Townsville dad’s four-year fight for refund after Tony Robbins show cancelled due to Covid-19

A furious single dad says he’s still owed more than $10,000 in refunds from four years ago due to Covid-19.

A furious Townsville single dad says he’s still owed more than $10,000 in refunds after US self-help guru Tony Robbins cancelled his Australian shows four years ago due to Covid-19.

After tragically losing his wife, dad Mark Vaughan said he was looking forward to a life-changing experience when he booked tickets to two of Tony Robbins’ 2020 events.

The business development specialist said he forked out almost $11,000 for a meet-and-greet experience attending Robbins’ Date With Destiny event on the Gold Coast and the National Achievers Congress in Melbourne, only for the events to be canned due to Covid-19.

“I wanted to meet him because I’ve gone through some dark times in my past, and he’s helped make me a better person,” Mr Vaughan said.

Mark Vaughan has been left about $11,000 out of pocket after paying to see motivational guru Tony Robbins at two events in 2020 that got cancelled. Picture: Evan Morgan

Four years later, the disappointed Townsville dad said he was still waiting for a refund from Success Resources, the company behind the events.

“I feel totally stitched up,” he said.

“They offered me a transfer to his events in the US, but how will I afford that?

“I’d just like my money back as promised. I’m a single father, and times are hard.”

The terms and conditions of his ticket initially listed a three-year window for Success Resources to replace the cancelled show before a refund would be due.

That window quietly expired last year, but Success Resources had already changed the terms and conditions retrospectively.

Consumer Champion Adam Glezer, who represents a group of disgruntled ticket holders claiming over $250,000 in owed refunds, says those changes weren’t only unethical but potentially illegal.

Millions in refunds are owed from Robbins’ cancelled 2020 Oz tour.

He’s calling on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to hold the company accountable for its actions.

“It’s situations like these where the ACCC either falls asleep at the wheel or just doesn’t care and lets everyday Australians down,” he said.

“I’ve met some people who have been left so dejected over this; it’s a lot of money that’s been outlaid, and Success Resources have treated them with contempt.”

Adam Glezer, a consumer advocate helping hundreds of people to get money back after cancelled events. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Jennifer Connelly, Robbins’ spokeswoman, said he has repeatedly demanded that Success Resources honour all legitimate refund requests for postponed or cancelled events featuring him.

“Mr Robbins’ expectation is and has always been that Success Resources promptly processes refund requests to ticketholders,” she said.

“To be clear, Success Resources is an independent event operator that retains third-party talent, such as Mr Robbins, for events it promotes.

Tony Robbins spokeswoman, said he has repeatedly demanded that Success Resources honour all legitimate refund requests for postponed or cancelled events featuring him.

“Neither Mr Robbins nor Robbins Research International sold any of the tickets or shared in any of the revenues from ticket sales by Success Resources for events in Australia.”

Success Resources has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Townsville dad’s four-year fight for refund after Tony Robbins show cancelled due to Covid-19