Comexposium review: Withholding refund for over two years.

On January 27th 2020 our company received a quote from you for a Start up Stand 6sqm. We paid a deposit of €545.00 on 26th of February 2020 and Comexposium confirmed receipt of this on 06th March 2020.

On the 21st of April 2020 an official letter from Chairwoman Ameile Morel was sent to all exhibitors notifying us that we will “receive an outline of the plan that will include details on our commitments and the measures that go with them.”

On the 24th of April 2020 I explained through email that “we are happy to make further payments as long as we know that our payment is protected” as a result of the pandemic.

On the 28th of April 2020 I received an email outlining that “an official communication from Silmo presenting precisely all decisions and actions taken according to the different situations which may occur at the show” would be sent at the beginning of the following week.

On the 23rd of July 202 an official letter from Chairwoman Ameile Morel was sent to our company outlining the plans for the 2020 show. This included a commitment in writing that “to this end, we remind you that you may defer your participation to the 2021 edition or request a reimbursement of the amounts already settled, which we will integrally refund as we promised to do.”

This commitment is also outlined on your booking form in paragraph 28. Comexposium have said that you “shall return to the Exhibitors any amounts paid to it by them” in the circumstances of a “decision by a government authority to close or requisition the Site.”

On 5th May 2020 I received an email from the account manager on behalf of the account manager outlining the different scenarios for the 2020 event. In the attachment it states that exhibitors will “be reimbursed 100% of amounts paid.”

On August 6th 2020 I questioned the reimbursement options by email to the account manager. I received an immediate reply stating that there is an option for a “full refund of the amount paid for Silmo 2020.”

On August 7th 2020 I requested this refund through email from the account manager. I followed up on August 21st 2020 asking when the refund will be processed.

On September 2nd 2020 the account manager contacted me requesting bank details and confirmed that the refund would be organised in a few days. I forwarded bank details on the same day. On September 3rd 2020 the account manager notified me that I will receive the refund in a few days.

I did not receive my refund and a few weeks later received a phonemail from the account manager explaining that Comexposium will not be refunding me this year. She was unable to give a date for the refund and refused to comment if Comexposium would be making an official statement on the matter. I then logged onto your website an found a credit note with no details of what I had paid to your company. I outlined all of this in an email to the account manager on October 12th 2020. I did not receive a reply to my email.

On the 4th of March 2021 I received an email from the account manager regarding the 2021 edition of Silmo Paris. Once again Silmo made a clear commitment in this email that “if Silmo Paris 2021 is cancelled, 100% of the sums paid will be recovered.”

On the 6th of April 2021 I contacted you requesting a refund of my deposit as it was unlikely the show would be going ahead as planned. On the same day I was informed by your company that it Comexposium had entered a safeguard period but the “refund would be done as soon as it is possible.” Once again I forwarded my bank details for the refund.

I contacted you again on the 10th of June asking when Compexposium would be out it the safeguarded period and when I would be refunded.

On the 11th of June 2021 I was notified that the safeguard period started on the 22nd of September 2020 and would finish at the end of 6 months. I must note at this point that my communication with the account manager for a refund took place in August 2020 before the safeguard period. In the same email dated the 11th of June 2021 I was informed that I would be refunded in October 2021.

On the 18th of October 2021 after receiving legal advice I contacted your company requesting my refund of €545.00. I provided a new set of account details.

On the 22nd of October 2021 I followed up once again requesting a refund. On the same day I was informed that Comexposium was “out of its safeguard procedure, but there are still strict rule to respect and we are waiting for clear instructions and procedures. We reassure you that your credit remains intact on your account, and will not be list at the end of the year. The Silmo extends the commitment made in 2020. This credit can therefore also be transferred to the 2022 participation if necessary.” I must point out that in this statement you have not acknowledged your commitment to refund exhibitors if they previously requested this from you.

I then forwarded two further emails on the 22nd expressing my frustration with your company and on the 26th requesting a refund.

Both emails were ignored by your company.

To summarise. While I understand the difficulties that have been experienced by your company over the last two years, a commitment was made on a number of occasions to refund exhibitors if the shows did not go ahead. Comexposium has not fulfilled it’s commitment despite continuing to operate and run shows during the pandemic.

It is unfortunate that we are in a very difficult and awkward situation with your company at the moment. It is important for us that we are able to place trust in the event going forward and encourage our customers, team and other brands to attend Silmo in the future.

At this time we are not in a position to have credit applied to our account and it is imperative that we are refunded immediately.

I hope that you will take the necessary steps to apply our refund immediately.