I won a holiday but 3 weeks before departure they have cancelled it

black-saturn · 16 March 2006 at 11:42AM

About 3 months ago I was lucky to have won a holiday from the Docklands Light Railway leaflet comps to Edinburgh. We were due to depart in 3 weeks time and yesterday evening I received a phonecall saying they have made a mistake. Apparantly there was no Edinburgh competition (there was because I distinctly remember entering it) so therefore I had not won a prize. I told them that the hotel and flights are all confirmed and booked (they wouldnt have let me book if I hadnt won) and I've received the tickets. They said they would have to be cancelled and she would send a letter confirming this tomorrow.

Is there anything I can do? Surely this is against the law. It's kind of put me off entering any holiday comps again.

SambaRamba · 16 March 2006 at 12:15PM

That is totally out of order, i'd shame them by sending your story to a newspaper!

NigeWick · 16 March 2006 at 12:16PM

black-saturn wrote:

About 3 months ago I was lucky to have won a holiday from the Docklands Light Railway leaflet comps to Edinburgh. We were due to depart in 3 weeks time and yesterday evening I received a phonecall saying they have made a mistake. Apparantly there was no Edinburgh competition (there was because I distinctly remember entering it) so therefore I had not won a prize. I told them that the hotel and flights are all confirmed and booked (they wouldnt have let me book if I hadnt won) and I've received the tickets. They said they would have to be cancelled and she would send a letter confirming this tomorrow

How did they get your number to phone you and say that you hadn't won a prize. If there was no competition, surely there was no reason to phone you to say you hadn't won it? You will need evidence that the competition did in fact take place. Have you got a copy of the advertising, entry form, or, do you know somebody else who entered who will be a witness?

Try contacting them, ask what has gone wrong and say that you will seek legal advice, and, if you do not get a positive result, see if a local solicitor gives a free first consultation and have a chat about it. Just my initial thoughts.

Nigel.

whitty999 · 16 March 2006 at 12:19PM

Oh hun please let us know how you get on,This is unbelieveable,You must get onto them straight away.

black-saturn · 16 March 2006 at 12:23PM

Thanks everyone.

I have a horrible feeling I threw the leaftlet with the comp away :mad:

I received a letter first telling me I'd won about 3 months ago. I had to phone them to book whichever date we wanted to go. So that was all done and they sent confirmation letters and flight tickets and everything (which I still have). Now they are saying they will cancel the flights and the Hilton Hotel and I should receive a letter in the next couple of days confirming this. I'm so peeeed off as I was really looking forward to it.

I dont know whether to ring the hotel and airport and confirm our booking now.

Izzy. · 16 March 2006 at 12:32PM

Blacksaturn,

I remember your excitement when you won four weeks ago.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=151976

It shouldnt matter that you have thrown the leaflet away, you have correspondence from the company confirming the holiday and even tickets for flights, so at least you have contact details for them.

Contact them again and tell them that you intend to seek legal advice. I'm sure trading standards would be interested in a company who uses a competition to advertise under false pretences. In the meantime why not post up their details here to see if anyone else has heard of them.

comicmankev · 16 March 2006 at 12:51PM

Was it run by the DLR, or just a comp in their leaflet? I'd certainly be on to them first, just to clarify. Someone may have just got your details (as you can with most comp winners) and winding you up! You never know.

If you get someone at a senior customer services level, I'm sure this could be sorted out. This is terrible though, the papers HAVE to hear about it if it is not a hoax!

stebiz · 16 March 2006 at 1:36PM

Well out of order mate. I wouldn't let this rest if I were you. Get onto it. We are all behind you.

Somerled · 16 March 2006 at 1:39PM

Too Right - However if the papers get to hear the story doesnt the old saying come into affect "any publicity is good publicity" surely the agency who dealt with the prize organisation not DLR should be shamed.

black-saturn · 16 March 2006 at 1:44PM

Thanks again for your replies. The initial letter saying I've won is from the DLR but the comp was originally in the TNT magazine. I will ring them again and confirm last nights phonecall. If it's the case I will go and see a solicitor. My boyfriend has booked time off for it and everything :mad:

I was so peed off just now I went to MCDonalds and womphed down a Big Mac and chips (and I've got to be peed of to do that).

jockettuk · 16 March 2006 at 1:47PM

mabey the company gave this out to more than one winner when it shouldnt have and the one that shouts the loudest gets the prize. Would contact the hilton and explain and ask if they have a contact name etc mabey they can help mabey not .. they probably dont want to be associated with idiots .

I won a holiday but 3 weeks before departure they have cancelled it

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