What to Do If You Have Tickets for a Canceled Event
Remember when you decided 2020 would be the best year in history and bought tickets to festivals, concerts, and sporting events? Yes, you were about to come off. Until the coronavirus was discovered and almost all public gatherings of more than 100 people were canceled.
So now not only are your plans canceled, but your money is tied to Ticketmaster or wherever you bought your tickets.
If you’re worried about losing your money and missing out on an event you’ve been waiting for, here’s what to do.
Check with the ticket seller first.
Whether it’s your event venue or a ticket office like StubHub, the place where you bought your tickets is the best place to look for answers.
You may automatically receive a company policy email, but if not, please log into your account or visit the venue’s homepage.
For example, StubHub sent an email with a very nice offer : “If you buy tickets to StubHub for an event that is canceled, you have the option to receive a coupon worth 120% of your initial order to go to a live event of your choice within the next 12 months. Alternatively, you may choose to receive a full refund of the original order amount (including service and shipping charges) with the original payment method. “
Ticketmaster’s Coronavirus FAQs page states that if your event is canceled, you will be informed about either the rescheduled event date or how to get a refund. Refunds may not be automatic, so keep an eye on the messages about your tickets in your inbox. Live Nation announced via Twitter that ticket holders for canceled events will receive an email with details.
If you purchased insurance for your ticket through a partner (that is, you got it on the last screen of the online checkout process by checking the box and adding a few dollars to your total), pay special attention to the terms of this agreement. Most politicians don’t offer refunds if you change your mind – say if your concert is n’t canceled, but you decide you don’t want to stand with 3,000 people.
If you are stuck with tickets
What if your event is canceled and you can’t figure out what to do next? Perhaps the meeting place is not revealing details, or you are unable to reach the customer service line after eons of waiting. Or, the company’s Twitter call has failed. What else can you do?
It might be time to call the credit card you used to book your tickets. Your card issuer can help you file a purchase dispute. “Your chances of success depend on your specific circumstances, as well as the amount of payments and your relationship with the card issuer,” said Ted Rossman, industry analyst at CreditCards.com . “Be polite but persistent in your arguments.”
Don’t forget the plans you made around your plans
You can’t forget about the peripherals that come with your event tickets, like the hotel room you booked for a music festival or the plane tickets you bought for a basketball tournament. While airlines and hotels were pretty relaxed about who can cancel and get a refund (or credit), Rossman cautioned that your mileage may vary. Inquire about these reservations as early as possible to inquire about your options.
While it can be frustrating to keep your money and social events in limbo, try to be patient. Many event locations are still in the process of creating policies for their canceled events, so it may take several days to determine the next steps for your scenario. Keep checking your venue or event webpage and stay patient and calm if you call to inquire about the situation.