Scandal about payment chips: Festivals collect illegal additional fees!

Scandal about payment chips: Festivals collect illegal additional fees!

In Germany it's “festival time” again, and events like Rock am Ring, Nature One and Wacken Open Air are very popular. However, the popular coin of pleasure, the payment chip, also brings with it some unpleasant surprises, as the consumer advice center has now shown. Visitors have to be prepared for numerous additional costs, which can have a significant impact on the festival fun. City of Bremerhaven reports that the consumer advice center has identified problematic business practices at several festivals.

The costs for activating or charging these chips for the first time are between 29 cents and 2 euros. This is not only annoying, but could also be illegal in many cases. According to the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv), such additional costs are not permitted if the chips are the only payment option at the event location and can only be topped up using a debit or credit card. In addition, the refund of remaining credit after the festival is another nuisance: Some organizers charge fees or do not pay back amounts below 1 to 2.50 euros. Here, the consumer advice center emphasizes that visitors are legally entitled to a full refund without deductions.

Legal action against organizers

In order to put an end to these practices, the consumer advice center has taken legal action. Eight out of ten festival organizers have already signed a cease and desist declaration. A lawsuit against Heroes Festival GmbH is currently being heard at the Bamberg Higher Regional Court, which deals with the inadmissible fees of 1.50 euros for chip loading and 50 cents for refunds. The Berlin Regional Court has also decided that additional costs are not permitted at the Lollapalooza Festival - however, this ruling is not yet legally binding. Furthermore, the Bochum regional court has declared the activation fees and minimum payout amounts at the Juicy Beats Festival to be unlawful.

The ticket prices themselves also cause confusion, as many organizers only make service fees visible when the purchase is completed. This draws the ire of consumers, who feel disadvantaged when comparing prices. Consumers are used to a transparent pricing model being part of a relaxed festival visit.

Where should affected festival visitors go?

Affected visitors are encouraged to complain and assert their claims. Reimbursement periods are often shorter than the statutory limitation period of three years, which puts additional pressure on consumers. Anyone who is asked to pay for unauthorized additional costs should not hesitate to contact the consumer advice center. Ultimately, all festival visitors should be well informed before the big event in order to avoid unpleasant surprises on their wallets.

The festival season should bring joy, not inconvenience. Let's not let unfair additional fees spoil our fun and let's ensure that the rules apply to all organizers. So let's stay tuned to see how the legal disputes will develop. A successful festival feeling for everyone!