Maitreya Fest Promoters Sued By Ticketing Company Over Missing Money
Over $400,000 is missing.
Organisers of the Victorian Maitreya Festival are being sued by their own ticketing company for missing money, just over a month after promoters announced that they would not be issuing anymore refunds for the axed event.
According to Fairfax, more than $1 million worth of tickets had been sold by the time the festival was cancelled in March, however it is alleged that over $950,000 had been withdrawn between September last year and the cancellation date.
Trybooking is suing Maitreya directors Lachlan Bell, Julius Webster and Sophie Oostermeyer as they were only permitted to access that money with permission from the ticketing company.
Any funds taken out must also be repaid in two days which also did not occur.
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Trybooking claim to have so far refunded $520,524 to customers, but is still out of pocket by $409,082.
"The event organiser has not cooperated with us on a refund process as required by our terms and conditions, leading to us pursuing them via legal avenues," TryBooking CEO Jeff McAlister said in a statement.
The Maitreya Festival has been plagued with problems since February this year, when the local council denied organisers a permit to stage the event.
Almost three months on since its cancellation, some punters are still waiting for refunds.
A spokesperson for Consumer Affairs Victoria told theMusic in March that anyone who bought a ticket to the now-cancelled festival is entitled to a full refund.
"People should request the refund from the company that sold them the festival ticket," the CAV spokesperson said.
The Music has contacted Trybooking for further comment.
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