S75 credit card protection for payment through EventBright

MumOf2

I wonder if you lovely, clever people can help with some advice please?
Glastonbury has been cancelled two years running now.  2020, accommodation was booked with Zoo Events Group through EventBrite Glastonbury on a John Lewis credit card.  When Glastonbury was cancelled, Zoo Events Group refused a refund so a S75 claim was made and the whole amount refunded by John Lewis Financial Services without demur.
2021, accommodation was again booked with Zoo Events Group (again via EventBrite Glastonbury) on a John Lewis credit card (total cost about £2,500).  ZooLoo have again refused any refund, as have EventBrite who claim that they have passed all the money on to ZooLoo.  So a S75 claim was made under on John Lewis Financial Services.  But this year John Lewis have refused a refund on the grounds that the payment was made via a third party processor (EventBrite).

Their wording: "EB* Glastonbury has rejected your claim as EventBrite (EB) say they are not liable to refund you as they only pass the money onto the organiser of the event Zoo Events group as detailed in their terms and conditions.  Zoo Events Group need to process the refund or pass it on to EventBrite.  So they can refund you."
Exactly the same payment method and route (via EventBrite to ZooLoo) was used both years, yet John Lewis accepted the claim in 2020 but has refused it in 2021.  Further, others in exactly the same situation have successfully claimed and received full refunds from Barclaycard.

In addition, on the ZooLoo website, it claims they make full refunds if notified more than 30 days prior to the event - which they were.  But they are still refusing a direct refund - they say they are not in a position to make financial refunds.  They are willing to carry it over to 2022.  Indeed, they're taking bookings for 2022 with full amounts having to be paid up front.  But the worry here is that after all this, ZooLoo won't be around.

Does have any advice here?  Rather strange that John Lewis aren't treating like for like claims differently - is there any traction in pursuing this with them?  I did think about small claims - I suppose the claim would be against ZooLoo as the contract is with them.
Any comments or advice would be much appreciated - thank you.

MumOf4

MumOf2

Sorry, what I meant to say that it's strange that John Lewis are treating like for like claims differently...

eskbanker

I'd say that John Lewis are right this year but wrong last year, as the use of an intermediary breaks the debtor-creditor-supplier chain needed to sustain a s75 claim.

Chargeback may be an alternative option though, if the accommodation isn't being made available to you....

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/visa-mastercard-chargeback/

MumOf2

Thanks so much, eskbanker.  I'll pass that on with the link.

Hope you're having a great weekend.
MumOf4