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Comment by cryptozeus | Hacker News Reader

No refunds will be given

“#SXSW replied me saying they won't refund me Frowning face or exchange for 2021. For Brazilian standards the price of the ticket is VERY expensive and I'm cancelling my trip due to concerns related to coronavirus. I think they should refund me and the participants that decided not to attend”

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I'm sure if you used a credit card you'd have no problem getting an involuntary refund from SXSW. After a few thousand of those I'm sure their stance would change.

You only have a 3-6 month window with most credit card providers to be able to initiate charge backs.

So it very much depends on when you bought the retail ticket.

There's a myth that chargebacks are automatic or easy.

You have to make a chargeback complaint, have that investigated, get approval from your issuer, then wait for a refund.

Sometimes it is pretty easy (Chase). I did a charge back on my card with the click of a button 'Dispute Charge'. I received a refund almost immediately and the dispute was sustained

Did you try canceling before the official cancellation announcement?

If they're not issuing refund after the cancellation announcement, then they're finished. No more SXSW next year.

How could that possibly be legal? You don't get the thing you paid for.

There are often clauses in these type of agreements about natural disasters. Of course I’m speculating, but it’s entirely plausible something like this applies here. Especially if it was ordered by the city, rather than the organizers.

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