Who should pay?

No problem Ready, yes, I should have said that I was thinking about Gilly and her particular difficulties, probably because someone else had said that it wasn’t Tom Jones’s fault, which of course, with that particular instance, it wasn’t, but of course, nor was it Gilly’s, and then Gilly said her sister’s boyfriend had been difficult with her about losing the money. It was on the same theme, but not the actual original post.
So you’re right too Nonnie, I should have said.

Presumably you were ReadyMeals. If one is referring to something other than the OP it is probably wise to say so to avoid confusion. Not necessary when you are sticking to the OP.

Sorry Maddyone I thought we were still talking about the event mentioned in the first post!

But Ready, Gilly’s event was cancelled because the electrics failed, nothing to do with the recent bad weather. That is the responsibility of the provider.
I agree that we have a more entitled society in general, but I’m not speaking in general, I’m speaking about the specific event that Gilly had tickets for, which featured Tom Jones. Failing electrics is the responsibility of the provider. It is not the responsibility of the would be audience, or indeed Tom Jones, though as a multi millionaire it would have done his image no harm at all to re do the show at a later date, and to honour the commitment. However, if he was not willing to do that, the provider should not have ‘gone bankrupt’ (how very convenient for them, but it really means they liquidated the company, and most likely set up again in a new name) and they should have repaid the cost of the tickets to the people who bought and paid for them. I really cannot understand the number of people who shrug their shoulders and say oh dear, everyone thinks someone is to blame. In this particular case, someone is to blame, and it’s the provider. The problem was electrical, NOT weather. That’s the clear responsibility of the provider!

I am sure you are tight Ready. We do seem to have turned into a society where everyone thinks that it is someone's fault when sometimes stuff just happens. When my DDs said something wasn't fair I always agreed with them and told them that is the way life is so you might as well get used to it. They seem to have grown into adults who don't feel entitled.

The gig's insurers would not have paid under the circumstances of an event being cancelled on the basis of an opinion about the weather unless the weather was bad enough to make it impossible to stage it, or unless the police stopped it on the grounds they didn't want the fans travelling. Since the event is not liable to fans who decide not to or are unable to attend for whatever reason, the insurers are not liable to pay the costs of reimbursing the fans. Insurers only pay up where there is legal liability.

It is how it should be done maddy and I have gone right off TJ as a result. Even a discount for disappointed fans would have been something . Sadly it has also shown Alnwick Castle up in a bad light too ( not that they care either ) . Very snotty response from them who were paid in full for hosting the non-event .

I agree with everything you say gilly, your sister’s boyfriend should be thanking you for having made the effort to get the money back. It sounds to me as if something, possibly legal, but totally immoral went on with the providers. I certainly wouldn’t go to the new concert, I probably wouldn’t even want to hear a Tom Jones song ever again, it just shows what a greedy, immoral man TJ is.
I went to a Michael McIntrye live show last week, and whilst having dinner in a restaurant before the show, our waitress was telling us that she had tickets for his show in another town, but because of the snow it was cancelled, but he will be putting on the show again, think she said next September, and it’s for all those who had tickets for the cancelled show, and they can use their original tickets. That’s how it should be done.

It’s not really my sister maddy but her b/f just won’t let it drop. They’re both in their 50’s but he’s money mad and I’m sure he thinks I’ve had some pay out that he might’ve missed out on!
I honestly think that TJ should have offered some kind of gesture to those of us who paid a lot of money to see him (but didn’t ) last time but... hey that’s why he’s a multi millionaire. I wouldn’t pay a penny to see him again.

I’m not surprised gilly, I wouldn’t want to spend any more money on such a bad sport, meaning Tom Jones. He should be offering to do the concert with free tickets for anyone who lost out last time, but of course, why should we expect him to have any sense of morality! Too many famous people have too great a sense of entitlement I’m afraid.
As for your sister and her boyfriend, I take it they’re not teenagers (this is a grans site) so despite their disappointment, I think they’re old enough to understand that sometimes things don’t go our way, and we have to take it on the chin, and they certainly are behaving petulantly in blaming you! Tell them you’ve done everything possible to recover the money, but unfortunately this time they and you have lost out, and you’ve just got to live with it. If that fails tell them to grow up. Good luck.

