Justin Bieber recently announced that he would be postponing several upcoming concert dates on his Justice World Tour due to ongoing health issues. Bieber revealed on social media that he has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which has resulted in partial facial paralysis. This has raised questions among fans who have already purchased tickets to the postponed shows about whether they will receive refunds. In this article, we will provide a quick overview of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, summarize the impacted Justin Bieber concert dates, review ticket refund policies, and offer some predictions on if and when fans can expect to get their money back.
What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a rare neurological disorder caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. After the initial chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissues and can reactivate later in life, causing shingles. Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs when the reactivated virus affects facial nerves, causing facial paralysis and a painful shingles rash inside the ear canal or mouth.
In addition to facial paralysis, Ramsay Hunt syndrome can also cause hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), vertigo, and changes in taste. The paralysis typically only affects one side of the face. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is treated with antiviral medication, corticosteroids, and sometimes physical therapy. Most people make a full recovery, but it can take several weeks or months for symptoms to completely disappear.
Justin Bieber’s diagnosis
In a video posted to Instagram on June 10, 2022, Justin Bieber revealed to his fans that he has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Bieber demonstrated that the right side of his face was paralyzed due to the disorder. He noted that he has been doing facial exercises to regain movement, but that the paralysis is preventing him from performing his scheduled shows. Bieber stated that he does not know how long recovery will take, but that he is resting and doing everything he can to get better quickly.
Impacted Justin Bieber Justice World Tour dates
Bieber was forced to postpone several concert dates on his Justice World Tour as a result of his Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis. The impacted shows include:
- June 13, 2022 – Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada
- June 15, 2022 – Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada
- June 18, 2022 – Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA
- June 21, 2022 – PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA
- June 24, 2022 – Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY
- June 25, 2022 – Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY
- June 28, 2022 – Capital One Arena in Washington, DC
- July 2, 2022 – Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL
At this time, these are the only Justice World Tour dates that have been publicly postponed. It is unclear if Bieber will also have to push additional dates depending on the progress of his recovery. Fans are eager for an update and hoping he is able to return to the stage soon.
Ticketmaster refund policy
Most of the postponed Justin Bieber concert tickets were sold via Ticketmaster. The exact refund policy can vary based on the event, but Ticketmaster’s standard policy is as follows:
- Refunds are available if an event is postponed, rescheduled, or canceled.
- Refunds will be issued once a new event date and time is confirmed by the artist. Tickets are typically valid for the new rescheduled date.
- If a new date cannot be confirmed, refunds will be automatically processed within 30 days of the postponement announcement.
- Refunds are generally issued to the original payment method used to purchase the tickets.
- Customers will be notified via email when refunds are processed.
Based on this standard policy, Ticketmaster customers should be eligible for full refunds given that the Bieber concerts have been indefinitely postponed. It may take some time for refunds to be processed, but customers should be notified directly once they are issued.
Prediction on timeline for Justin Bieber ticket refunds
It is difficult to predict exactly when Ticketmaster will begin processing refunds for the postponed Justin Bieber concerts given the uncertainty around when the dates will be rescheduled. However, we can make some educated guesses based on previous tour postponements and standard industry practices:
- Refunds will likely be issued within 1-2 weeks of a rescheduled date being announced for each venue.
- If no new date is set by 6-8 weeks prior to the original show date, automatic refunds will probably be initiated.
- The first set of refunds will likely happen in mid-late July for the 6 shows originally scheduled for June.
- Refunds for the 2 shows in late June and July could get pushed back if new dates are confirmed soon.
While frustrating for fans, it is wise for Ticketmaster to wait until new Bieber tour dates are solidified before processing refunds. This eliminates the need to issue refunds now and then re-sell tickets later if shows are rescheduled. As long as fans promptly receive refunds once final postponement decisions are made, this is standard protocol.
Can fans expect to get refunded for their tickets?
Given Ticketmaster’s refund policies and the unprecedented circumstances around Bieber’s health-related tour postponement, fans should expect to receive full refunds on their purchased tickets. Ticketmaster has issued timely refunds after similar tour cancellations, for example when Adele rescheduled her Las Vegas shows earlier this year.
While the waiting period may be 2-3 months in some cases depending on when replacement dates are announced, fans ultimately just need to be patient. As long as Justin Bieber’s representatives and tour promoters provide sufficient notice to Ticketmaster once final postponement decisions are made, refunds should be issued promptly based on standard practices.
Key factors impacting refund timeline
There are a few key factors that will determine exactly when impacted Justin Bieber fans will get their money back:
- How quickly Bieber recovers and is able to resume the tour.
- Coordinating rescheduled dates across dozens of impacted arenas and stadiums.
- Logistics around tour personnel, equipment, supporting acts, etc.
- Ensuring sufficient time to re-promote and sell tickets for rescheduled shows if needed.
- Process time for Ticketmaster and promoters to issue refunds at scale.
Realistically, it will likely be at least 8-12 weeks before some refunds start getting processed. The good news is that most fans should have their refunds in hand before the original concert dates.
Can fans resell or transfer postponed tickets?
Fans who cannot attend the postponed Justin Bieber concerts on the new rescheduled dates do have some options:
- Ticketmaster allows ticket transfers so the original purchaser can safely resell tickets to someone else.
- Tickets can be posted for resale on fan exchange sites like Stubhub.
- If new dates do not work, tickets can be surrendered for a refund once final postponement details are announced.
These transfer and resale options provide fans with alternatives if they are unable to attend the shows on the new dates. However, full refunds may still need to wait until replacements dates are determined.
Can fans get refunds for associated costs?
Beyond just the face value cost of the tickets, fans have likely incurred some additional expenses related to the postponed Bieber concerts:
- Hotel rooms
- Flights
- Rental cars
- Scheduled time off work
- Parking passes
- Child care
- Merchandise
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that any associated expenses aside from the tickets will be refunded. Hotels, airlines, and other vendors all have separate policies. Fans should independently reach out to each vendor to check on cancellation policies and rescheduling options. For non-refundable airline tickets, for example, fans may still be able to apply the value to future flights.
Conclusion
To conclude, Justin Bieber fans will very likely receive full refunds for all postponed concert tickets that were purchased via Ticketmaster. Refunds will be processed once replacement tour dates are solidified or it is confirmed shows cannot be rescheduled. Given the scale of the coordination involved, refunds will realistically take 6-12 weeks in many cases. This chronology is understandable and fairly standard practice when arena tours cannot move forward as planned. While inconvenient, fans need to practice patience understanding the factors at play. With some work to reschedule flights, hotels, and other arrangements, most can hopefully still attend the rescheduled Bieber concerts once final dates are announced.