In the wake of cancelling Rock USA 2020, organizers of the Wisconsin festival are under fire for failing to acknowledge, let alone honor, refund requests.
Originally scheduled to take place July 16-18 and feature a slew of notable performers — among them Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, Rob Zombie, and Anthrax — the event was formally canceled on June 3 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since then, ticketholders have apparently been struggling to obtain refunds or even make contact with Rock USA (and sister festival Country USA).
"I've messaged them through Facebook, I've emailed out to see if they're gonna issue refunds, or if they're just gonna make everyone transfer to 2021," Anna Tihlarik of Phillips told Fox 11 News. "I've gotten no response!"
Wausau resident Mattie Anna Betts explained to Fox 11 that messages to the festival's official Facebook page aren't even being read. "They don't return phone calls, or they say to message people on Facebook and no replies back," she said. "Nothing updated on the website, or anything."
"Unless they can, honestly, get their [expletive] together, meet what their customers need, things would be a lot better," she added. "We just want some answers!"
A quick look at the Rock USA Facebook reveals myriad ticketholders voicing their displeasure. Here's a sample:
From a legal perspective, Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection assured Fox 11 that refunds must be issued.
"If there's a concert that you've prepaid a ticket for, and it's been canceled, you are entitled to a refund," said Lara Sutherlin, administrator for the department's trade and consumer protection division. "You should contact the promoter within 90 days of learning the event is canceled."
"We should be contacted if you can't resolve it, and if you think there's a violation, or just to let us know," Sutherlin added. "Certainly, promoters are probably underwater and they probably don't have the staff, necessarily, to respond, but of course that's not an excuse to violate the law."
Thus far, Fox 11's attempts to contact festival promoters have been unsuccessful.
From a legal perspective, Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection assured Fox 11 that refunds must be issued.
"If there's a concert that you've prepaid a ticket for, and it's been canceled, you are entitled to a refund," said Lara Sutherlin, administrator for the department's trade and consumer protection division. "You should contact the promoter within 90 days of learning the event is canceled."
"We should be contacted if you can't resolve it, and if you think there's a violation, or just to let us know," Sutherlin added. "Certainly, promoters are probably underwater and they probably don't have the staff, necessarily, to respond, but of course that's not an excuse to violate the law."
Thus far, Fox 11's attempts to contact festival promoters have been unsuccessful.
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