Organisers of this year’s cancelled Pemberton Music Festival in Canada are telling ticket holders to claim their costs back from credit card companies after they declared bankruptcy.

The filing was made in court last week despite a bulk of the ticketing money being advanced to organisers, according to the Amplify website.

The British Columbia event’s main backers have refused to refund 18,000 ticket-buyers, according to Amplify, despite taking up to C$6m (£3.5m) in receipts from ticket operator Ticketfly.

The event’s website directs those wanting a refund to “contact their bank or credit card issuer directly at the contact numbers provided … in determining whether a refund can be obtained”.

Amplify suggests it could take months for ticket holders, some of whom paid up to C$1,000, to obtain refunds.

“[Bankruptcy accountants] Ernst & Young know that fans are going to have a very difficult time charging back their credit cards for their ticketing refund,” wrote Amplify’s Dave Brooks. “Why? Because Ticketfly will fight it. Any ticketing company in the music business knows that credit card chargebacks are a problem for event producers.

“These same ticketing companies employ very smart, capable people to fight those chargebacks and sources from Tickefly have indicated they’ll definitely be fighting these charges.”

However, there is better news for the music lovers that will now miss out on Pemberton, which was due to take place in July, with other festivals offering special deals.

Tall Tree Festival is offering free entry to Pemberton ticket holders, as is Ontario’s WayHome Festival, which is to feature Imagine Dragons.

Fans can also trade their ticket for 25 per cent off a ticket to CannaFest in August.

Image: Wyder92