Ticketmaster is offering partial refunds to fans of The Cure

Ticketmaster has offered a partial refund to fans who bought tickets for The Cure’s upcoming US tour.

The company came under fire earlier this week when it emerged that the surcharges in some cases exceeded the face value of the ticket.

The Cure frontman Robert Smith said he was “sick” with the “debacle” and promised fans answers.

On Thursday night, he said Ticketmaster agreed the fees were “excessively high” and would refund some of the money.

As a “goodwill gesture,” the company will refund $10 (£8) to anyone who bought the lowest-priced tickets, which cost $20 (£16), he said.

All other fans will receive a $5 refund.

“If you have already bought a ticket, you will automatically get your money back,” Smith tweeted. “All tickets on sale tomorrow will be charged a lower cost.”

The band will embark on their Shows of a Lost World North American tour in May, with the 30-day trek kicking off in New Orleans.

Ticketing issues came to light on Wednesday when fans shared screenshots of Ticketmaster’s pricing structure.

A customer who bought four $20 (£16.54) tickets ended up paying $172.10 (£142), after adding service fees, facility fees and order processing fees.

Another, wanting to see the band in Phoenix, Arizona, paid $72.25 (£59.75) for a $20 (£16.54) face value ticket.

Costs varied by location — one fan reported a $16.75 (£13.87) service fee in Massachusetts, while another fan reported $15 (£12.42) in Toronto — and they weren’t always higher than the base ticket price. For example, some of the more expensive seats cost $90 (£74.50) each.

Smith reacted angrily to the news, writing a series of tweets criticizing the extra charges.

“To be perfectly clear, the artist has no way of limiting them,” he wrote.

“I’ve asked how they’re justified. If I get something coherent through an answer, I’ll let you know,” he promised.

Ticketmaster has not independently confirmed the refund offer. The BBC has contacted the company for comment.

You can read Smith’s tweets about the refunds below.