Thank you for that maddyone I felt terrible as it was my idea we should go . I Ended up losing my sister and her boyfriend a stash of money too . ( I never heard the last of it from the b/f and felt like giving him the money back personally ). I did try every avenue to try and get some money back but the promoters ( quickly) went bust and Alnwick castle denied responsibility even though they were hosting the event and got their fees paid in full . Tom Jones is apparently returning this year “ to make up for it” but tickets are still full price and there are no gestures of good will or reductions for those who lost out last time . He ( and they) can stick his tickets as far as I’m concerned .

What a ridiculous thing to suggest, that because it wasn’t Tom Jones’s fault that the electrics failed, therefore gillybob and all the others who paid for tickets and travel, and possibly accommodation, that they should pay and accept that it didn’t go ahead. Apart from the fact that the organisers have insurance against such situations arising, the company have made a contract with the purchaser when the tickets were bought, and the contract was that the buyer would be able to attend the concert. Should the buyer be unable to attend (illness, family crisis, clash of plans etc) then the buyer loses the money paid, but if the provider fails to provide the paid for service, for ANY reason (other than act on God, which failing electricity most certainly is not) then the provider is obligated to return the money or make new arrangements for a new event. The law protects!
And using the law to enforce legally binding contracts is not being a snowflake, it’s being sensible. You simply write a letter of intent to the provider asking for your money back, and telling them you will go to law (small claims court) and give them two weeks to comply, and surprise, surprise, they pay!

Camelotclub, it wasn’t gillybob’s fault there was an electrical fault.

I agree with janeainsworth when the police had issued a warning “not to travel” it was quite irresponsible for the gig to go ahead .

I learnt a lesson during the bad weather. Don’t have your tickets delivered, if possible pick them up on the night then the theatre may be able to resell them.
I live 25miles away from Norwich so decided not to go to Matthew Bournes Cinderella. The theatre decided that the performance could go ahead at 3p.m. when they established the cast and crew could make it in.
It would have been extremely irresponsible of us to travel so we didn’t. Our decision.
The theatre, as a good will gesture has refunded their share of the ticket, 20%. More than I expected.
If the tickets had been left at the theatre my friend could have gone. She lives near the centre.

I didn’t suggest it was Tom Jones fault at all CamelotClub . I blame Alnwick Castle and the promoters . We know they were all paid in full ( I wrote letters etc) it was the ordinary concert goers who all lost out .

That's a huge amount to lose!
Were you offered anything at all, like another date, or something?

We lost £580 when Adela cancelled at Wembley.

I (with 6000) fans stood in torrential rain at a Runrig gig in Scotland. We were drenched to the skin. In fact at several outdoor gigs fans have danced in mud and rain. If the fans didn't turn up they certainly don't deserve a refund. Tough luck I say. Man up. Put your wellies on and dance

I hear what you say jane but they would get just as much bad press if they cancelled as they are getting for putting on their show. However, my main point was that sometimes life is just tough and it is not up to 'them' to pay.

nonnie my point is why should whomever is putting on a show pay because others can't get there.

Because organisers and promoters take out insurance against events being cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and so they are indemnified against such losses. They don't lose out financially.
When the police are advising people in the strogest terms not to travel, it's irresponsible not to cancel.

lovebeigecardigans1955 You are right, life can never throw you a curved ball, it always has to be someone's fault.

I'm not so sure fans didn't make it SudD there has been no comment about the venue not being busy. I know that area quite well and it is served by main roads which would have been cleared. However, that was not my point, my point is why should whomever is putting on a show pay because others can't get there. They would have been significantly out of pocket because they would have had all the expenses of putting on the show if they called it off. If they had called it off there would be an outcry from those who had managed to get there and incurred travel and hotel expenses which would not have been reimbursed. Pretty much damned whatever they didi.

I am sure that legally no compensation is due unless the event was cancelled due to the weather.

gilly
It wasn't Tom Jones fault that there were electrical problems.

I don't understand. Are you saying they didn't play?