Concert Ticket refund - what happens when a venue goes bust?

spacecadet62

We had tickets to see Joel Dommett in Wrexham for April 2020. Needless to say the event was moved, most recently to April 2022.  At that point I contacted Eventim, through which I had purchased our tickets, to say that we were unable to make the new date and would like a refund.  After a 'holding' email, asking me to confirm that I really did want to get a refund (pointless communication designed as a delaying tactic, in my humble opinion), I then got an email saying: "We are in the process of discussing the situation with the potential liquidator of VMS Wrexham Ltd and will contact all ticket holders on an event by event basis with regards to any important information."  Surely my contract is with Eventim, not the venue?  Either way, I requested a refund due to the change of date and knew nothing about the venue going into liquidation (we don't live nearby, so not sure how we could have been aware of this).  Can anyone advise what my rights are here, please?

user1977

Unless you bought the ticket directly from the venue I don't see that their going bankrupt is relevant.

Aylesbury_Duck

spacecadet62 said:

We had tickets to see Joel Dommett in Wrexham for April 2020. Needless to say the event was moved, most recently to April 2022.  At that point I contacted Eventim, through which I had purchased our tickets, to say that we were unable to make the new date and would like a refund.  After a 'holding' email, asking me to confirm that I really did want to get a refund (pointless communication designed as a delaying tactic, in my humble opinion), I then got an email saying: "We are in the process of discussing the situation with the potential liquidator of VMS Wrexham Ltd and will contact all ticket holders on an event by event basis with regards to any important information."  Surely my contract is with Eventim, not the venue?  Either way, I requested a refund due to the change of date and knew nothing about the venue going into liquidation (we don't live nearby, so not sure how we could have been aware of this).  Can anyone advise what my rights are here, please?

You're correct that your contract is with Eventim.  If the venue has gone bust, and Eventim can't provide a reasonable substitute venue, you are entitled to a refund from Eventim.  I'd await the outcome of their discussions and see what's offered.

It sounds like you initially accepted a rescheduled date, so you not being able to attend the new date isn't their problem.  The time to insist on a refund was when the original date was cancelled by them.  Now it's you looking to cancel, which probably doesn't entitle you to a refund on those grounds, but if the venue goes bust and they have to cancel, you're due a refund.

spacecadet62

It was the second rescheduled date that we rejected. The first rescheduled date was for April 2021, now it's April 2022, which we know we can't make.  I think that should mean I am entitled to a refund on the basis of the info you've given in your first para, so fingers crossed and thank you for the info.