Frustrated customers of a cancelled music festival have hit out after waiting weeks for a refund.

Hundreds of people have applied to get their money back after Dream Valley moved the Gillingham event to Essex.

Katherine Jenkins and house music artists were meant to perform at the Great Lines Heritage Park before the show was moved 27 miles away to Upminster.

Festival-goers were told they could apply for a refund, with the closing date to do so on May 30, but they say they have had radio silence from the organisers since the deadline until KentOnline made contact.

They were told money would be in their accounts within five to 10 days after the deadline.

Tthe company says customers were emailed last Tuesday telling them their refunds were being processed. Many were left waiting for weeks after the closing date, with no idea of when they would be reimbursed for their £50-plus tickets, and not being sent an email.

Dream Valley has since said everyone has been emailed and refunded.

Louise Hunter, of Malvern Road, Gillingham, fumed: “It’s disgusting and super frustrating.

“There’s been a lack of communication from them. No emails about any sort of delay on refunds at all.

“When they moved the event they should have been ready to hand out refunds.”

The 40-year-old executive assistant admitted she’s now not hopeful of getting her money back.

“It’s just unfair,” she said. “£60 is a lot of money to people and to not even get in touch is poor.

“From the start it’s been a shambles with them saying there might be a delay due to rail works.

“It’s been a nightmare and we’re left wondering will we get out money back. You can't just take people’s money and leave them in the dark.”

Friend Lauren Richardson, who was set to go to the event with Louise, has also been left upset at the long wait.

The 41-year-old added: “I’m really annoyed they’ve taken money from people and kept it when it’s not going ahead.

“My daughter and her 20 friends all got tickets and haven’t had a refund either.”

Mum-of-one Lauren, of Barleycorn Drive, Rainham, said the whole thing was a bit of a “mickey mouse” festival.

The paralegal added: “They’re selling tickets for the Essex event, when they still owe people money!”

Craig Chawner, from Rainham, purchased two tickets for around £150 in January.

The 42-year-old was told in mid-April the venue for the show was being changed and he could apply for a refund – which he did.

“I submitted the application for a refund right away,” the plasterer explained.

‘It’s out of order...'

“I did query the process a few weeks later and was reassured my case was logged and would be dealt with after May 30.

“It’s now June and still nothing from Dream Valley, and now they’re sending a generic email to anyone querying the refund timescales.

“Would I buy tickets from them again? No, I certainly wouldn’t.”

Medway Council councillors turned down a licence for the festival in February after police raised safety concerns.

A couple of months later, Dream Valley said the shows wouldn’t be going ahead due to “rail works” at the same time – something which led to Southeastern hitting back at them for “misleading” customers.

Florist Julie Cullip, from Paddock Wood, spent £400 on seven tickets so she and some her close friends and family could celebrate her 50th birthday.

“It’s out of order,” she said. “There’s been loads of young people saving up and they’ll be left without the money – which is a lot.

“We were looking forward to it for a birthday celebration but that was ruined. It’s a real shame.

“They should have refunded people when they announced they were moving the festival.”

Syan James left a scathing review on the Facebook page, saying: “This is a scam and the people responsible need to be closed down.

“They are clearly using people’s money to fund events in advance as they don’t have the finances.

“I’ll be reporting to police as well as trading standards and local council where event is being held – if it does. Don’t waste your money and steer clear.”

Dream Valley is a part of the London-based company Stardust Festivals Ltd and says all customers should receive their refund by Monday at the latest.

A spokesman told KentOnline: “Refunds were processed on Wednesday 14th June, however these can take up to 10 working days to hit people's accounts, so we anticipate that customers will have received the funds by end of this week if not Monday at the latest.

“All customers that have contacted us querying their refunds have been advised accordingly.”

All of those who contacted KentOnline said they had not received this email.