The British government has said it could restrict large-scale gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
So what are your rights if you have a ticket for something that is canceled?
Are cancellations likely?
The government has not yet canceled sports, music and other events.
However, it has the power to do so if it believes that a large crowd could pose a risk to public health.
In some other countries, sports events such as Six Nations rugby, Italian football and the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix have already been disrupted.
Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics said they could postpone this summer’s event until later in the year.
In England, the Football Association, the Premier League and the Football League have held talks with health officials on the possibility of having to play matches behind closed doors.
The Scottish Football Association said it would be guided by medical authorities, but has already prohibited handshakes.
The London Book Fair, one of the biggest book events in the UK, has already been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus. Two major sponsors of the Crufts dog show asked their staff not to attend.
Organizers of other major events are watching.
For example, European football’s governing body, Uefa, has said that this summer’s Euro 2020 final, to be held in 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, will take place as scheduled unless ” the situation is only getting worse. “
And the team behind the Glastonbury music festival in June said they were monitoring the situation.
What should I know about coronavirus?
- HOW THE UK IS PLANNING FOR AN EPIDEMIC: How prepared are we?
- WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? A simple guide
- HOW TO SELF-INSULATE: What you need to know
- WHERE ARE WE WITH A VACCINE? Progress to date
- A VISUAL GUIDE TO EVOLUTION: Virus Maps and Graphics
Am I entitled to a full refund?
If you purchased your ticket for a canceled event from an official seller, you should be entitled to a refund, often automatically.
However, it is unlikely that any additional costs, such as shipping and booking fees, will be reimbursed.
For anyone who purchased a ticket through a ticket resale website, refunds will depend on the site’s terms and conditions.
If an event is moved and you cannot set the reorganized date, you should be entitled to your money.
And if you participate in something – like the London Marathon, for example – the same refund rules still apply to the registration fee in case of cancellation.
What if I have problems getting my refund?
If you haven’t heard anything about a refund after a few weeks, follow it, says consumer rights reporter Helen Dewdney.
She advises: “If possible, do everything in writing to have a file.”
If you’re not going anywhere, you can go to your credit card company, says Dewdney.
Using a credit card to buy something that costs between £ 100 and £ 30,000 means you are legally entitled to a refund if you don’t get what you were promised.
Even if the ticket is worth less than £ 100, or if a debit card was used instead, it is still possible to get a refund through the chargeback system. This is used to cancel the transaction.
- Coronavirus: What are your travel rights?
- Timeline: What sporting events have been affected?
What happens if the event takes place but my hotel closes?
If you cannot attend an event because facilities such as hotels or travel are not available, the situation is not as clear.
“You have to expect a gesture of goodwill,” said Dewdney. “From the organizers’ point of view, they will say that the event continues.”
If you have booked a package (with hotel, flight and all inclusive event entry), you may be able to claim your travel insurance – depending on the fine print.
Can I get a refund if an event is not as advertised?
It depends, according to Adam French, on the consumer group Which ?.
“If you bought a ticket to a Taylor Swift front page concert, but she didn’t play, you should get your money back,” he said.
“But if it’s a multi-act festival, it means you have a ticket for the festival and not for the individual artist. In this case, you can’t expect a refund.”
What if I don’t want to go?
If you decide not to go to a music event or sports match because you are worried about the coronavirus, there is little chance of getting your money back.
The only possible exception is if you have some form of insurance with your ticket.
The British government has said it could restrict large-scale gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
So what are your rights if you have a ticket for something that is canceled?
Are cancellations likely?
The government has not yet canceled sports, music and other events.
However, it has the power to do so if it believes that a large crowd could pose a risk to public health.
In some other countries, sports events such as Six Nations rugby, Italian football and the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix have already been disrupted.
Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics said they could postpone this summer’s event until later in the year.
In England, the Football Association, the Premier League and the Football League have held talks with health officials on the possibility of having to play matches behind closed doors.
The Scottish Football Association said it would be guided by medical authorities, but has already prohibited handshakes.
The London Book Fair, one of the biggest book events in the UK, has already been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus. Two major sponsors of the Crufts dog show asked their staff not to attend.
Organizers of other major events are watching.
For example, European football’s governing body, Uefa, has said that this summer’s Euro 2020 final, to be held in 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, will take place as scheduled unless ” the situation is only getting worse. “
And the team behind the Glastonbury music festival in June said they were monitoring the situation.
What should I know about coronavirus?
- HOW THE UK IS PLANNING FOR AN EPIDEMIC: How prepared are we?
- WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? A simple guide
- HOW TO SELF-INSULATE: What you need to know
- WHERE ARE WE WITH A VACCINE? Progress to date
- A VISUAL GUIDE TO EVOLUTION: Virus Maps and Graphics
Am I entitled to a full refund?
If you purchased your ticket for a canceled event from an official seller, you should be entitled to a refund, often automatically.
However, it is unlikely that any additional costs, such as shipping and booking fees, will be reimbursed.
For anyone who purchased a ticket through a ticket resale website, refunds will depend on the site’s terms and conditions.
If an event is moved and you cannot set the reorganized date, you should be entitled to your money.
And if you participate in something – like the London Marathon, for example – the same refund rules still apply to the registration fee in case of cancellation.
What if I have problems getting my refund?
If you haven’t heard anything about a refund after a few weeks, follow it, says consumer rights reporter Helen Dewdney.
She advises: “If possible, do everything in writing to have a file.”
If you’re not going anywhere, you can go to your credit card company, says Dewdney.
Using a credit card to buy something that costs between £ 100 and £ 30,000 means you are legally entitled to a refund if you don’t get what you were promised.
Even if the ticket is worth less than £ 100, or if a debit card was used instead, it is still possible to get a refund through the chargeback system. This is used to cancel the transaction.
- Coronavirus: What are your travel rights?
- Timeline: What sporting events have been affected?
What happens if the event takes place but my hotel closes?
If you cannot attend an event because facilities such as hotels or travel are not available, the situation is not as clear.
“You have to expect a gesture of goodwill,” said Dewdney. “From the organizers’ point of view, they will say that the event continues.”
If you have booked a package (with hotel, flight and all inclusive event entry), you may be able to claim your travel insurance – depending on the fine print.
Can I get a refund if an event is not as advertised?
It depends, according to Adam French, on the consumer group Which ?.
“If you bought a ticket to a Taylor Swift front page concert, but she didn’t play, you should get your money back,” he said.
“But if it’s a multi-act festival, it means you have a ticket for the festival and not for the individual artist. In this case, you can’t expect a refund.”
What if I don’t want to go?
If you decide not to go to a music event or sports match because you are worried about the coronavirus, there is little chance of getting your money back.
The only possible exception is if you have some form of insurance with your ticket.