with Viagogo would be greatly appreciated.

It's always so noticeable when someone's first post here is a complaint about a vendor.


The affiliate program highlights several key aspects relevant to affiliate websites:


"Affiliates should ensure their domain names and websites are professional, relevant, functional, and do not infringe upon Viagogo's trademarks or copyrights. They should also avoid creating websites that mislead customers into thinking they are a separate ticket marketplace, as all transactions must happen on the Viagogo website. It's advisable for affiliates to consult Viagogo's official affiliate program documentation and terms for detailed and specific guidelines on domain policy and branding."


Were you and your site(s) completely compliant with all of these requirements?


yes, to the best of my knowledge we were compliant, and here’s how, point-by-point against the program terms:


Branding / Domain use:We never used Viagogo/StubHub marks or logos, never claimed official status, and placed clear, conspicuous non-affiliation disclaimers site-wide. The disputed domain was disclosed at onboarding and used for months without objection; when flagged, I detached/retired it immediately.No “separate marketplace” confusion:We do not sell tickets. All CTAs deep-link to Viagogo via Partnerize tracking. Pages describe events, then redirect—no carts, no payment flow, no “official” language.Linking & tracking compliance (Sec. 2 & 4):All domains were listed in Partnerize; no link manipulation, no referrer masking, no cookie stuffing, pop-ups, toolbars, or extensions.Advertising rules:No PPC bidding on brand/trademark terms; no social ads using Viagogo marks; email (limited) was CAN-SPAM compliant.Disclosures & policies (Sec. 7 / FTC):Above-the-fold affiliate disclosures, updated Terms, Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and a takedown/DMCA contact.


The only debate is the string similarity of one domain to an event name. Even if Viagogo now deems that non-compliant, the response—retroactively voiding all unpaid commissions, including ~$30k already “Confirmed,” and wiping earnings from unrelated, compliant sites—is disproportionate and amounts to unjust enrichment after they captured the sales.


I’m not here to vent; I’m seeking a fair remedy:


pay pre-dispute, confirmed commissions, andif needed, audit/segregate earnings by property.

The news of "$138,000 in Commissions Voided Overnight" serves as a critical warning for affiliates partnering with Viagogo, highlighting the risks and potential pitfalls in affiliate marketing with ticket resale platforms. Below is a breakdown of the key implications and lessons for affiliates:


What Happened?


While specific details of the incident may vary, the core issue is that affiliates promoting Viagogo (a major ticket resale platform for concerts, sports events, and live performances) had $138,000 in earned commissions suddenly invalidated. This could occur due to Viagogo’s internal policy enforcement, disputes over 推广合规性 (promotional compliance), or post-purchase issues (e.g., customer refunds, ticket invalidation).


Potential Reasons for Voided Commissions


Affiliate commissions are typically tied to valid, completed transactions. Common triggers for revocation include:


Violations of Affiliate Agreements: Viagogo’s terms likely prohibit misleading marketing (e.g., false claims about ticket availability/pricing), spammy outreach, or promoting unauthorized events.Customer Refunds or Chargebacks: If users who clicked affiliate links later request refunds (due to ticket scams, event cancellations, or dissatisfaction), commissions tied to those sales are often reversed.Fraudulent Activity: Detection of fake traffic, bot-generated clicks, or incentivized sign-ups (e.g., paying users to purchase tickets) can lead to commission invalidation.Policy Changes: Sudden updates to Viagogo’s affiliate rules (e.g., stricter validation of "qualified sales") may retroactively affect pending commissions.


Critical Warnings for Viagogo Affiliates (and All Affiliates)


Scrutinize Affiliate Agreements:


Read Viagogo’s termscarefullyto understand what constitutes a "valid commission" (e.g., does a sale require the ticket to be used, or just purchased?).Note clauses on refunds, chargebacks, and compliance—these often outline when commissions can be revoked.


Prioritize Compliance in Promotions:


Avoid hyperbole or false promises (e.g., "guaranteed tickets" or "lowest prices" if untrue).Disclose affiliate relationships clearly (required by laws like the FTC’s guidelines in the U.S.) to avoid misleading users.Stick to approved marketing channels (e.g., avoid spam emails or unauthorized social media tactics).


Document Everything:


Keep records of 推广材料 (promotional materials), click-through data, and transaction confirmations. This helps dispute unfair commission revocations.


Assess Platform Reliability:


Viagogo has faced past controversies over high fees and ticket authenticity issues. Affiliates should weigh the risk of customer dissatisfaction (and subsequent refunds) against potential earnings.Diversify partnerships to avoid over-reliance on a single platform—this mitigates losses if one partner voids commissions.


Monitor Payout Timelines:


Track when commissions are "earned" vs. "paid." Some platforms hold commissions for a grace period (to account for refunds), so factor this into cash flow planning.


Final Takeaway


This incident underscores that affiliate income is not guaranteed until it’s paid out. For Viagogo affiliates, due diligence in compliance, clear communication with the platform, and proactive risk management are essential to protect earnings. Always prioritize partnerships with transparent, reputable platforms—and never assume commissions are safe until they hit your account.