Advise on purchase refund: Shen Yun

AMO

Hi all,

I have a Sainsbury's Bank credit card (which I believe is run by the Royal Bank of Scotland). The credit card is fine - I've had it for years but I would like to know where I stand with a purchase I made and who I can claim from if at all.

I went with a couple of people to watch Shen Yun at the Royal Festival Hall in Southbank, London.
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/whatson/chinese-spectacular-shen-yun-article-6027.html
This was advertised as:
Inspired by over 5,000 years of Chinese history, the Chinese Spectacular Shen Yun hits the Southbank Centre as part of the China in London festival. Taking place throughout the spring, the festival is bringing an array of Chineses arts and culture to London, including this amazing Chinese Spectacular.

However, when we got there, whilst there was some dance and singing etc, we found that it was mainly to promote the cult religion Falon Gong. It seems like others have the same view:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/show-23382311-details/Divine+Performing+Arts+Chinese+Spectacular:+Shen+Yun/showReview.do?reviewId=23441578&expand=true

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/dance/reviews/story/0,,2259708,00.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/02/25/btshen125.xml

http://www.timeout.com/london/dance/events/668251/shen_yun-divine_performing_arts.html

Anyway, I was furious. Regardless of anyone's views of whether Falun Gong members are wrongly tortured by the Chinese government, we did not go to the show to get preached about the ways of Falun Gong or of their hatred of the Chinese Government or to be part of their propaganda war against China.

The tickets were purchased here:
http://ticket.ntdtv.com

I have emailed this company, but I don't expect to get any response. They have a line at the bottom of their invoice:
Purchase Policy: All tickets sold are non-refundable and non-exchangable.

However, as far as I am concerned, I have been missold the show as there is nothing in the brochure or any other advertising to say that its a Falun Gong / propaganda warpreach.

Any advise is greatly appreciated on how I can go about getting a refund.

Thanx

AMO

We_Laugh_Indoors

It is very unlikely you will be able to get money back from this due to the purchase policy, but good luck and keep trying to contact them.

mrmajika

I'm assuming your post is referring to the cover provided with your credit card in the same way that if you, for example, purhcased goods that never arrived you would be covered and be able to claim.

I'm pretty certain that the CC company would not touch this at all. If you purchased tickets and the show was cancelled and did not receive a refund, then you would be covered. However, your complaint here is far more subjective and less clear cut and so I would imagine the card company would not entertain this at all.

bengal-stripe

I think it’s a bit too much asking for Credit Cards to become involved in questions of artistic judgement
(“That guy who played Hamlet was really awful!”; “The most boring film, I ever saw!”).

As long as the event took place(it obviously did), you have nothing to complain about.
It’s your choice not to attend, walk-out half way through, suffer to the end or have a really enjoyable evening.

Wasted evenings and disappointing shows have happened to all of us.
Your CC cannot guaranty you a good time.

Trying_to_be_good

You might have more luck with the promoter/venue than the credit card company.

AMO

Thanks for all the replies. I don't think that the credit card company is at fault, but I don't think I will get any joy with the company I purchased the tickets from and wanted to explore all other possible ways forward.

Thanx

AMO

rodmace

Those Falun Gong practitioners may be good at doing some political shows but definitely not at Chinese arts or culture. You might get your refund by contacting the organiser.