Call Kurtis: No Refunds For 5K Rescheduled For Holiday
STOCKTON (CBS13) -- Decked out in a neon tutu, 11-year old Adalisa Dimas couldn't wait to show off at the Color Fun Fest 5K in Stockton.
"I was really excited to run," Adalisa said.
Mom, Leatha, had paid $60 to sign up for the event at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds, buying t-shirts and the neon color packets runners throw at the end of the race - covering the crowd in colored powder.
"This was going to be Adalisa's first run," Leatha said.
Then an email showed up, saying based on "unforeseen complications" organizers were moving the date from February 7th to April 5th – Easter Sunday.
"Changing it to a holiday is not acceptable." Leatha told CBS13.
They were given the option to run in the Sacramento even instead on February 28th. But, they are runners like May Saechao want to run in Stockton.
"I don't think it's fair." May said.
Color Fun Fest's Terms and Conditions do say that the "date and time are subject to change" and the company told runners "there will be no refunds."
But, can they do that?
"They have the full legal authority to do what they're doing," said Gary Almond with the Better Business Bureau.
He says most event organizers for concerts, sporting events and runs spell out the terms that they can change a date or venue and don't have to refund you.
"The question is what do they want the public perception of them to be?" Almond said.
We reached out to the color fun fest organizers, and heard back from Fun Director, Jamie Leibert, who refused to explain exactly why they rescheduled. He would only say "it didn't work out for our crew."
The next available date at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds was Easter.
But after we got involved, Leibert said they will reschedule, yet again, to a date that is not a holiday.
Adalisa just wants the chance to run with her mom.
"I was really disappointed." She said. Jamie Leibert told us they would come up with a date for the run. But, he said he wouldn't be informing us of the new date. Instead, those registered will get an email.If you are looking for another way to get your money back, try disputing it with your credit card company - if you paid within 60 days. The Color Fun Fest is based out of Texas, and has a D rating with the BBB, based on complaints about "rescheduled" or "canceled" events.
Even though Fun Director Jamie Leibert told us they would come up with a new date for the race by Tuesday, February 3rd - that did not happen. We called and asked if he planned to reschedule or refund people, but he wouldn't answer.
