UFC, Neulion mum on potential refunds for MayMac fiasco
“Bringing a class action on behalf of people affected negatively is the best shot at recovering the purchase price [if no refund is offered].”
MayMac was the biggest bout in combat sports history, and at $100 was priced accordingly. So you have some friends over and they bring pizza and beer and it’s incredible.
However, thousands of customers who ordered the fight through UFC.tv had the signal cut out before and during the main event, which was the sole reason anyone paid 100 bucks. UFC Fight Pass promised that it would be resolved quickly.
“Due to overwhelming traffic you may be experiencing log in issues,” tweeted the service. “This will be resolved shortly.”
It didn’t resolve shortly, so eventually, they suggested using the Showtime app, which worked perfectly. The only catch was it cost another $100, and there was no mention of a refund. There still isn’t.
The UFC aggressively pursues individuals and businesses who pirate their pay per view events, which means when you do pay, they have the highest responsibility to deliver. And all the more so when it’s the biggest event ever, for the most money they ever charged.
And they failed. And they failed to say anything so far. It’s disgraceful.
There is anecdotal evidence on the social network that some customers have been successful in contesting the charges on their credit card. But what if you are loyal UFC customer who purchased the event from UFC.tv?
A.J. Perez for USA TODAY was unable to get a comment from either the UFC or its streaming partner NeuLion, despite trying since shortly after the bout ended.
Hart Robinovitch, a Phoenix litigator who specializes in class-action lawsuits, says that depending on how UFC and NeuLion respond, fans could turn to the courts.
I’ve already spoken to one person who is frustrated about the situation, said Robinovitch. The people who paid $100 and then bought food and beer had their night ruined. The main thing you have to consider is what are they going to do for these people?
Bringing a class action on behalf of people affected negatively is the best shot at recovering the purchase price [if no refund is offered]. It would be difficult to get ancillary damages [for the costs of a fight party] since everyone’s experience is different. But what they all have in common is that they paid $100, satisfying their end of the deal, and weren’t able to watch the fight.
Robinovitch filed a federal class-action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers upset that Manny Pacquiao went into the bout vs. Mayweather with injuries, but last week it was dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge in California. That suit was nutty – everyone fights hurt. This suit would be sane.
Science fiction great Ray Bradbury wrote a short story called “All Summer in a Day” about a classroom on Venus where bullies lock a girl in a closet and she misses the one time the sun comes out every seven years. What if it was the biggest fight in combat sports history that was missed? The UFC and Neulion are the bad guys here, and not saying anything only makes it worse.
Lion image courtesy of II-edison-II at Deviant Art.
