Has anyone received a refund or any communication from Tryon/TIEC regarding the dropping all levels below Prelim at THE FORK?

[ghettozoo]

On February 28, 2020 TIEC cancelled THE FORK Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice due to storm damage on the course would not allow the lower levels. We had registered on 2/25/20 and have not received our refund. The fact that they kept the upper divisions which are run on the same course was suspect but to not refund the divisions they dropped nor communicate the refund process is wrong. Now they have cancelled the upper divisions due to Covid-19 and I do not want our refund to get lost in the pandemic cancellation verses the " we decided not to have the lower levels" decision.

Anyone get a email or notice for refunds?

[ghettozoo]

As today is the last day to officially withdraw, I sent an email to the show secretary to withdraw and ask for our refund. per rule 8. WITHDRAWALS. Notification of withdrawal must be given directly to the Event Secretary. If the horse is withdrawn prior to 9:00 p.m. on the closing date for entries, the entry and stabling fees will be refunded, less an office fee, if applicable, not to exceed $25.00.

[Divine_Comedy]

@ghettozoo, on a normal basis, most events only send refunds after the show has run, even if you W/D before closing date.

With the quick succession of cancellations, we are seeing people lag in communication due to relocating to work from home without much notice so I’d give it a few more days.

I’m waiting for three refunds, Carolina, Stable View, and Fair Hill.

I scratched Carolina in Feb, before closing date or COVID worries, and received an email at the time that I’d get my refund check after Carolina ran. I emailed them again as soon as USEF released their recommendations and again yesterday, and I haven’t heard anything yet. I’ll keep on them until I at least get a response, I’m fine receiving the check once they sort things but I’d like the reassurance that they remember that I canceled prior to closing date and should receive my full refund.

Stable View immediately let me know they’d be sending refunds as soon as they could.

Fair Hill I also emailed as soon as USEF released their statement and scratched prior to their official cancellation. They aren’t closed yet of course. Didn’t hear anything but emailed again today and immediately got a response from Mary Coldren that they will definitely be sending out refunds as soon as they can but are all scrambling today to work from home.

Just have some patience, continue to email periodically but with an understanding tone, and realize that this flurry of cancellations is going to be a lot of unexpected work for the organizers in the short term.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

The Fork was fully canceled…all levels. I believe they posted they will be sending refunds. Usually takes several weeks to get refunds from any event.

[ghettozoo]

Thank you for your reply! I am concerned as we never received “confirmation from show secretary” and the cancellation of the lower levels happened such a short time after the opening date for registration. Our on line entry states This is a notice to confirm that EventEntries.com has received your electronic entry for The Fork at TIEC (Apr 2020).This only confirms that EventEntries.com has received your entry. You should receive another email from the show secretary of The Fork at TIEC (Apr 2020) confirming they have received and accepted your entry. The entry was received on 02/25/2020 09:40 AM America/Detroit. If you have any questions or need to change any of the entry information, contact the event secretary. Yet we have no confirmation or ANY contact from the event. We even learned of the dropping the lower levels from social media. Then you read about they can cancel a show and not give refunds it does not clarify ONLY after closing date. Can an event open entries on 1/1 and close entries on 2/15 yet cancel the event 1/5 and say NO Refunds, we cancelled? The list of event forums that have cancelled and refund status is very encouraging except TIEC issues a brief comment and nothing about refunds for an event cancelled before the closing date. https://useventing.com/news-media/news/event-responses-to-coronavirus-covid-19

[ghettozoo]

This is what is posted on USEA " April 4-5: The Fork at TIEC - Canceled
Released March 14

In a continued effort to keep a safe and healthy place for our guests and team, we are making additional adjustments to our 2020 schedule. In alignment with the USEF 30-day guidelines, we are canceling equestrian competitions beginning March 14, 2020 to include the TIEC Welcome Series.

The Tryon Resort restaurants and lodging operations will remain open to the public with the ongoing addition of proactive and extra-rigorous sanitation practices.

