Everything you need to know about getting a ticket refund
IF A gig, event, festival or show – in fact anything you have purchased a ticket for or paid in advance to attend – is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund of the face value of the ticket if you have bought from an official seller.
Usually, the promoter or event organiser will refund you on the card you paid with if the event is called off completely.
But for many people, events are being rescheduled – often to the same day next year. This is a huge positive for many as perhaps we all need something to look forward to right now, but what if you can’t attend?
Or how about if you still have lingering concerns about the safety of large gatherings in the coming year?
If you can’t attend, you should be entitled to a full refund, too.
Make sure you explain to the ticket agent why you can’t go. If you are able to attend, but simply don’t want to, then it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get your money back, but contact the seller anyway as they may be understanding in these times.
TICKET REFUNDS AND SECTION 75
IF CANCELLATION refunds aren’t received for tickets costing less than £100, your bank or card provider could charge back the money. You may have to sign a waiver to show you’re not breaching a contract by doing this.
If you paid more than £100 on a credit card and bought the ticket(s) directly from an agent – not through a third party – then you may be able to make a claim under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
This is a legal right you have to claim the money back from your card provider.
TICKET RESALE
IF YOU’VE bought from a ticket resale agency, exchange or fan-to-fan site, the situation is less clear-cut, as your dealings are with a third-party.
Some have already confirmed that customers will be entitled to a refund if the event does not go ahead. Check the terms and conditions of the site you have bought from – if it says refunds are being offered, then you can claim this way.
However, some people are not being given refunds but vouchers to spend on-site, or are even being told to resell the tickets. We disagree with this. Ask the firm to speak to the original ticket seller who will need to reclaim the face value refund, then get the ticket resale agency to send you the money.
WE NEED TO KNOW
TICKET sellers have faced an onslaught of calls and demands for refunds. But rather than making policies clear on their websites, some have not been very forthcoming.
The industry’s trade body, Star, says that while there’s no specified timescales for refunds, prior to the pandemic it would expect businesses to refund as soon as a gig was cancelled without rescheduling.
While a business may only be able to do this now if it has money itself, as opposed to having to recall it from a promoter, Star adds that long delays without information are not acceptable.
Also bear in mind that it’s likely that some businesses will go under.
When a firm goes bust, it’s likely you’ll lose your cash. If you’re struggling to get a refund, speak to your bank or card provider and ask if they can ‘charge back’ the money from the organiser. Again, under section 75, you may also be able to make a claim to your credit card provider.
■ If you’re not getting the information you need from your ticket seller, or you’re struggling to get that refund, use Resolver to raise a complaint for free.