Ticket refund
October 31, 2016 7:08 PM Subscribe
Story: I purchased tickets from a ticket vendor for an event. They have a no refund policy unless the show is cancelled. When I got to the event it was a complete mess getting in. There weren't enough check points in the lines or security guards to help with the traffic flow. Management put the attendees in danger by overselling tickets. People were being pushed and close to being trampled on waiting in line, and there was no exit out of the line once you got in. I waited 2 hours and was extremely disappointed by the disorganization and greediness of the management, and promoters. I have attended a number of similar events and this was by far the worst experience ever.
The following day I commented on their facebook events page (which they later deleted) and I requested a refund from the ticket vendor. They responded back by saying they are sorry about the circumstance, but they weren't grounds enough for a refund. Where should I go from here? Should I let this go or continue fighting for a refund? Who should I report this to (maybe BBB?), and request a refund from?
The following day I commented on their facebook events page (which they later deleted) and I requested a refund from the ticket vendor. They responded back by saying they are sorry about the circumstance, but they weren't grounds enough for a refund. Where should I go from here? Should I let this go or continue fighting for a refund? Who should I report this to (maybe BBB?), and request a refund from?
Did you get in? Sorry but it sounds like your options are limited from here.
If you didn't get in, chargeback *so* fast.
posted by so fucking future at 7:12 PM on October 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
If you didn't get in, chargeback *so* fast.
posted by so fucking future at 7:12 PM on October 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
Chargeback. Stat.
Do you have screen shots of your FB comment? If you check twitter and FB and similar for the hashtag for the event, are there other complaints that support your position?
I'm unclear if you attended the event, or if you were there but the event was not at all even a little bit as described. If you reasonably think the event was a scam and they did not deliver in any way, document your position, call your cc company and do a chargeback. If you lose the chargeback, appeal and provide your documentation.
It's likely you will win the chargeback. Just call your credit card company. This is why credit cards are useful, when you pay for stuff that is scammy or just straight up fraud.
posted by jbenben at 7:18 PM on October 31, 2016
Do you have screen shots of your FB comment? If you check twitter and FB and similar for the hashtag for the event, are there other complaints that support your position?
I'm unclear if you attended the event, or if you were there but the event was not at all even a little bit as described. If you reasonably think the event was a scam and they did not deliver in any way, document your position, call your cc company and do a chargeback. If you lose the chargeback, appeal and provide your documentation.
It's likely you will win the chargeback. Just call your credit card company. This is why credit cards are useful, when you pay for stuff that is scammy or just straight up fraud.
posted by jbenben at 7:18 PM on October 31, 2016
If you didn't pay via credit card or otherwise can't do a chargeback, you're probably looking at a lawsuit. Small claims isn't that difficult.
posted by Hatashran at 7:21 PM on October 31, 2016
posted by Hatashran at 7:21 PM on October 31, 2016
Response by poster: Paid with credit card. I was not able to turn back once I was in queue because everyone was piled on top each other and there were barriers on both sides, so I was stuck waiting for 2 hours. I have sent the vendor images and comments other people made on the events page as evidence, but that didn't help either.
posted by quasicalligraphic at 7:23 PM on October 31, 2016
posted by quasicalligraphic at 7:23 PM on October 31, 2016
You're not going to get a refund from the ticket seller, at least not without considerable difficulty. The event happened, your ticket got scanned/torn, and so they're out of the situation at that point. It's probably going to be the promoters you're going to deal with. Did you take pictures? Did anybody else?
posted by rhizome at 8:21 PM on October 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 8:21 PM on October 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
Did you see, hear, or experience the thing you went for? You seem to be evading the question.