Additional changes to the equestrian competition schedule within the 30-day window include cancellation of:

• The Fork at TIEC Eventing competition on April 2-6

Layover stalls and onsite lodging are available by contacting [email]lodging@tryon.com[/email] or [email]stabling@tryon.com[/email] or by calling 828.863.1015.

Decisions about future competitions and events will be made as new information becomes available. Please visit our website for the latest updates related to our venue: https://bit.ly/39OiSup

Sincerely,

Sharon Allred Decker
COO, Tryon Equestrian Partners
Carolinas Operations

[Divine_Comedy]

Just be polite but persistent. I hear what you’re saying but it’s unlikely continuing to say all this on this forum will get you results. Just keep emailing the show secretary. Perhaps reach out to Rick Dunkerton as well to see if he has heard from The Fork organizers.

Worst case you can email USEA to ask some of these questions. I urge you to be polite and not accusatory in tone. USEA is transitioning to being closed but are available by email so perhaps they can help.

[ghettozoo]

Well, still curious if any venues have issued refunds for cancelled events? The FORK - Novice cancelled 2/28/20 still NO contact from TIEC, no response to emails, and no refund. Mr. Duckerton was kind enough to send me an email stating that TIEC contacted him on March 18 stating refunds would be processed soon…

[Divine_Comedy]

Definitely time to be upset.

I’ve gotten refunds from Carolina and Stable View (two in the case of Stable View as they initially wrote the check out to be paid to the rider instead of me, so they cut and sent a new check). Fair Hill has responded quickly to my inquiries and is having trouble getting the checks printed and cut with the quarantine, but is being very responsive.

I would send a note to the USEA and USEF both to see if they have any ideas on how to proceed.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Who have you been trying to contact? The secretary or the organizer?

[Janet]

What did the prize list (omnibus listing) say about refunds in case of cancellation. If it said “no refunds in case of cancellation” you are out of luck.

Typically you must apply IN WRITING for a refund. Did you do that, or did you just assume you would get a refund?

If the prize list said you could get a refund, I THINK they have until 30 days after the scheduled date of the competition (rather than the date of the cancellation notice) to give you the refund.

If the prize list said you would get a refund, AND you requested it in writing, AND it is more than 30 days after the competition date, you can/should complain to USEF (USEA has nothing to do with this part of the process, though they might give you a “shoulder to cry on”).

A good many years ago, a Horse Trials (in Texas I think) was already in a poor financial condition, and had to cancel because of a major weather problem. Their omnibus listing said they would give a refund in case of cancellation. But they had already spent all the money, and couldn’t/didn’t make any refunds.

The USEF hit them with a MAJOR penalty (which they were not able to pay AFAIK). Nobody actually got refund, but it certainly led to the permanent cancellation of that Horse Trial.

So, if you are getting the runaround, you could certainly tell them that you indent to contact the USEF about non payment of the refund.

(Mind like a sieve!)

[ghettozoo]

My first expectation was an automatic refund as they cancelled only the lower levels on 02/28/2020. So no, I did not reach out as they cancelled prior to close of entries which would be an automatic refund. I emailed Shelley Page on March 14 and received no contact or reply. I also never received any contact regarding the cancellation just the official press release to media. On March 18 I emailed Rick Duckerton and he followed up with TIEC and said he was told the refunds would be processed soon. I still have not received ANY email from TIEC nor a refund. I will be contacting USEA/USEF as later HT refunds from FENCE have been received. I also officially withdrew on the last day of withdrawals March 17 just to dot the I’s and cross the t’s for any legal stipulations. ZERO communication from an event is wrong.

[ghettozoo]

The FORK cancellation was prior to close of entries on March 18. If an organization cancels HT prior to close of entry all fees are refunded.

[ghettozoo]

Refund received yesterday !!! Contacted USEF last week and have a refund this week. Not sure if the two are related but at least USEF responded to my email which is 100 percent more than we received from TIEC

[Janet]

So the USEF is at least good for SOMETHING!!