Lawyers have expanded a class-action case against Ticketmaster, alleging that the convenience fee or service charge it adds to ticket prices is illegal.

In Ontario, the Ticket Speculation Act forbids the sale of tickets for a price higher than the original issue price, and Ticketmaster Canada's website says any dispute is governed by the laws of Ontario, the lawyers said in a news release.

The suit was filed on behalf of Canadians who bought a ticket from Ticketmaster for events in Canada outside Ontario, and who had to pay a convenience fee or service charge.

There is already a lawsuit against Ticketmaster in Ontario.

The service charge action was brought by a consumer in Edmonton, who had to pay $71.75, including various charges, for a David Byrne ticket priced at $55.50. The consumer also paid $84.60 for four tickets to Jay Leno, each priced at $79.

The lawsuit follows an earlier claim filed Feb. 9 on behalf of all persons who purchased tickets for an event in Ontario from Ticketmaster or its TicketsNow affiliate. It alleges the buyers were overcharged.

None of the allegations has been proven in court. Albert Lopez, a spokesman for Ticketmaster, declined to comment on the lawsuits, the Financial Post reported at its website.

The plaintiffs are represented by Sutts, Strosberg of Windsor, Ont., and Branch McMaster of Vancouver.

The extra charge case seeks $250 million, while the Feb. 9 case claims $500 million.