Cancelled Gig Travel Rip-off

Solstice

Good morning.

I'm one of many people who have disappointed by the cancellation of the Foo Fighters gig at Wembley this evening, though I have no animosity and wish Dave Grohl a speedy recovery. The problem that I, and I suspect many others, will have is that I bought tickets to/from Wembley with National Express.

National Express laid on coaches specifically for the cancelled gig. However they are sticking by having to have 72 hours notice prior to time of travel for cancellation. Therefore, anyone who didn't cancel their travel as soon as the gig was officially off will be out of luck. I asked National Express for a refund immediately, but they have insisted on charging me a £5 cancellation fee.

I know it's only £5, but if they are not going to operate the service because the gig has been cancelled I don't see how it can be fair to charge a cancellation fee. It isn't as if I cancelled and caused them to either lose business or do extra work - the whole gig was cancelled so they wouldn't be running the service anyway.

I've looked on MSE and on .gov Consumer Rights pages, but can't find anything that covers cancellation of travel that was specifically for the gig and not public transport.

Any bright soul out there who can steer me right?

Thanks in advance.
Solstice

System

I don't see how it can be fair to charge a cancellation fee

Well the refund isn't going to happen by magic. Somebody at National Express has to put some time and effort into making it happen at a cost to the company.

Claim the cancellation fee off your travel insurer.

mufi

!!!!!! wrote: »

Well the refund isn't going to happen by magic. Somebody at National Express has to put some time and effort into making it happen at a cost to the company.

Claim the cancellation fee off your travel insurer.

My understanding is that if National Express is no longer going to run the service, then they have cancelled and thus no cancellation fee is due.


Do you have any idea how much a normal travel insurance policy excess is!!??

System

Regardless of whether the coaches run or not it is the OP that has cancelled the travel and not NE

Do you have any idea how much a normal travel insurance policy excess is!!??

Yes I do, I forgot the TIC

missbiggles1

Insist they take you and see what happens.

susancs

OP, looking on the National Express facebook page comments section a few customers jumped the gun and rang yesterday before the gig was officially cancelled and were going to be charged the £5 fee, but idf it is now officially cancelled a full refund is due. The NE reply to a customer on facebook states:
"You should receive a refund, minus a £5 cancellation fee (as they haven't confirmed whether it's completely cancelled or rescheduled yet). If you wait until the announcement and it is completely cancelled then you will get a full refund. If you call us on 03717 818181 about this then you will get a refund."

photome

!!!!!! wrote: »

Well the refund isn't going to happen by magic. Somebody at National Express has to put some time and effort into making it happen at a cost to the company.

Claim the cancellation fee off your travel insurer.

If the coaches are not running IMO a full refund is due

edit

looks like that is the case

System

Yes but it looks like the OP cancelled before the official announcement hence the charge which will now be refunded

Solstice

Thanks for your input, everyone.

I didn't jump the gun. I cancelled after the official cancellation notice was posted by Wembley, the national press and via a letter of apology from the band.

I'll contact National Express and see if they are going to give my £5 back.

Best wishes
Solstice

System

If the promoters had a contract with NE then NE couldn't take any action until contacted by the promoters

piglet25

Count yourself lucky, when I went to Wembley last year for a concert the coaches left half the fans behind to find their own way home!