If a concert is canceled, the entrance fee can usually be reclaimed. The corona virus burst events on a broad front. Therefore, organizers can now offer an alternative.
Berlin (dpa) - For cultural and sporting events that are canceled due to the Corona crisis, ticket buyers can initially get vouchers instead of their money back.
The Bundestag decided on Thursday to regulate the grand coalition, which should protect organizers from financial hardships through mass repayments. This should also apply to tickets for other leisure events purchased before March 8th. However, customers should be able to request payment if a voucher is unreasonable due to personal circumstances - or if they do not redeem the voucher by December 31, 2021. The opposition protested and spoke of attacks on consumer rights.
The solution for events such as concerts, festivals, theater performances, film screenings, lectures, readings and sports competitions is to take hold. Also included are events that take place on several dates, such as music, language or sports courses, as well as season tickets, for example for home games of sports clubs.
The vouchers must have the value of the admission price including any advance booking fees. No costs may be charged for issuing and sending. The voucher can then be redeemed either for a catch-up event or another event. However, it is also possible that ticket holders will not redeem it - for example because a catch-up appointment does not suit them or because they are no longer interested in the visit. Then you can request that the voucher value be paid out after December 31, 2021.
Minister of Culture Monika Grütters (CDU) welcomed the regulation. "It helps to save an important cultural area through the corona crisis with the concert and festival organizers." Events with an audience could not take place for weeks. This had led to a drop in sales that threatened the existence of some of the organizers. The solution takes into account the interests of both companies and customers. "The prospect of a cultural experience is preserved just as the organizers are spared unreasonable hardship."
SPD consumer politician Johannes Fechner referred to a dramatic situation for organizers and artists. The aim should be to prevent the cultural landscape from breaking down - even if his parliamentary group would have liked a more precise hardship case regulation for the vouchers. FDP MP Katharina Willkomm criticized that consumers were turned into lenders with unsecured vouchers. Left Group leader Amira Mohamed Ali said that a key principle of civil law would be undermined, which would also affect consumer confidence.
As of March 8, as the ticket purchase date, the law explains that from then on the pandemic-like spread of the coronavirus with consequences for social life was widely known. If event organizers continued to sell tickets, they would have no particular need to be protected from refunds. The prerequisite for the voucher option is that an event has been canceled due to a ban or contact restrictions - or an artist cannot come because of quarantine or travel ban.
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