Urgent warning to gig-goers as Which? calls on people to check their ticket insurance

Consumer group warns some people may disregard health guidance rather than miss an event and lose their money

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People planning to attend gigs should check their ticket insurance to make sure they’re covered when it comes to Covid, Which? has warned.

Gig-goers should be able to expect a refund from their ticket provider in the event of a national or local lockdown or mandatory self-isolation, according to the Government’s Competitions and Markets Authority.

In those circumstances, consumers should not need an insurance policy, Which? said.

But it said the situation is less clear when consumers are following Government advice rather than a legal requirement – such as advice not to travel outside their local area.

In these situations, consumers may need insurance to get a refund – but some of the policies Which? reviewed do not cover this.

This means some people may disregard important health guidance rather than miss an event and lose their money, the consumer champion warned.

Which? said it is important to check each policy’s terms and conditions to see if it is worth paying extra.

“With more and more people tempted by ticket insurance during the pandemic, many don’t know what it would cover them for and could be buying insurance assuming that it covers them for all Covid disruptions,” said Which? expert Adam French.

“Consumers should check the terms and conditions carefully to see if it’s worth buying insurance and should remember that if an event is cancelled or postponed due to lockdown rules, primary ticket sellers have to offer a refund.”

Ticket insurers told Which? many customers have been able to obtain full refunds due to their cover.

Festicket said: “Booking protect offers customers confidence when booking in case they cannot attend the event due to accident or illness.

“During the pandemic, this coverage has been widened to include Covid-19 protection, which covers customers in the case where they have Covid-19, have unfortunately had a bereavement due to Covid-19, or also if they have been made redundant and have fallen on hard times.

“This has enabled close to 1,000 customers to obtain full refunds since the start of the pandemic outside of those offered by the festivals.”

If you need to get money back from a cancelled event, Which? has a number of tips.

First, check your travel insurance if you have it – you may be able to make a claim if you have tested positive for coronavirus or need to self-isolate.

Then contact your ticket seller – primary ticket sellers should offer you a refund if an event is cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus.

Also think carefully about whether you want your tickets to the postponed event – once you have confirmed you want to roll your tickets over, it may be unlikely you will be able to change your mind afterwards.

If you paid by credit card it may also be possible in certain circumstances to make a Section 75 claim under the Consumer Credit Act to your credit provider.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY YORKSHIRE LIVE ON EXAMINERLIVE.CO.UK 5TH JULY 2021. SOURCE

Adam Parry
Author: Adam Parry

Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.

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