Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
In a proposed class action lawsuit, a Florida resident has challenged Viagogo’s supposed failure to offer refunds to those who purchased tickets to events canceled during COVID-19.
Viagogo recently acquired ticket seller StubHub, which has also faced its share of COVID-19 refund litigation.
The Viagogo ticket refund class action lawsuit was filed by Lauren Shiflett, who says she bought two Tool concert tickets through viagogo.com, under the belief that the company would honor its “Viagogo Guarantee” and give her a refund if the event was canceled.
However, Shiflett says, after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the Tool concert and thousands of other events, the company unlawfully avoided honoring its promise of a refund.
Shiflett recounts her interactions with Viagogo, saying that on March 3, 2020, she purchased two tickets to the Tool concert on the company’s site. Allegedly, she paid about $410.95 for the tickets.
Though the event was supposedly scheduled for April 19, 2020, the event was canceled because of the coronavirus, she explains.
According to the Viagogo refund class action lawsuit, Shiflett was not contacted by Viagogo about the cancellation, and instead only learned about it from Tool’s Facebook page.
In light of this news, Shiflett explains, she made multiple attempts to contact Viagogo from April through July.
However, the company maintained the event was “rescheduled from its original date,” and that “it was decided that tickets which had already been issued would remain valid for the new dates” and not be refunded.
Allegedly, Shiflett was told that “once a ticket order has been placed, Viagogo is unable to cancel orders. All redress are non-exchangeable/non-refundable.”
However, the Viagogo refund cancellation class action lawsuit argues that this is in direct conflict with the company’s stated policy.
Shiflett provides background for her Viagogo class action lawsuit, explaining that Viagogo operates one of the world’s largest secondary ticket-sale marketplaces. Though tickets can be obtained more cheaply elsewhere, consumers still reportedly choose Viagogo for the assurances the company offers.
The Viagogo refund class action lawsuit asserts that one of the primary benefits of the site, and the reason customers choose it over other secondary marketplaces, is the “Viagogo Guarantee.”
This guarantee reportedly assures customers that should their event be canceled, they will receive a full refund for their purchased tickets. This has reportedly been a long-standing policy of Viagogo.
However, Viagogo has allegedly attempted to go back on this offer and not give consumers refunds to canceled events.
Shiflett says as the coronavirus pandemic emerged in March 2020, events around the world were canceled and postposed in an effort to protect customers.
The Viagogo ticket cancelation class action lawsuit explains that the circumstances around the pandemic and potential ticket cancellation made customers wary of purchasing tickets.
Shiflett’s complaint says “confidence in making event ticket purchases among Viagogo’s customers was rapidly deteriorating.”
Viagogo users in the United Kingdom have reported similar difficulties in getting refunds on tickets purchased through Viagogo after the events were cancelled due to the pandemic.
According to the Viagogo refund class action lawsuit, the company created a new section on its website informing customers of the company’s policies in light of event cancellations.
The site was updated twice to inform customers of these policies.
Allegedly, in both updates, Viagogo assured customers that if an event is canceled, they would be entitled to a full refund of their tickets or a 125% voucher.
Allegedly, the updates also informed customers that if one vent was postponed or rescheduled, customers would be contacted with the new date once it is announced. The company also reportedly noted that “all events are considered valid unless there has been an official announcement stating the event has been canceled.”
Through the site’s multiple updates, consumers were supposedly told they “do not have to do anything” in the event of a cancellation or postponement. Notably, consumers were allegedly told they “do not have to do anything” to receive a refund if their event was canceled.
The Viagogo tickets refund class action lawsuit says Viagogo has not made good on its promise. Allegedly, though thousands of events have been canceled, Viagogo has failed to classify them as canceled as a way to get out of offering refunds.
This has allegedly allowed the company to “maintain dominion and control” over customer funds, even though the company has not right to retain these funds.
Shiflett says she and many others have requested refunds for purchased tickets but have been denied the refunds.
Have you had your request for a refund denied after a COVID-19 event cancelation? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Shiflett is represented by Scott Edelsberg of Edelsberg Law PA and by Gary F. Lynch, Jamisen A. Etzel and Nicholas A. Colella of Carlson Lynch LLP.