It seems highly unlikely to me that anyone will compensate you for standing in line for two hours getting pushed, shoved, and almost trampled, if in fact you received what you paid for.
posted by Bruce H. at 8:27 PM on October 31, 2016 [23 favorites]
It seems highly unlikely to me that anyone will compensate you for standing in line for two hours getting pushed, shoved, and almost trampled, if in fact you received what you paid for.
posted by Bruce H. at 8:27 PM on October 31, 2016 [23 favorites]
As I understand it, it seems like you paid for an event that was X number of hours long, where in fact you spent the majority of that time in line instead of inside the event?
That qualifies for a chargeback if the normal expectation for such events is that a valid ticket usually grants access for the full duration of the event. If the event was oversold and the venue could not legally accommodate all the ticket holders, then you were scammed.
posted by jbenben at 8:49 PM on October 31, 2016 [2 favorites]
That qualifies for a chargeback if the normal expectation for such events is that a valid ticket usually grants access for the full duration of the event. If the event was oversold and the venue could not legally accommodate all the ticket holders, then you were scammed.
posted by jbenben at 8:49 PM on October 31, 2016 [2 favorites]
It can depend on the event, but very often "ticket vendors" are basically just cashiers - they have nothing to do with running or organizing the event and are just third parties who have a contract with the promoter and/or the venue to sell tickets. Their terms are "no refund unless event is cancelled" and the event wasn't cancelled, so as far as they're concerned, end of story.
You had a bad time at the event because the organizers/promoters/venue (which might be 3 or more separate people or companies) weren't prepared or organized, so you should complain to them. (It's quite likely that they'd be more willing to give you a discount/freebie for the next event rather than refund money, up to you whether you take it.) Like any consumer complaint, stay calm and polite, and politely but firmly request that you speak to the next person up the ladder if the person you're talking to can't/won't provide satisfaction. You still may not get a refund.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:53 PM on October 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
You had a bad time at the event because the organizers/promoters/venue (which might be 3 or more separate people or companies) weren't prepared or organized, so you should complain to them. (It's quite likely that they'd be more willing to give you a discount/freebie for the next event rather than refund money, up to you whether you take it.) Like any consumer complaint, stay calm and polite, and politely but firmly request that you speak to the next person up the ladder if the person you're talking to can't/won't provide satisfaction. You still may not get a refund.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:53 PM on October 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
...long shot, but have you tried reaching out to the management of the performers?
posted by kmennie at 10:57 PM on October 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kmennie at 10:57 PM on October 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
Here's what I would do:
- Complain publicly on Twitter that (lack of) crowd management was dangerous. You were *trapped* for 2 hours and could not escape. If there was a stampede it would have been horrific. Tag in venue/performers/vendor/etc. This may get a request for DM and an offer to put things right. If that doesn't pan out...
- Complaint via email or letter to venue/performers/vendor. If that doesn't pan out...
- Letter to local paper or publication covering this sort of show, if relevant. Also...
- Complaint to fire marshal(?) or health & safety authority of some kind pointing out dangerous circumstances.
At all times keep the complaint factual and objective, and say how a) you were in danger, and b) you will be advising people avoid that performer and venue in future. If the first two don't get a response and compensation/refund, you probably won't get one, but may as well piss them off with bad publicity and/or official investigation.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:55 AM on November 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
- Complain publicly on Twitter that (lack of) crowd management was dangerous. You were *trapped* for 2 hours and could not escape. If there was a stampede it would have been horrific. Tag in venue/performers/vendor/etc. This may get a request for DM and an offer to put things right. If that doesn't pan out...
- Complaint via email or letter to venue/performers/vendor. If that doesn't pan out...
- Letter to local paper or publication covering this sort of show, if relevant. Also...
- Complaint to fire marshal(?) or health & safety authority of some kind pointing out dangerous circumstances.
At all times keep the complaint factual and objective, and say how a) you were in danger, and b) you will be advising people avoid that performer and venue in future. If the first two don't get a response and compensation/refund, you probably won't get one, but may as well piss them off with bad publicity and/or official investigation.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:55 AM on November 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zippy at 7:10 PM on October 31, 2016 [9 favorites]