Echo fest's refund requests ring out

Kat Macmillan and her son Lucas, 13, have been left out of pocket after the Echo Festival was cancelled. Photo / Andrew Warner

The organiser of a failed music festival has promised refunds within the next two weeks after an outcry from ticketholders wanting their money back.

Last week, the plug was pulled on January's two-day Echo Festival, featuring headliners Disclosure and The Flaming Lips, due to poor ticket sales.

The festival was initially based at McLaren Falls, but issues with consents forced the move to Auckland and a name change in October.

It was axed last week and full refunds were offered to ticketholders.

Tauranga woman Kat Macmillan bought a family pass and a family camping pass when she first heard about the Tauranga-based festival, which cost $900 in total. After the festival changed venue she applied for a refund.

After numerous emails she received a partial refund for the camping pass but not the tickets which still leaves her out of pocket $540, she said.

"Since then I have sent them numerous more emails saying we need our tickets refunded, that's $540."

"When it was moved to Auckland there was no way we were going to go up there, it was not a family-friendly gig. It was a completely different feel, we were really disappointed."

Many have gone online to complain about delays in getting refunds.

"Hey Echo Festival, how's about that $700 ticket/camping refund I'm still waiting on?" wrote one aggrieved punter.

Eventopia, the ticketing agency responsible for the refunds, called the situation "completely unacceptable" and said it was waiting for the festival to "return the funds" so it could refund ticketholders.

"We deeply apologise for such an inconvenient situation and the lack of communication ...It has now taken far too long and this is completely unacceptable," Eventopia wrote in emails to ticketholders.

Yesterday, festival boss Paxton Talbot said the refunds would be paid by December 17.

"Everyone's going to get their money back. Everyone needs to be reassured that they are going to get their money ... within the next two weeks."

Camping refunds were completed several weeks ago and the vast majority of people have been refunded already, he said.

Echo Festival was axed last week due to "insufficient ticket sales".

"Despite this world-class line-up of artists, and a strong promotional campaign and apparent public support, the event simply hasn't had sufficient ticket sales to date to make the festival viable, we have today made the hugely difficult decision to cancel the event," said Mr Talbot.

He told The Wireless he could lose millions if he went ahead with the festival.

According to the On the Echo website:

Full refunds will be made for tickets purchased via point of purchase. Please allow up to 21 days to receive your refund.