Section 75 - cancelled half marathon?

emmmski

Apologies if this is in the wrong section. It’s a stab in the dark too. Would one be covered by section 75 for a half marathon race? 

The race was originally scheduled for October 2020, then postponed to April 2021. It’s just been changed to a “ virtual event” with an option to run virtually or defer again until October 2021. They are saying no refunds. Is there grounds for a sec 75 claim there or not? 

Any advice appreciated. 

born_again

Going to depend on the cost. It would have to have cost more than £100 to be covered.

Can't even see a chargeback option due to the 2 alternatives offered. As the event is still possibly going ahead.

emmmski

thanks for replying. It is both mine and my husbands entry at £60 each. So would be over £100. That’s if we could claim for both of course..... 
there are so many events cancelled/postponed and we already have another event on the October date they are offering. We’ve both had Covid this month so wouldn’t be able to do the April date either as we haven’t yet recovered fully to even think about starting to train. 

Caz3121

emmmski said:

thanks for replying. It is both mine and my husbands entry at £60 each. So would be over £100. That’s if we could claim for both of course..... 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/section75-protect-your-purchases/

Should the bill or the item cost over £100?

This is where it gets quite tricky. The law is plain; the £100 is for the cash value of a 'single item' (so excluding any fees, and charges such as delivery)

you have two items @ £60 each rather than one @ £120.

FaceHead

Or does the OP have one item, which is entry for a couple to the race? 

Either way, a virtual event is a significant difference to the physical event paid for, so you should be entitled to a refund if i the offered options are unacceptable. 

Contact your card provider and they'll start the process off as a chargeback anyway, which will probably be successful, so the question of whether it meets the £100 requirement for S75 is academic. 

emmmski

It’s 2 entries to the race for 2 people. Paid for on the same credit card. 

Thanks for your advice. I will give chargeback a go. 

Sandtree

In addition to the pricing issue for a S75 you would need to show that there was a breach of contract by the vendor and so would need to check the T&Cs you agreed to. As events like these can have issues with extreme weather etc I believe its fairly common for them to have clauses that do allow rescheduling and so there may not be any breach.

hippy73

I was interested in this too as sounds like the same half marathon. I didn't pay £60 to run round my local roads with the only gift the event organisers willing to offer is the opportunity to pay to do it again (so this event is not rescheduled, not deferred to a future event, not refunded). Feel really let down, especially as times are hard. I can't justify spending another £60 to do it another time.

I did email them and asked for a refund as I have received from all other events that are now cancelled but they refused. 

*EDIT* I have actually realised, they have offered to defer your place to the October 2021 event, which I have now taken. 

born_again

FaceHead said:

Or does the OP have one item, which is entry for a couple to the race? 

Either way, a virtual event is a significant difference to the physical event paid for, so you should be entitled to a refund if i the offered options are unacceptable. 

Contact your card provider and they'll start the process off as a chargeback anyway, which will probably be successful, so the question of whether it meets the £100 requirement for S75 is academic. 

Either way S75 is out as it's £60 per person, so under £100. Add in where is the breach of contract?

Chargeback is going to be hard and expect to be told no. As event is still going ahead. Sadly the fact OP have had covid and are unable to train is not a reason for a chargeback.