Event refunded but brother not giving us the money

[Turquoisetamborine]

My husband paid my brother £600 to buy tickets for an event they were both going to (VIP tickets so expensive). The event was in the US where my brother lives.
The relationship has since broken down. The event was cancelled and the money refunded to brother's credit card. He confirmed at the time they announced refunds that Ticket Master would be offering refunds so a well established company.

Hes now pretending that he booked through a small third party website based in the US who are only issuing credit notes for the cancelled event.

Basically he's pocketed the money. He refuses to forward us any emails from when he initially booked the tickets or any proof/references etc.

He's obviously behaving in a despicable manner (there is a massive back story but I'll stick to the facts).

He is a British citizen who has lived there for two years working on whatever non permanent visa they offer there.
He still has a house here and pays council tax. I'd be willing to issue a county court summons against him if it had any hope of being enforced. His house is full of expensive stuff which we could sell to get the money back.

Any other ideas? The relationship between him and me and the rest of our family is beyond reconciliation so I don't care about harming him in any way, I just want some sort of justice.

Just giving this a bump, I'm not basing this on anything but common sense, but it looks highly unlikely you will get your money back from your brother unless he decides to give it back, which seems very unlikely.
I doubt there is anything you can do legally - apart from ask your bank if they will do a charge-back (I don't think you can do this with individuals)

Small claims best option, easily enforceable if he has property here. Your solicitor can advise you of payment enforcement options relevant to where you’re domiciled.

Before you go via small claims you need to evidence the debt and your efforts to get it back.

I would look through your texts and emails to ensure you can prove what the agreement was and proof it was paid.

Then look at the websites involved and the conditions.

Then you need the status of your brother in law and if small claims applies to him.

If it applies then he has the opportunity to answer the small claims and agree to repay or dispute it before it goes to court.

See what documentation you have first.

How would the small claims court work if he lives on another continent?
You might get the ruling you want, but how are you going to get the money off him?
The courts rely on people just paying up don't they? I don't think they enforce payment?

Courts enforce payment in civil cases which can include arrestment and inhibition of funds held/property. I’m Scottish based but if the OP is not, I would be very surprised if it was so different in England and Wales - without enforcement options a judgment would be worthless?

Ask for the credit note?

Jesus Christ that’s disgusting. How could you rip your own family off