British Expatriate Network

....Happen(ed) to be about my favourite band. I'd bought tickets to see them play in Minneapolis in Sept 2001. (Cheered my wife up somewhat as she lay in a hospital bed recovering from her umpteenth kidney surgery.)

The Bass player got tendinitis so they "postponed" the tour advising those who held tickets that they'll be back soon and the tickets will still be valid. THEN the drummer had to have back surgery and, again, there was a postponement. OK fine, I kept my tickets because, again, they'd be valid for the new date.
Recently it bacame apparent that the tour was actually totally cancelled and the tickets are no longer valid.
I can't get my money back from Ticketmaster because it's been over 6 months and they've paid out to promoters, bands, venues and the like. Havn't got a clue who the promotors are and how to contact them. Contacted the venue who said that the promotors have my money and as a last resort I contacted the band and got the following response from them

"You are being cheated by the organiser/promoter. The band did not receive any money, how could they when they did not play the gig. We will be coming back but not until next year and I would not imagine that the ticket would be valid for that. Sorry about your problem but its not our fault, all the best, Chris"

What do you think I should do now? Never buy anything of theirs ever again? Hold a chip on y shoulder? Pursue it further or just give up?

Needless to say, I'm cheesed-off....it's not the money (about $23) but the principle of it that stinks as I now have 2 expensive pieces of cardboard.

Ask Ticketmaster who they paid the money to. Dunno if you could perhaps point out that they might be on the receiving end of some bad publicity if they appear uninclined to help you?

I had to jump through hoops to actually speak to someone who knoew anything about it in the first place. I was put through by someone I was put through to so it's way off the usual channels and I'm not sure I could get through all those levels of burocracy again.....either that I I really don't think it's worth the effort anymore.

Have a look at this company, http//www.ark21.com/home.htm

they (supposedly) promote them in the US.

I used to like them a lot, heard they are a group of arses though... bad luck with the tickets. That email from the band was downright rude.

Stel.

Barely remember them - I think Mark & Lard would play them on Radio 1, the year before I came here. Didn't they do some song about the day they caught the train or something? Preferred The Shire Horses meself!

The squeaky wheel gets the grease so don't give up too readily.

Thanks, I'll check that site out although I'm almost at the point of not caring anymore. I thought it seemed like a rude reply too but wasn't sure so hearing your saying it helps me on that count.

A similar thing happened with the Manic Street Preachers a few years back. They were due to play at the Paradise in Boston so I snapped up tickets. Soon before the date they cancelled their entire US tour and we were told to hang on to our tickets in case they rescheduled. A year later and I hadn't heard anything.

I didn't bother phoning ticketmaster to see if they would give me a refund. I simply made a photocopy of the tickets plus the ticket receipt (never give up your originals until you have money in your hand), and sent the copy with a letter saying that as the event had been cancelled and not rescheduled could they credit my account for the amount of the tickets or send me a check. They credited my account within a week.

Don't accept any BS about who they have had to pay etc. When you bought a ticket from them you entered into a contract. You gave them money and it is their responsibility to provide the entertainment. If they end up out of pocket then tough titties. The length of time that has expired shouldn't make any difference either.

The secret is to do it the American way, not the British way. Don't be wishy washy, no pleases or apologies. Just a simple instruction to them to credit your account should do the trick.

I'll try that then....I noticed on the Ticketmaster phone line there was an address
(I think somewhere in Maryland) to which to send photocopies of tickets to or something so I'll do that.
Cheers