Messi fans can seek refunds without dropping complaints to Hong Kong consumer watchdog
- But Consumer Council says those who bought tickets for February friendly match using e-payment systems may need to drop complaints to banks to collect cash
- Organiser Tatler earlier said 50 per cent refund available to customers if they dropped legal complaints, claims or payment reversal requests to official ticket seller Klook
But Gilly Wong Fung-han, the organisation’s chief executive, said on Tuesday that people who paid for their tickets using electronic payment systems might need to drop any complaints filed with their banks or credit card issuers as their transactions would be on hold.
“The Consumer Council has received scores of complaints, but they do not prevent the complainants from making the relevant refund arrangements,” she said in a radio interview.
The watchdog has so far fielded 1,465 complaints, 1,163 from residents and 302 from tourists. The average amount of money involved in each case is HK$6,900 (US$882), with the most expensive one involving HK$92,000.
“Some consumers may have gone to the bank to apply for a refund because they [paid for the tickets] with credit cards, which they are entitled to do under the credit card mechanism,” Wong said.
Following the Argentine star footballer’s absence from a match between Inter Miami CF and a Hong Kong League XI on February 4, organiser Tatler Asia said on Monday that customers who bought tickets through official channels would get a 50 per cent refund by May.
