Question: Can I get a refund from local sports clubs or associations if the season is suspended?

Answer passage (source: Australia):
page_title: COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
section_headers: Local sporting clubs or associations 
My club’s season hasn’t started, but I no longer wish to participate due to health or safety concerns about COVID-19. Am I entitled to a refund?
section_content: 
If you decide you no longer wish to participate in a sporting league due to concerns about COVID-19, this may be treated as a ‘change of mind’. You should contact the state or national body to see if you are entitled to a remedy such as a full or partial refund, credit note or voucher.
If you have a health condition that means you are at higher risk, you should contact your sporting club or association to see if they will offer you a refund or a voucher to use at a later date.


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Provides specific guidance on getting refunds from sporting leagues due to the pandemic.
The answer addresses the question directly.  It states that consumers should be able to get their money returned if a sports season is cancelled.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: Australia):
page_title: COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
section_headers: Local sporting clubs or associations 
What if the season is cancelled?
section_content: 
If your sporting club or association’s season has been cancelled, the ACCC expects that you will receive a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note or voucher for a future season, in most circumstances.
If the season is cancelled due to government restrictions, this impacts your rights under the consumer guarantees. However, you may also have other remedies outside of the Australian Consumer Law.
You should check for a cancellation policy under your membership terms and conditions, and contact the state or national body directly to see if you are entitled to full or partial refund, credit note or voucher.
If you had a right to a refund under these terms and conditions at the time you purchased your membership, the state or national body is not permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny you a refund.
You may also have rights under contract law where the contract can no longer be performed.
You should contact your club directly if you believe you are entitled to a refund or other remedy, such as a credit voucher to use in a future season. Given the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages the state and national bodies, and clubs and associations, to treat consumers fairly and consider appropriate mechanisms to provide refunds or credit notes to consumers.


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Provides detailed guidance on what consumers can expect when asking for refunds from sporting leagues.
The question is answered directly here.  The answer states that people are entitled to their money back if their sports season is cancelled.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: Australia):
page_title: COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for consumers
section_headers: Local sporting clubs or associations 
I have paid a registration or membership fee up front but the season has been suspended. Am I entitled to a refund?
section_content: 
Your rights to a refund under the consumer guarantees may not apply if the activity has stopped due to government restrictions.
You should check for a cancellation policy under your membership terms and conditions, and contact the state or national body directly to see if you are entitled to a full or partial refund, credit note or voucher.
The ACCC expects that you will be offered a refund or a credit note or voucher for the period that the season is suspended. If you receive a credit note or voucher, this should be applied when the 2020 season recommences, or a future season if the 2020 season remains cancelled.
The ACCC encourages state and national bodies, and clubs and associations, to treat consumers fairly in these circumstances and to consider appropriate mechanisms to provide refunds or other remedies such as credit notes or vouchers to consumers.
Consumers should also be mindful that the impact of COVID-19 is significant for smaller clubs and associations.


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Provides good guidance on how refunds for sporting events or seasons should be handled.
The answer is good for the question.  It talks about whether you should get a refund if a sports season is cancelled.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent