American Music Inaugural Balls Cancellation Still A Mystery
As faithful readers know, we have been chronicling the mess that was the American Music Inaugural Balls.The hotel where the balls were to be hosted also felt the fallout from the sudden ball cancellations. Perhaps even ball host Dionne Warwick shed a few tears.
On a website associated with the awesome Ms. Warwick, they wrote about the American Music Inaugural Balls' cancellation. They blamed the mysterious production issues:
"The American Music Inaugural Ball Committee has cancelled the 'Ball of Legends' and 'Urban Balls,' and all events associated with the Balls, due to unexpected production issues, it was announced by a Committee Spokesperson."
The "Committee Spokesperson" still doesn't have a name. Nor have any of the organizers come forward with an apology, an excuse, or a method on how people can get their money back. Folks have been directed to a pretty lame website with this simple message:
"Continue to watch this site for information regarding your refund which will occur within 30-45 days."
Not exactly a real confidence builder.
7:27 pm
I paid $2250 cash for tickets for this ball and I have sent several emails regarding how I can get my money back but have had no response from the organisers! Thisis totally unacceptable.
Please do not publish my full name.
8:08 pm
I believe that I can claim fraud, especially if the time of my card charge is after the event was cancelled-- I believe it will be; I decided at the "last minute" to attend, and was able to purchase a ticket very close to the start time....
9:34 pm
Everyone that paid for a ticket please give me your contact info.
Email me here: tony@tonyreddick.com
Why?...because there is power in numbers!!
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/01/22/dionne-warwick-youre-about-to-be-served/
11:57 am
I guess yu people just dont get it do you!!! The cancellation fo this ball is not on the hands of Ms. Warwick its on the committe that put this event together and once again asked Ms. Warwick to HOST the event HOST people she lent her name once again to event that didnt pul through so Mr. Tony Riddick how do you assume that she is at fault. Once again our new president is always talking about change. Get your facts correct before you start pointing blame where it actually doesnt belong.
12:38 pm
I don't really care who put (or failed to put) the event together at this point. All I care about is the prompt refund of my money. They got the money immediately when I processed the transaction on line, the refunds should be processed within a similar time frame. I also agree with D Williams who mentioned fraud because if the ticket was purchased that close to the start time, they should have been unable to complete the transaction if the event was cancelled. We are all out considerably more than the price of the tickets, but we should at least be able to recoup that cost timely. And in the age of all this technology, there is no reason the organizers couldn't have issued a mass e-mail to all those who purchased tickets on line informing them of the cancellation. Unprofessional and unacceptable!
1:07 am
Forget the organizers - Dionne's name was on this event - so yes she is responsible. The hotel let us know she was there at the hotel and refused to come down - then to show up at the purple ball - that was a slap in the face. Yes I say it is fraud - I am a Event Planner and believe me you know when your event is not going to fly and it was not the morning of - we are all talking about the balls - what about the breakfast and the brunch. I beleive we all had different emails on our invoices - I had one that stated gateway@linkpt.net - my friend had waschley@aol.com - gateway came back mailbox unavailable. Let's try the one from Dionne's site - awmsjr@hotmail.com.
1:33 pm
i was very disapointed about the legends ball cancelation i was looking forward to attend !!!! with my husband, i bought 2 tickets ,and i expect my full refund of $955!!!
mrs caprice mccreary
11:34 pm
My concern is getting my money back. I bought my ticket the day before. The hotel said the committe cancelled that day. They still were accepting money after they decided to cancel. The committee has to pay the hotel, catering, etc. How are they going to pay us back? Does anyone have a contact name with this so called committee?
5:29 pm
Keep me in the loop! I am out $2000. I picked up tix on Monday @ 1 p.m. and had long conversation with a nice looking smooth talking guy who went on and on about how great it was going to be!!
I am furious!!! Besides tix, hundreds of $$$ were spent on dresses, etc.
kbsaratoga@yahoo.com
5:15 pm
10 days and counting no refund. I have asked my bank to make a provisional (temporary credit) to my account---pending their investigation. The merchant phone number the bank had rang as a fax machine for crying out lound. Bankcards are obligated to give you your money back and investigate.
8:42 am
We're from Wisconsin and we purchased 2 tickets. We were so looking forward to the event. We trusted the name(s) that were presented as a legitimate event. Are tickets were also picked up on Saturday, just a few days before the event. I too have planned many, many events, so I know that if you don't have the numbers, you know that within 3 days before the event. If they had cancelled, returned the funds, many of us could have planned to attend other events. Change should come and maybe this group needs not to plan any future events. We want our $955.00 returned and it doesn't take 10 days to do it. I'm sure they're trying to figure out who should get paid first. There may need to be a class action suit against the company that took the money. I believe they're in Dallas. Check out your credit card or bank for more details.
5:28 pm
We purchased 7 tickets. Has anyone found out anything new about this? It is very concerning that no one is taking responsibility for this. I understand there were other balls that were cancelled and ticket holders actually received their money back within days. Clearly they took in thousands of dollars for ticket and ad sales. I understand they sold ads for a souvenir book. 30-45 days is too long to wait for a refund. A lawsuit should be file..the question is who are we suing?
8:37 pm
Jbrown thanks for the information. I went into y bank and asked for an investgation into a refund. My account was credited immediately.
5:51 pm
Today, February 16, 2009, I still have not heard from anyone regarding my refund. I spent $1175 for 2 ball tickets and 2 brunch tickets. I saw the comments from Bridgette, I am also going to my bank to report a fraud.
10:30 am
How do I get my money back? No one has any anmswers and I am trying to look through websites with no email addresses or telephone numbers. Basically, everyone paid with a credit card and all the organizers had to do was credit our cards.
10:43 am
Unfortunately, I was informed there is no MONEY to give refunds because they took it all.. This is FRAUD and several of us are getting our paperwork together to do final submissions for a lawsuit againist the Dionne and Friends Foundation who is the receipt of the checks made for the event as well as Dionne Warwick. Because if it is true that the Foundation is not current on paperwork as a legit business she is next on the list to be suited.she better call on her Pyschic Friends now........you can't take people's money and go like that......sorry no chance....she will pay at the end
8:20 am
Has anyone been informed of movement on this at all? I have 6 tickets.
3:16 am
I have STILL not received any refunds. They LIED when they said refunds wil be made within 45 days. I have written emails to the different email addresses that was circulating on the internet and I have placed phone calls to the numbers circulated on the internet but all numbers were disconnected. It is almost one year later and no one has contacted me about my refund. I am so angry. Was there a lawsuit in place? I wish someone would have posted somehwere where we could have gotten information on the lawsuit. I woukd have loved to be a party to the suit because I can not afford a lawyer on my own. I feel as though I am screwed and will never get my money back. I need help!!!!!!