The General Directorate of Consumer Affairs reminds that the organizing entity of a concert, music festival, or event cannot impose the use of the ‘cashless’ system on its premises through bracelets or other means as the only payment method.
In fact, the regulations establish that the promoter cannot refuse to accept cash payments, as indicated in Article 47.1.ñ) of the Consolidated Text of the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users.
One of the main recommendations for attendees of a concert or festival is to purchase tickets from official establishments and trusted websites. If tickets are purchased from resale, through authorized channels – street resale is prohibited by law – there is no price limitation for companies, so the amount can be considerably higher than that set by the event promoter. In this case, it is advisable to compare ‘unofficial’ prices with those of the organizing company.
Furthermore, before purchasing a ticket, it is essential to identify the entity with which the contract will be made. If you turn to an intermediary or companies outside official or authorized sales channels, you run the risk of not being able to exercise the rights that consumers are entitled to.
If there is cancellation, suspension, or substantial modification of the event, for example, in the case of postponement or modification of the announced lineup (artists or groups), users can request a full or partial refund.
In case of program changes, the promoting entity must publicize the modification in the same spaces where the concert or festival was announced, and the consumer can claim a refund of the purchased tickets. On the contrary, if the event had started and was suspended due to force majeure, the ticket amount cannot be claimed.
It is also important to note that if the ticket was purchased through a resale system or by commission-based sales, the organizers are not obligated to reimburse the additional amount paid.
It should also be noted that, exceptionally in this type of event, the right of withdrawal cannot be exercised, which is generally applicable to ‘online’ purchases.
Finally, another aspect to consider is that if the event or festival is canceled, and the cancellation is not due to force majeure, consumers can also claim cancellation-related costs, such as hotel reservations or transportation.
