grand prix ticket refunds

kzin

Hi there,

I bought tickets for the Belgium Grand Prix and have received confirmation that the event will be no crowds so I've been offered a refund. However the Formula One Ticket Agency is saying I have to wait until the end of August until I get a refund. I feel this is unacceptable, what is the legal framework for a refund time frame?

jimkelly

I think just be fortunate you're getting a full refund in the current circumstances.

As the race is being run behind closed doors at the end of August, it may not be until that point that FOM pays them to rent the circuit that the funds become available.

[Deleted User]

It would depend on a whole host of factors, is it under English law, Belgian law etc. The relevant English law specifically mentions that the time frame must be "reasonable". Under normal conditions then that would be regarded as a period around 14-28 days, however we are not under normal conditions, with many companies having a reduced workforce and additionally huge volumes of refunds to process, things taking longer than normal are being regarded as entirely reasonable. For instance airlines have said that it may take them until September to process all flight refunds (although most will be much quicker), whilst they are supposed to be processed within 14 days the regulator has not deemed that extended time frame unreasonable. You might also find that as the event was not due to take place until 30th August it is not in fact deemed legally cancelled until that date, or perhaps seven days before, which means that they can not process the refund until then.

One also has to ask, in the middle of a global pandemic, with parts of the economy and many businesses frozen or almost entirely shut down, with workforce issues and whilst having to process refunds on a scale that is an order of magnitude larger than anything dealt with before, why do you feel that is "unacceptable" that it might take a while to get a refund processed?