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A group of California Eventbrite ticket holders says they and other consumers were denied refunds to live events canceled, rescheduled or postponed due to restrictions enacted to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Lead plaintiffs Sherri Snow, Anthony Piceno and Linda Conner claim ticket distributor Eventbrite Inc. told those who purchased tickets that refunds would be issued pursuant to California law, which requires refunds be issued if the event is “canceled, postponed, or rescheduled.”
The plaintiffs say most live events were indeed canceled or rescheduled after the state declared an emergency due to coronavirus; however, Eventbrite refused to honor refund requests, telling ticket holders that event organizers were not allowing them to return their money.
Each of the plaintiffs say they spent hundreds of dollars on Eventbrite tickets for events that were rescheduled or indefinitely postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. They each say they attempted to request refunds through Eventbrite’s refund system but were denied.
“At best, Eventbrite has urged some organizers to ‘make good’ when events are canceled, postponed and/or rescheduled,” the Eventbrite class action lawsuit states. “This ‘make good’ requirement only appears to apply to event tickets: (i) that were purchased before March 15th; and (ii) were scheduled to take place between March 15, 2020 and May 15, 2020. All later purchases and later scheduled events that are canceled, postponed and/or rescheduled due to Covid-19 restrictions are not even covered by Eventbrite’s ’make good’ policy.”
According to the complaint, even if the so-called “make good” policy applies, Eventbrite ticket holders are only being offered credits, future tickets or other forms of alternative compensation. The plaintiffs say they and other consumers are entitled to a full refund of the purchase price of their tickets under California law.
“In light of the coronavirus outbreak, Defendant has refused to provide refunds for these ticket sales,” the Eventbrite class action lawsuit contends.
“Defendant has quietly sought to force its buyers to endure the financial losses that Defendant would suffer in the entirely foreseeable scenario that world occurrences would cause the simultaneous cancellation and/or postponement of numerous public events.”
The complaint points out that, in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak, Eventbrite told ticket holders “the ticket price and any Eventbrite fees, should be refunded to you by the organizer” for events canceled by the event organizer due to the disease.
For postponed events or for Eventbrite ticket holders concerned about attending an event because of coronavirus, the distributor allegedly told consumers to contact the event organizer directly.
The plaintiffs say this and other Eventbrite policies are not enough under California law. Further, these policies are confusing and ineffective for Eventbrite ticket holders nationwide, even outside of the context of the coronavirus outbreak, the complaint alleges.
“In instances where the event is canceled or postponed/rescheduled, Eventbrite feebly suggests customers should contact Eventbrite’s ‘customer experience team. They can pass your request on to our Trust & Safety team who works to protect the Eventbrite community,’” the class action lawsuit says.
“Eventbrite’s requirement that an organizer ‘make good’ for a failure to provide the goods and services is meaningless nonsense, which frustrates the entire policy. Moreover, it only applies to event cancellations and not rescheduled events or postponed events, including indefinitely posted events.”
The Eventbrite class action lawsuit seeks to represent Eventbrite ticket holders nationwide who were denied full refunds of their ticket price for canceled, postponed or rescheduled events between June 3, 2016, and the present, along with a California subclass.
The complaint accuses Eventbrite of breach of contract, conversion, unjust enrichment, fraud, false advertising and violation of California consumer protection law.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages on behalf of Class Members, as well as a court order requiring Eventbrite to comply with its own policies and California law and refund tickets for all canceled or rescheduled events.
Consumers have been faced with the fallout of numerous issues since the coronavirus outbreak, including refunds for events, travel and memberships, along with false advertising of virus cures and even price gouging. Top Class Actions is staying on top of the issues with a complete legal guide to help consumers know their rights during this time.
Were you an Eventbrite ticket holder? Was your event cancelled or delayed because of COVID-19 restrictions? Do you think you should get a refund? Tell us what happened in the comment section below.
The lead plaintiffs and proposed Class Members are represented by Seth A. Safier and Marie A. McCrary of Guitride Safier LLP.
The Eventbrite Ticket Holder Coronavirus Refund Class Action Lawsuit is Snow, et al. v. Eventbrite Inc., Case No. 3:20-cv-03698, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco.
