Refund advice for an event that was too unbearable to stay at!

[Scotstar91]

Went to a music event last weekend at an indoor arena. Event started at 4pm and went on until late, but by 6.30pm it was so unbearably hot in the arena (with no area to sit and cool off outside, just a desolate car park you could stand in), that i had to leave, along with lots of other people who had made the same decision. (There were loads of other issues that ruined what should have been a great event as well - hideous quality drinks for a massively premium price, disgusting toilets (and no loo paper that early on!), awful sound quality etc. I could go on.)

We'd paid to travel to the event, paid for an overnight hotel, fancy dress as well as Uber’s to and from the venue - (we have receipts with timings etc)

I've complained, and the organisers are saying they're not able to offer a refund but I can have complimentary tickets to a similar future event, which I'd rather die before attending! (A bit dramatic, but you know what I mean!)

Can I cite some sort of trade descriptions act or similar? Help, oh hive of wise ones!

Do I have any recourse?

How much were the tickets?

hideous quality drinks for a massively premium price, disgusting toilets (and no loo paper that early on!

I'm afraid this is standard. This is pretty much every festival/music/comedy event I've ever been to.

@RoseGoldGlasses

How much were the tickets?

£55 each

@VippingQ

hideous quality drinks for a massively premium price, disgusting toilets (and no loo paper that early on!

I'm afraid this is standard. This is pretty much every festival/music/comedy event I've ever been to.

I know - I promise I'm not an entitled princess and a level of grimness is often to be expected at things like this, ( I have seen some sights in the past, I tell ya!) but it was truly, truly horrendous. I'm not exaggerating! There was a poo on a toilet seat! And the perp couldn't even have tried to clean it up because of the lack of loo roll!

But the main issue was the dangerous heat. People were passing out.

What was the event? Name and shame for sure

What fancy dress did you wear - are they likely to argue that made it worse?

If there was so much heat was it unsafe Covid wise? No ventilation. Perhaps it was a lucky escape.

It sounds awful, what event was it?

Have you read the 'small print' aka terms and conditions of the tickets ?

The reasons, if any, under which you will be entitled to a refund on the ticket price will be set out there.

You could alternatively try taking out a 'small claims' case that the event was not fit for purpose. They have no power to enforce payment but it might be worth £25 for the satisfaction.

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

The event took place though and you chose tk leave. There is no legal recourse for a refund.

It's not ideal and it sounds awful but I don't think you'll get far I'm afraid.
The added expense of hotel, fancy dress etc is probably making it worse for you.

I don’t think so. Usually only if event is actually cancelled due to adverse weather can you get a refund. The fact it was too hot for some of you wouldn’t normally be grounds for a refund. And I’ve been to some very hot events.

Sounds horrible but unfortunately I don't think you have any recourse if they provided the event. At the time complaining about the loos is fair enough and demanding they be cleaned and restocked but that alone won't get you a refund . Expensive drinks are par for the course

What a shame. I think it's just got to be put down to experience sadly. We went to comicon a few years ago and had to leave after 15 minutes because it was so,crowded I thought we would be crushed

You chose to leave. The conditions sound fairly standard for the type of event.

Oh, thank you for all of the advice. Sounds like I need to chalk it up to experience. What a bummer :-(

@Kezzie200

What fancy dress did you wear - are they likely to argue that made it worse?

Lol. True dat, but we weren't the only ones!

@SeasonFinale

The event took place though and you chose tk leave. There is no legal recourse for a refund.

i agree. legally there is no cause of action. you could try with bad reviews, but it's up to them if they want to offer you anything. in fact they have, for another event. you declined that. doubt you'll be offered anything further.

Take the tickets for the other event and sell them on, I think that’s your best bet at recouping anything.

Why was it SO hot?

What event was it???