SXSW Smacked with Lawsuit Over Ticket Refunds
The popular music and film festival South by Southwest is facing a class action lawsuit over the company's no refund policy.
The class action lawsuit was filed against SXSW on April 24, after the company failed to offer refunds to 2020 festival ticket purchasers when the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit is claiming breach of contract and unjust enrichment against the festival.
SXSW was scheduled for March 13-22 in Austin, but an update made on March 6 informed the public that for the first time in 34 years, there would be no festival. According to the suit, in lieu of a monetary refund, SXSW only offered buyers credentials to another SXSW festival in 2021,2022, or 2023 and an additional 50% discount on the walk-up rate for one of the three years.
The complaint alleges that SXSW has, "shifted the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic onto festivalgoers like Plaintiffs and the Class, individuals who in these desperate times may sorely need the money they paid to SXSW for a festival that never occurred."
In my honest opinion, I do agree that SXSW owes these buyers their money. While I understand that the company lost money, it is not the responsibility of the consumer to help them recoup these losses. Many other companies have purchased insurance for festivals and events for situations just like these.
Do you think SXSW should return customer's money?
READ MORE: See how some companies are changing their businesses to combat COVID-19
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