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83 thoughts onEventbrite Ticket Holders Say They Are Owed Coronavirus Refunds
Im wondering where my refund is too! I wonder is there a way to sue these people.
Someone PLEASE help us all!!!!
We bought 4 early bird tickets.
Show was postponed then cancelled.
PayPal will not dispute bc 180 days past. I cannot reach anyone from Eventbrite. I for sure do not know how to speak with organizer of event.
For the love of God, someone help my family get a refund for the Houston Minefair event at NRG stadium!!
I purchased tickets through eventbrite for Minefaire in Feb 2020 for a summer event, it was postponed and rescheduled due to COVID. I received an email from eventbrite that the event has been completely cancelled. I requested a refund and they claim I did not meet the requirements. I will never use their services or recommend them again. Complete BS. Refunds should be issued.
I bought two Enchanted tickets for the Dulles Expo Minefaire – the Minefaire organizers are in the wind, with no further updates about anything, Eventbrite refuses to refund the money (despite having a COVID-19 refund policy on their website), and they have successfully rebuffed my disputed charge with American Express.
It’s like legalized theft!
I purchased 4 tickets for the now-cancelled Minefaire event in Pittsburgh. The organizer is not responding to emails and has deleted all social media pages dedicated to the event. Eventbrite has denied my request for a refund in the same manner described by other commenters.
The same thing happened to us here in pittsburgh. Bought 5 tickets for my family and have lost hundreds of dollars to this company.
I also purchased 5 tickets and am out $210! I am beyond mad. I am going to try to dispute with my bank but I purchased the tickets in October 2019 when they had early access purchasing.
Exact same issue except our event was in Edison NJ.
The Organizer does not respond, no way to contact anyone and Eventbrite is not honoring refunds either.
Same thing happened to me. I found a page and they claim the event happened on Nov 1st – it did not. I have requested a refund 3 times and have been denied even though i met every one of the requirements. I emailed with no response.
Similar issue. I purchased 5 minefaire tickets for the June event in Pittsburgh, PA which was moved to November but now was cancelled. It seems the event organizer has now vanished and I am wondering how I am going to get my money back? Anyone have any insight on this?
Pittsburgh here also, three tickets, $287.07, and same response from event bright. This is beyond ridiculous! I have disputed with my card company however from previous comments, it looks like that may not even work. I am going to pull up the information from the original event information, And I think I’m going to start trying to contact the people that were supposed to headline to be there, and see if that gets me anywhere! No idea what else to do, it must be nice for a company to make that much money from so many people for doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
I also purchased tickets to a Minefaire event (in Houston) through eventbrite. At first it was postponed/rescheduled, then just got the notification that it was canceled. The organizer cannot be found (as mentioned previously, the website and social media pages have vanished) and when I submitted the refund request through eventbrite I was told it “does not meet the refund requirements” even though it meets every single requirement they spelled out in their email. I am about to go through my credit card to request the refund but I shouldn’t have to do that. I understand that everyone is struggling due to the coronavirus but this is a lot of money that was supposed to be my children’s joint birthday present.
I also purchased $600+ worth of tickets for the Houston event with no luck on a refund! This is very frustrating and I’m not sure what to do!
I purchased 2 tickets to Minefaire in Edison, NJ for July (purchased early February) I was told it was postponed till January after requesting a refund. Now the Minefaire.com site has been removed and no further info is available and no one will provide a refund.
I am going through the same exact issue with the same exact event/location. This is awful.
I bought tickets for an event on eventbrite but despite it being postponed for a year which I cannot attend they are refusing to refund. I paid for a certain date if they cannot honor that I want a refund as stated in California law.
I have two premium early entry tickets to the Minefaire event that was to happen in June in PA that was cancelled due to COVID. I only bought the tickets So early because I was sent about five emails warning me they were “in my cart” and that the event was almost sold out. I bought the special edition passes for early entry thinking it was a small event, which was a dupe to begin with. I requested a refund three times and was ignored. Now my child is bummed her birthday present was a wash, and I’m upset I lost a ton of money to a rouse, as the tickets were never sold out to begin with. I have the emails about the nearly sold out tickets that conned me into buying high level passes early I can share if it would help matters.