ComplaintsforAPA Tournaments

• Initial Complaint

  03/07/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Formal Complaint Regarding Handling of Rained-Out Pickleball Tournament I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with the handling of the recent pickleball tournament organized by the ******************************* As a participant in the tournament that took place on Saturday March 2, 2024, I am compelled to address the concerning issues that arose due to adverse weather conditions and the subsequent lack of appropriate response from the association.The tournament, which was scheduled to commence at 4:40pm pst, faced a delay of over 2 hours due to inclement weather conditions. Despite the delayed start, participants like myself persevered and engaged in several games. However, as the tournament progressed, the weather worsened, ultimately resulting in the forfeiture of the entire event.What is most disheartening is the responseor lack thereofwhen I, along with other participants, reached out to request a refund or credit for the disrupted tournament. We were denied of our requests on the grounds that matches had begun is deeply concerning. This decision not only left all participants without a resolution but also without the opportunity to have a fair conclusion to the tournament.The absence of a clear refund or credit policy in such circumstances reflects poorly on the association's commitment to fairness and customer satisfaction. As a player who invested time, effort, and money into this tournament, I find it unacceptable that all participants were left without any compensation or recourse.A transparent and equitable resolution, such as providing refunds or credits for future events, would go a long way in restoring faith in the ****************************** and its commitment to upholding fair business practices.

  Business response

  03/20/2024

  Our posted policies are very clear.

  1) there are no refunds once registration is submitted.  This is posted on every single event details page for every single event and clearly visible for all to see prior to creating an account or starting the registration process.

  2) every player is required to physically take action, and check the box agreeing to the posted terms and conditions, in order to complete registration to attend an event with APA.  Those who do not wish to follow the clearly posted T's & C's simply aren't able to complete registration as it's a required piece of the process on our website.

  3) you can see ******* invoice where we can confirm he physically checked that box and agreed to follow those posted terms and conditions in order to attend the event.

  4) within those T's & C's you'll find the very clear statement showing "Once matches begin, no credit values will be available" and ***** has done us the favor of providing the communcations where he has shown 4 of his scheduled 6 matches were completed fully before his 5th match was rained out.

  In closing, no refund or credit is due for this individual.  He's upset it rained during his final games and had no chance of advancing to the bracket.  

  Customer response

  03/20/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined the response would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. 
  
  While I understand that weather is beyond anyone's control, as a participant in the tournament, I am addressing the aftermath of the tournament's cancellation.
  
  While I acknowledge the policies they have in place and the proactive solutions attempted before the event, there seems to be a lack of a clear resolution when a tournament is forfeited. As a participant investing time and money into the event, the absence of a refund or credit after the cancellation is disheartening. Leaves many of us feeling like our investment did not yield any return.
  
  The lack of a tangible resolution post-cancellation has left me feeling overlooked and dissatisfied.

  It was suggested that I should have opted into purchasing event insurance, however with little to no chance of rain during my match time, why would I opt into purchasing? Also, theres nothing in your policy stating no exceptions this was clearly a case of an exception to the rules/policies. Thats a moral & judgement call that shouldve been considered by upper management to satisfy participants and maintaining healthy relationships for future tournaments. Its not about the money. Its about the trust of participants in unforeseen circumstances. 

  
  Regards,
  
  *********************

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  12/19/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Around Nov 16, 2022 I inquired to APA Tournaments if they had anyone looking to play that didnt have a partner for a pickleball tournament on November 19, 2022. They provided me a name and I paid them for a service I thought I was getting. Their provided partner never showed for the tournament. I was never given a substitute player and lost hundreds on travel related expenses. All I wanted was a $70 refund which was the entry fee. They refuse to refund the money. How do I know the name they provided was even a real person? I have emails between myself and *********************** as evidence. The merchant and ********** has not provided me with an acceptable resolution. I want a refund of my $70 and will not be back to an APA Tournament after this experience. I believe he has offered a $45 credit and wants to take a $25 fee for me filing a bank dispute.I have emails as supporting evidence but they are too large to include here.

  Business response

  01/03/2023

  *******,

  I'm replying to the complaint letter received from Mr. ************************** ************** knows our posted policies as he was required to agree to them, by checking a box during the registration process, in order to attend the event.  The policies state that we "do not have a refund option available" once registration is completed unless we cancel an entire event/division due to lack of participation.  Anything else will be resolved through a credit process, with no expiration date, for that player to use as they wish.  This is not a hidden policy and we require all players to agree to those terms in order to attend.  Those who do not want to agree to those terms simply do not participate in our events.  ************** certainly had every opportunity to not register for the event.  
  

  ************** was assigned a partner, another individual that registered with no partner of their own, who decided not to show up to the doubles portion of the event.  His name appears on the schedule during another event (singles) so, yes, he is a real person in attendance at the tournament.  ************** WAS, in fact, offered a partner as we were prepared to move our assistant tournament director, of the same skill level fortunately, into that partner position and keep play moving while we managed the event shorthanded during that period of time.  ************** refused to accept him as his partner, indicated he'd wait for his assigned partner to show up, so we began play at that time.  
  

  Once play begin our assistant director was no longer able, or willing, to partner with ************** to compete.  ****************** actions and decision to reject the available partner option from the start resulted in his forfeiture of the scheduled matches requiring us to alter the format of the event and proceed with a schedule we executed without his attendance.  His refusal to play should, in fact, remove any and all credit value available but we did allow him to receive a full credit at that time despite the mess he created.  Our posted policy is also very clear about filing credit card disputes and the $25 fee that will be assessed to the available credit.  We will continue to make his credit value available, less the $25 dispute fee.  Whether he uses the value or not is completely up to him.
  

  Our policies are posted online and available for players to review prior to paying for an event.  They are clear and we will continue to follow those posted policies.  Over **** players participated in events in 2022 under those same policies.  Thanks.
  

  *****************************
  

  President - Amateur Pickleball Association

  ************************************

  Customer response

  01/03/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined the response would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. 
  
  [Provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution.]

  Hi *******,

  Im unsure how me reaching out to the Director of Operations a few days prior to the tournament to see if anyone needs a partner and APA Tournaments provided me a name makes me liable for their provided partner not showing up. Where is this stated in their terms of agreement? ********************* told me that my distaste should be directed at the player who didnt show. Does that mean I should get my money back from him? Im out a couple hundred dollars in addition to the $70 entry fee and believe APA Tournaments has liability here. Im merely asking for my $70. The Asst ********** Director was offered the opportunity to play with me by the ********** Director. The *** decided not to play, I did not make that decision. The only person creating a mess here is APA Tournaments. A tournament credit of $70 or $45 whichever ********************* is feeling does me no good as I dont see myself doing business with this fly-by-night operation in the future.

  
  Regards,
  
  *******************

  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