A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues. This Month: what happens if surprise new restrictions mean events I’ve booked won’t go ahead?
Q: “I love live music and, now that Covid restrictions have lifted, I’m keen to start going to events again. I’ve booked tickets for some gigs over the next few months, but I’m still a bit worried. I can’t quite believe things are fully back to normal. What will happen if restrictions come back in?”
A: It’s understandable that you might be feeling uncertain when there has been so much change but knowing your rights will help you deal with anything unexpected.
If you’ve got tickets to an event which goes ahead but you change your mind about going or realise you’re no longer able to go, you have no legal right to a refund.
If, however, the event is cancelled, your right to a refund will depend on how you bought the ticket:
If you booked through an official seller, and the organiser cancels, moves or reschedules the event, you should get a refund. This is true even if it’s cancelled due to a government ban on large events. If this happens, contact the official seller to find out how you can get a refund.
If you bought your ticket from a ticket-reselling website, your refund will depend on the site’s terms and conditions. If you’re worried about the event being cancelled, it’s a good idea to look at the terms and conditions before booking. If you bought from a private seller, unfortunately it is unlikely that you’ll be able to recover your money, even if the event is cancelled or rescheduled. We recommend contacting the seller to see if there is anything they can do.
Ahead of any events you’ve booked, keep checking the information from the official seller or organiser to make sure you know straight away about any updates, like changes to the date or cancellations.
Another thing to be aware of is that scammers exploit these situations for their own benefit. If your event is cancelled and anyone – a person or a company – offers their services to try to recover money on your behalf,
be suspicious. Make sure that you’re aware of the signs of a potential scam and always be on the lookout.
You can read more about getting a refund on the Citizens Advice website here.
