Consumer protection: cancelled or postponed event gives you the right to a refund

Kristina Tammaru from the Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision Authority explained that consumers have the right to request a refund if an event is cancelled, postponed, or its content changes significantly from what was originally promised. When problems arise, the first step is to contact the organiser.

Kristina Tammaru from the Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision Authority (TTJA) explained on Estonian Public Broadcasting's R2 Päev programme when consumers have the right to demand a refund for their ticket and which situations create the most confusion.

According to Tammaru, consumers most frequently face problems in three cases: when an event is cancelled completely, when it is postponed to a new date, or when the event's content changes significantly compared to what was originally offered. In all of these situations, consumers are essentially entitled to demand a refund of the money paid.

The authority's representative stressed that when a problem occurs, you should always first contact the event organiser directly. This is the standard first step in dispute resolution and often that is sufficient to get your money back without needing to turn to additional authorities.

If you cannot reach an agreement with the organiser, you can contact the Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision Authority for assistance, who will advise consumers on how to exercise their rights.