Refund for a cancelled event

Cazz_roho

I paid for myself and two others to enter a Rough Runner race on April 30th 2016 paying just under £200.

Rough runner cancelled the event and notified me on June 22nd 2016. They asked me what I would like to do with the money paid and I selected a full refund.

They have not yet refunded me.

I have emailed several times and they come back saying "soon" or "later this week" but it is almost 4 months later and I haven't received the refund.

Is there anything I can do to actually get the refund quicker?

[Deleted User]

Letter Before Action.. LBA..

Cazz_roho

Thank you for the link - although it looks like chargeback can only be used within 120 days and I paid in April. I'll look at the "Section 75" now.

naedanger

Cazz_roho wrote: »

Thank you for the link - although it looks like chargeback can only be used within 120 days and I paid in April. I'll look at the "Section 75" now.

I think you are referring to my post, which I deleted almost as soon as I posted it because I noticed you were just outside the 120 day limit.

I also don't think "Section 75" will work unless the tickets came as some sort of package i.e. you got a discount for buying three. Otherwise it is likely your purchase will be considered as the purchase of 3 tickets each below the Section 75 limit. Sorry.

wealdroam

I still believe the chargeback route is the most appropriate.

MSE's Chargeback article does mention the 120 day time limit, but it also explains when that 120 days starts from:

Act quickly as there's a claim deadline

The rules set by Visa, chargeback and American Express only usually give you 120 days to get a claim in – and the clock usually starts ticking when you first notice a problem though it will depend on the type of situation. Here are some examples:

Broken goods
You buy a bicycle and take it for a first spin two weeks later only to discover its brakes are faulty – and the retailer won't help sort it. The deadline starts when you spotted the deficiency.

Failed delivery
A delivery date for your ordered goods isn't met, the item never arrives and complaint calls to the firm go unanswered. The deadline starts with the original missed delivery.

Collapsed company
You book a flight or trip with a firm that then goes bust before you take it. The deadline starts from the date the flight was due to take off or the holiday to start.

I would suggest you may well be within the 120 day time limit, but that really depends on when the problem was first seen.

If necessary, I would be arguing that the 120 day clock didn't start ticking until it was realised that the organisers weren't going to refund your money.

Get your chargeback claim in now and be prepared to argue that point if needed.

Cazz_roho

The actual race date was July 17th so I could say that is my "start date" as long as I act fast?

naedanger

Cazz_roho wrote: »

The actual race date was July 17th so I could say that is my "start date" as long as I act fast?

I doubt you could link the clock start date to the date of the race since you knew the race was not going ahead long before its date.

However I think you could easily argue the clock does not start ticking any earlier than the date you could first have realised they were not going to refund promptly. I think this should still be in the 120 window if you phone and email your claim very soon - ideally tomorrow.

If the provider argues otherwise then you can ultimately (ie after following the provider's complaint process) complain to the Financial Ombudsman at no cost to you.

Send your claim by email so you can provide later evidence of the date of your claim. Also make clear it is a chargeback (not S75) claim.

wealdroam

Cazz_roho wrote: »

The actual race date was July 17th so I could say that is my "start date" as long as I act fast?

Yes, I suppose you could. That gives you upto around mid-November to get your claim in.

But even if you accept a week or so after 22 June as the 'start date', you are still within 120 days of that.