Velo Birmingham and Essex

jac1970stone

Velo Birmingham has been cancelled with no refunds being offered, (15,000 riders) claiming force majeure, and a Velo Essex (not due to take place until 20/9/2020) has also been cancelled with riders getting just 45% refunds. Many of us are now trying through credit cards with mixed results, but still Active Sports who processed the payments and Velo are not playing ball at all. We have managed to get hold of their financial reports and the salaries they have paid their very few staff are incredible and seems to have never been planned to actually takes place - particularly in respect of Essex. Apart from credit card routes (although many were £95 not over £100) are there any other suggestions of what we can do? We have a good Facebook group also now going and petition....

jac1970stone

2018 - wages and salaries came to £949,750 for an average number of employees of 16. So, the average salary was over £59k. 

But go back to 2017 and 8 employees were paid over £754k, which amounts to over £94,000 each. 

stewface1000

This was going to be my first cycling event, and I joined as a “partner” was British cycling. I also received a £10 discount as a British cycling member, I have contacted a British cycling but they have distanced themselves from this company.
Its unacceptable that a company can open bookings for an event on 1st March and then cancel that event 30 days later and only give a 45% refund, when the event wasn’t due to take place until 20th September, further into the future than any government suggestions. Incidentally another cycling event in Essex has rescheduled for 20th September, now Vélo Essex has cancelled 
it appears they opened the event at a time when they knew covid 19, would be a reason to cancel and keep entry fees, making it nothing but a SCAM. 

born_again

Should be able to get a non receipt chargeback on the £95, but unless you have proof it is not going ahead (email/letter/screen shot from them), then you will have to wait till the day after the event.

jac1970stone

Yes have emails from them saying it’s cancelled and have raised a dispute with the payment partner - both just referring to each other and force majeure in their T&C’s.... yes COVID 19 is an exceptional event but not yet covering September 20th - and to rub it in another event in Essex, a large local charity ride, has been moved to that exact date after it was postponed! No other organisations are not refunding in this way - the Birmingham riders have been offered nothing at all - even a postponement would be better than nothing! 

The_Rainmaker

Here are the t&cs you agreed to:-

9.2 The Organiser may cancel the Event because of circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Organiser including, without limitation, war, civil or political unrest, transport disruptions, terrorism, including reasonable threat thereof, inclement weather conditions, death of a member of the royal family, and any legislation, regulations, ruling or omission of any relevant government, court, competent national authority or governing body, on advice of any security or police force and/or local authority consent or approval, or withdrawal of such consent or approval, (“Force Majeure”). In such circumstances, the Participant will not be entitled to any refund of the Entry Fee, processing/booking/administration fees and/or compensation of other losses, such as travelling or accommodation expenses.

9.3 The Organiser reserves the right to cancel the Event for any reason, but where such reason is not attributable to Force Majeure, the Participant will be entitled to a refund of their Entry Fee (excluding any processing/booking/administration fees).  

Having said that I think once this is all over a partial refund after the company has covered all its cost may be in order.   But that won't be known for quite some time.

jac1970stone

As I say Birmingham riders have not been offered anything at all and ESSEX only 45%. Considering from when they said they were cancelling the ride was some six months in the future, and the tickets were only put on sale on the 20th March it does seem extraordinary that they have spent 55% of the money already.... 

mattyprice4004

jac1970stone said:

As I say Birmingham riders have not been offered anything at all and ESSEX only 45%. Considering from when they said they were cancelling the ride was some six months in the future, and the tickets were only put on sale on the 20th March it does seem extraordinary that they have spent 55% of the money already.... 

Marketing before that - and staff don't just magically start to get paid the day the sales start - they're presumably there already to press the 'magic button' making sales go live. 
Doesn't seem too extraordinary really 

jac1970stone

55% with six months to go and the biggest costs being the event itself? I certainly couldn’t run my charity events in that way! 

DavidT67

Won't touch any event using Active Networks since they failed to acknowlege widespread credit card fraud on their systems a few years back.

silveralex44

Awful organisation - i was booked on four other rides this year that have also cancelled;  all have offered alternative dates or refund. Trying to recover money via cc but not 100%. A coordinated challenge to get money back to all participants is required, as is a campaign to stop this company and its directors from being involved in cycling events ever again.