The Viagogo COVID-19 Ticket Refund Denial Class Action Lawsuit is Lauren Shiflett v. Viagogo Entertainment Inc., Case No. 8:20-cv-01880, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Coronavirus Lawsuits & Legal Issues
Since the COVID pandemic shut down the country, Top Class Actions has been keeping you up to date on the latest Coronavirus lawsuits and legal issues.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
25 thoughts onCustomer Files Viagogo COVID-19 Ticket Refund Class Action
purchased alicia keys tickets in phoenix in july 2021. concert was to be august 2021. rescheduled for august 2022. I didn’t receive tickets wed before event as promised (9/7/22) contacted viagogo 9/8. no response. 9/9- twice. no response. 9/10- no response. each time I was told my case would be escalated. concert was saturday 9/10. I flew from oklahoma to phoenix, paid for airfare, hotel- and received no tickets from viagogo. ended up purchasing tickets elsewhere directly before the concert after we gave up on viagogo. received an email today saying I should list my tickets for sale, that no refund would be given. called- they asked me to email screen shots of my ticketmaster and email accounts to prove I didn’t receive the tickets. scam. so frustrating.
Yea my order.number is 25048574. Bought tickets. Postponed concert to Alanis Moresssette and was reschedule for sept. 2021. Sold tickets. The buyers were denied entry at thr gate. No refund for me.
I too purchased tickets for Celine Dion in Phoenix for March 20/20… the tickets were bought for over a year in advance of the concert date … it was canceled due to Covid… I asked for a refund but it was denied. The concert was rescheduled for September 2021.., now it is rescheduled for April 2022 … by the time the latest date arrives … it will have been 3 years that they have held my funds without delivering on what was promised … my husbands health (now 82) is failing … it is highly unlikely we will be able to make the concert. I too would like to join in on the class action suit. It should be illegal to keep my money for over 3 years.
Did you get a refund yet?
Please add me to suit. Never received my refund.
Did you get added to the suit?
I purchased 2 tickets to the Rolling Stones concert for July 5, 2020, for the purchase price of $299.19. I recently requested a refund as my health is failing, and they are telling me they don’t give refunds, and that I could relist the tickets (no thanks). Odds are I will be completely incapacitated by the time this concert is rescheduled. Please advise.
I purchased 2 tickets for MCR concert that was supposed to happen 10/2020. It has been rescheduled twice and now falls on a day that I cannot attend as it is out of state. I’ve reached out to Viagogo and also reached out to my bank to dispute but was told by my bank that the purchase was made too long ago. I’m out almost $500 now.
Have they refunded you yet?
I purchase 4 tickets for Copa America 2020. It has been postponed to June 2021 but they’re still not sure if spectators will be allowed. I live in the US and the event is in Argentina. Three weeks and I still don’t know if I will be able to travel or not. This is nerve wrecking!! I requested a refund of my $1200 and the haven’t responded yet.
I purchased two tickets to Welcome to Rockville 2020 and paid over $600 for the two. When the event was canceled on Welcome to Rockville’s website I began contacting Viagogo for a refund. Each email was answered with a statement telling me the event was not canceled, only postponed and postponed events do not qualify for a refund. I saved all of my emails as I assumed I would have to continue fighting to get my money back. I even sent them the link to the promoter of the event as well as the website to the event showing the event canceled.
We purchased six tickets to the VA Arts Festival 2020 International Tattoo in Norfolk, VA for Thursday, April 20, 2020 from Viagogo on February 4, 2020. The event was cancelled and we provided written evidence to that effect to both Citibank (from which we paid $498 for the tickets) and to Viagogo with a letter from the VA Arts Festival Committee stating that the 2020 International Tattoo was indeed officially CANCELLED. The committee stated that an entirely NEW International Tattoo would be scheduled for 2021. Viagogo refused to accept the information from the committee and continued on with the statement that it was only postponed and that we would receive tickets to the 2021 event or we could possibly try to sell our tickets! Really?!!! We fought this for months with Viagogo and Citibank (who decided not to honor credit card claims that went beyond the fall of 2019). We fought this to no avail. The NEW International Tattoo program is now scheduled in Virginia Beach, VA in a college stadium June 3-6, 2021. Here it is May 10, 2021 and we have heard nothing from Viagogo and don’t expect to at this late date. We were deceived & duped from the start by Viagogo just like the many people who are commenting on this site. We want our money back! Is there anyway that we can join the class action?
I purchased 2 Tomorrowland tickets for 2020 which was cancelled cause of covid. Viagogo never announced it as cancelled and rescheduled but I can’t make the new dates but they don’t issue refunds for it. They say I have to resell my tickets which is ridiculous. It’s rescheduled for august 2021 but I can’t make it as well I just want a refund for my tickets.