Could my FREE Alton Towers tickets be fake, invalid??

HelterskelteringPenguin

Hi,
I am sorry if i am posting this question in wrong forum topic but cannot see anything suitable

Basically on Thursday 26th August, my wife and kids were in town, when they got off the bus in Manchester Piccadilly gardens, they were approached by man and woman, asking if they had spare time to answer questions about Blackpool in return for free Alton Towers tickets, they said would take 30 minutes and took them into ''The Thistle Hotel'' into room on first floor, laid out with refreshments, and asked if it was ok to voice record the question and answers.

they were asking questions mainly about the TOWER and saying about making it better and stuff. anyway once finished they asked how many tickets would she need for the family and we got 5 free tickets for Alton Towers.

now if these are all legit i am very happy as with loads of kids i've not been to A-T for a few years as it has become too expensive,
BUT....
i wouldnt want to drive all the way there with excited kids only for the tickets to be rejected for what ever reason and dissapointed kids ( and wouldnt have any money to ''just pay seen as i'm already there'')

so how could i tell or find out if this is genuine or some sort of prank or joke etc

Ticket details:-

size = bit smaller than credit cards
Front = advertising the new THI3RTEEN ride
Back = Barcodes = one at the top under message 'insert this way up'
and thinner one down right hand side
Writing = ALTON TOWERS ADMISSION TICKET

S OPEN COMP 2010
issued to JANE ALEXANDER

Valid for one use before
31/10/2010 (exceptions apply)
ticket not valid 27/06/2010

cash
14:53 06/08/10
044 120063
003 688329

''then conditions of entry stating about behaviour and non transferable tickets'' and retain as proof of purchase


Thanks for any information, i would like to take kids during the last week of holidays if these seem good. they've not done much due to our lovely summer rain

Rick

Jaxb_2

HelterskelteringPenguin wrote: »

Hi,

Writing = ALTON TOWERS ADMISSION TICKET

S OPEN COMP 2010
issued to JANE ALEXANDER

Valid for one use before
31/10/2010 (exceptions apply)
ticket not valid 27/06/2010

cash
14:53 06/08/10
044 120063
003 688329

''then conditions of entry stating about behaviour and non transferable tickets'' and retain as proof of purchase

well unless you or wife are called Jane Alexander then they could be refused as they are non transferable. 5 Alton towers tickets (around £130) for a short survey? sounds too good to be true to me

I hope I am wrong though:(

Esqui

Why not call Alton Towers? They'll surely be aware if anyone was giving out free tickets - they may also be aware if any tickets have 'gone missing'

shortchanged_2

They didn't have to give out any personal details or card details during this interview did they?

Chester85

Merlin Entertainment co-operate the Blackpool Tower with Blackpool Council and also operate Alton Towers so it could be fairly legit

A quick google of Jane Alexander and Alton Towers brings up the Alton Towers Staff Magazine, so perhaps she's running the survey for Merlin

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:9sr_AYGnukgJ:triplea.me.uk/upload/clubpage/1708.pdf+jane+alexander+alton+towers&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgJrsE_tH56Oa_cn8hvsEqujlcqtquBXLfGNkCYE6AA4386jhIRsgVCal6cSY24S6wErrL4vdS6hK7mJMjUpIqqWCy_bRPi48Xm88OEddo27aiBUfhG4DFkuna2NVLjx8v_g5i8&sig=AHIEtbTW3hk9yP_jkDjq1W4YnoaF8bQ_Bg

deanos

This is a real ticket

pulliptears

Deanos, that is a real ticket, however, in some instances you will go to the customer service desk to exchange a voucher etc for a ticket so you cant really say that "this is the only genuine entrance ticket" unfortunately.

deanos

As far as im aware all the tickets will look similar, the top half will be the same as you need a barcode to get in, the automated gates wont let you in otherwise.

Savvy_Spender_South

5 for free just like that? that has to be the best survey of the year.
You can get free tickets for collecting a few tokens etc so it is not impossible but a call to Merlin group to check will confirm. i would be tempted to go for it but have a couple of BOGOF tokens in your wallet so if it falls through, you can all get in for half price and not waste the day or waste too much money.

Life is full of compromise.

HelterskelteringPenguin

Thanks all who replied, No my wife didnt give out personal information.
YES my ticket does look like deanoes picture but worded differently in the middle.
AND THANKS to CHESTER85 with their google search, and i agree that it could possibly be genuine if one company owns both of the places, for which i have sent an email (copy and pasted my original post above) to MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTs and hope they get back to me soon

GemJar_2

Sounds real to me, to hire out a room in a hotel, do a full survey and then offer real tickets makes more sense than hiring out a room doing a survey and giving out fake tickets for a prank- its an expensive prank! I did a couple of these surveys for marketing companies in manchester, they aways gave out some kind of voucher or money at the end. Was given £30 once!