Chaos at the North Festival: From 1-hour queues to danger and cards without refund

O North Festival took place from June 5 to 7, but the experience was not the best for many of the festival-goers who went to the precinct, in Maia, Porto district. So far, about 100 people have left their negative assessment at the Complaint Portal.

According to what the latest Complaint Portal data indicate, updated this Thursday, the last day of the festival, when the Cure performed, is the one receiving the most criticism.

In a statement sent to News to Minutes, it is detailed that this wave of complaints is related to “dissatisfaction” related to the organization of the event.

The highlight of negative opinions goes to “overcrowding of the enclosure, long queues to purchase food and drinks and difficulties in accessing sanitary facilities”, with reports to show that to purchase drinks were you need more than 40 minutes. As far as food is concerned, the waiting time will have been even longer: more than an hour.

Prepaid card (no refund)

It is also mentioned that experience gained criticism due to the payment system implemented, “allegedly based on the mandatory use of a prepaid card”.

“ According to published testimonies, many participants only had knowledge the requirement of this card – subject to an activation fee – already on site, after long waiting periods. A unable to repay the remaining balance is another of the most contested aspects, being described as an untransparent practice”, reads in the statement.

Still in relation to the consumption of food and drink, there will even be several festival-goers who, tired of waiting, “they chose not to consume, eventually losing part of the charged balance.”.

Lack of conditions in the enclosure (with danger?)

In addition to the queues and prepaid cards without the right to recover the balance, several reports about a possible security breach have also been made to the Complaint Portal.

“The location of the bathrooms and their accessibility were identified as inadequate, having contributed to situations of widespread discomfort. Some reports also mention episodes of agglomeration considered potentially dangerous and safety failures”explains the portal.

One of the people who left a complaint, identified as Celia Fernandes, he says that before The Cure concert started, he felt bad even though he wasn't far ahead of the stage. “ The room got so crowded, it was necessary to call the fire department to get me out of the crowd. I felt really bad, with stress breaks, shortness of breath and almost fainting”, he said, in addition to mentioning that the sound of the concert “had a very bad quality”.

The same user also pointed out that “many people were out of cards to drink around 8:00 p.m. because they exhausted” and denounced that “several exits were blocked.”.