US senators have criticized Ticketmaster for raising ticket fees following a federal regulatory crackdown on hidden charges, according to a recent report.

The Federal Trade Commission began requiring Ticketmaster in May to disclose concert ticket fees upfront through a practice known as all-in pricing. To comply with this rule, the company eliminated the order processing fee it previously charged at the end of transactions.

However, records show that Ticketmaster subsequently raised other fees to offset potential losses from the regulatory change. Senator Richard Blumenthal characterized the company's actions as operating like it has a "get-out-of-jail-free card" and described the practice as a "bait and switch."

The senators' rebuke follows revelations about Ticketmaster's fee adjustments that came to light in recent reporting. The company had quietly implemented the fee increases after being forced to abandon its previous practice of revealing charges only at the final stage of ticket purchases.

The FTC's all-in pricing requirement was designed to provide consumers with transparent pricing information from the beginning of the ticket purchasing process, rather than surprising buyers with additional costs during checkout.