Refund due after material change to ticket?

QuietQuillet

Hello,

I've spent a fair chunk of change (4 figures) for a vip ticket to see a musical act. When I bought it, the extras listed where very specific. I've had an email from the ticket vendor, the company I bought it from, yesterday. In the email they informed me that 2 of the extras have been removed and nothing else has been offered in place. 

To my mind, this is a material change in the ticket and therefore should allow me to be fully refunded for the price of the ticket. The item is no longer as originally sold. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated 

Apologies if I'm making as much sense as a chocolate fire guard

MeteredOut

We've had similar queries here before. Check your T&Cs, but, unfortunately, I expect that you'll have signed up for the main act and any extras are not committed to as part of those T&Cs.

Edit: see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6528005/ticketmaster-event-ticket-refund-change-of-support-act/p1

Alderbank

You've not given us enough facts to give any useful advice.

Quite often (but not always) the T&Cs are that the headline act will not change but certain 'extras' might. Extras might be supporting acts, souvenir sellers, accompanying meals, transport to the venue, and many more. Only if the headline act is unavailable would a refund be offered.

Sometimes (but not always) no refund would be offered, only alternative dates/locations.

Sometimes the options breach consumer rights, sometimes they don't.

QuietQuillet

By extras I mean:

One (1) Standing Event Ticket

⁃ Individual Photo Opportunity and Meet &

Greet

⁃ Preshow Champagne Toast with the act

⁃ Exclusive Guided Stage Tour

⁃ Access to Preshow Soundcheck and Q&A

- Signed and Framed Vintage Style

Poster

⁃ Curated Merchandise Pack

⁃ One Commemorative VIP Laminate, Signed

⁃ Venue First Entry (where available)

⁃ On Site VIP Host


They've removed the champagne toast with the act and a q&a session. The rest of it remains the same.

I bought the ticket from ticket master 

Does this help?

user1977

I can't see that you'd be entitled to any more than the value of the removed items - what's the basis for a full refund?

QuietQuillet

user1977 said:

I can't see that you'd be entitled to any more than the value of the removed items - what's the basis for a full refund?

I have no idea what the cost of the removed items would be sadly. 

My reasoning for the refund is the ticket is no longer as sold and nothing else has been put in place to replace the removed item. To me, this is a material change. 

TheSpectator

QuietQuillet said:

user1977 said:

I can't see that you'd be entitled to any more than the value of the removed items - what's the basis for a full refund?

I have no idea what the cost of the removed items would be sadly. 

My reasoning for the refund is the ticket is no longer as sold and nothing else has been put in place to replace the removed item. To me, this is a material change. 

As asked already, what so the T & C's say?

Where did you buy the ticket?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

A term which has the object or effect of enabling the trader to alter unilaterally without a valid reason any characteristics of the goods, digital content or services to be provided can be tested for fairness.

In order for them to not offer a right to cancel in the event of changes the specific circumstances of changes should be clearly laid out in the contract so that you know before agreeing to the contract what changes you may face.

The issue is arguing these finer points of law with companies who think their terms outweigh your rights....

QuietQuillet

TheSpectator said:

QuietQuillet said:

user1977 said:

I can't see that you'd be entitled to any more than the value of the removed items - what's the basis for a full refund?

I have no idea what the cost of the removed items would be sadly. 

My reasoning for the refund is the ticket is no longer as sold and nothing else has been put in place to replace the removed item. To me, this is a material change. 

As asked already, what so the T & C's say?

Where did you buy the ticket?

Bought from ticket master 

T & Cs copied from https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/legal/purchase.html?tm_link=tm_i_purchasep

11.4 Material Alteration: If an event for which you have purchased Tickets or Packages is "materially altered" (as defined in clause 11.5 below), Tickets and Packages will usually be valid for the altered event (or you will be offered Tickets or Packages of a value corresponding with your original Tickets or Packages for the altered event, subject to availability). If you notify us within the specified deadline that you do not wish to attend the altered event, you will be able to cancel your order and obtain a refund of the Sale Price of your Tickets or Packages (Service Charges and Order Processing Fees are non-refundable). Failure to notify us within any specified deadline that you do not wish to attend the altered event will be deemed to be a reconfirmation of your order for Tickets or Packages for the altered event, and you will not be able to claim a refund.

11.5 For the purposes of this Purchase Policy, a “material alteration” is a change (other than a rescheduling) which, in our and the relevant Event Partner's reasonable opinion, makes the event materially different to the event that purchasers of Tickets, taken generally, could reasonably expect. In particular, please note that the following are not deemed to be “material alterations”: the use of understudies in theatre performances; adverse weather conditions; changes of any supporting act; changes to individual members of a band; changes to the line-up of any multi-performer event (such as a festival); curtailment of the event where the majority of an event is performed in full; and delays to the starting of the performance of an event.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

OP it is the job of ticketmaster to state as many things as possible aren’t a material change, on the other hand you’d want as few as possible and if two sides can’t agree, sadly, you look to small claims and a court to decide ultimately what is what. 

QuietQuillet

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

OP it is the job of ticketmaster to state as many things as possible aren’t a material change, on the other hand you’d want as few as possible and if two sides can’t agree, sadly, you look to small claims and a court to decide ultimately what is what. 

I was thinking if i have no joy with ticket master then as it was bought on credit card to claim using section 75