Consumer rights organization Test Achats has ignited controversy over the handling of ticket refunds for the Feel Good Festival in Liรจge.
The event was postponed to 2025 due to adverse weather conditions. Organizers announced the decision earlier this week, citing weeks of persistent rain that rendered the festival grounds unsuitable for this year’s planned festivities.
Despite the postponement, organizers declared that tickets would remain valid for the rescheduled event in 2025, refusing to offer refunds to ticket holders.
This stance has drawn sharp criticism from Test Achats, arguing that under the festival’s terms and conditions, refunds are warranted in case of date changes or total cancellation.
“The organizers are obligated to adhere to the terms outlined in the general conditions, which form the contractual relationship with festival goers,” asserted Test Achats in a statement.
The organization further criticized the classification of the weather conditions as a “force majeure,” typically defined as an unforeseen and unavoidable event.
“This particular weather pattern during this season in Belgium is not unprecedented. A force majeure event must be both unpredictable and inevitable, which does not appear to be the case here,” Test Achats contended.
The dispute hinges on whether the prolonged rainfalls leading up to the festival constitute a legitimate force majeure event under Belgian law.
Test Achats has raised concerns that the organizers’ interpretation of force majeure may unjustly alter the agreed-upon conditions of ticket sales, potentially infringing upon consumer rights protected under the Economic Law Code.
“This unilateral decision by the organizers not to refund tickets effectively changes the product’s characteristics as originally agreed upon,” Test Achats emphasized, hinting at a possible legal challenge to the festival’s policy.
The Feel Good Festival organizers have yet to respond publicly to the demand for refunds. Meanwhile, ticket holders who had anticipated enjoying the festival this year now find themselves in a quandary, with their funds effectively locked into a future event date.
This controversy underscores ongoing debates surrounding consumer rights in the event industry, particularly concerning the interpretation of force majeure and the obligations of organizers in unforeseen circumstances.
As the situation unfolds, stakeholders await further developments regarding potential legal actions and the festival’s response to mounting consumer dissatisfaction.
For now, both festival goers and consumer advocates alike await clarity on whether refunds will be issued, navigating the complexities of contractual obligations and consumer protection in the face of unexpected events impacting planned festivities.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
