Advice On My WIn?

Smurphxx

Hey,
I hope im on the right forum for this...
I won a competition in september with Magic Radio for a 7 night holiday in Thailand! I am over the moon, i am just having a few problems i was hoping to get some advice.

I wa advised to email the hotel to make a reservation before booking the flight so i arranged hotel and it was confirmed. Then I emailed the lady co-ordinating the holiday to request the flights on those days, she said she has forwarded the dates to head office to be confrmed and i am currently on a wait list. This was 4 weeks ago and i have been badgering her with emails wondering why it is taking so long, the only reason i can think of is because they are waiting for paying customers to take up the seats. They would obviously rather i fill up seats on a flight that is not full! Since my dates are in half term it is likely this flight will become full.

The lady explained there is a special class of seats for competition winners and previous winners may have already requested the seats and they are afraid they may double book customers which is why it takes so long.
I don't believe it takes 4 weeks to find out if a seat is available! The terms and conditions of the competition say nothing about selected dates, or not going in half term. I know i am not a paying customer but this isnt fair, and the dates i want are in february which isnt far way therfore i need to book time off work etc.

What are my rights? Do i have a case to argue since i am not paying for the service? I keep getting told by this lady she has fowarded my concerns onto head office and i am still on wait list, and she cant give me any way to contact head office myself.

I appreaciate any advice, Thanks guys!

toniq

Can i just ask, Magic themselves are handling the win or a Handling house? x

Smurphxx

Magic are not dealing with it, they put me in touch with a lady who is i think from the tourism authority. She is co-ordinating the holiday, and put me in touch with a separate lady who is dealing with the flights. She works for EVA Airways and is a passenger sales co-ordinator

toniq

Go back to whoever sent you the winning letter at Magic and explain your concerns, they might be able to resolve this and put a boot up someones backside xxx

Smurphxx

Thanks, i will do. I can understand the flights being already booked but it doesnt take 4 weeks to figure out if a seat is available!!

EIGHTOF8

Out of curiousity - What Comp post did you win this from?
Also, find the flight number and have a look at the availability for that flight on thier website HERE

babs

Hi Smurf,

Sorry to hear you are having problems. I have won 5 holidays and each time everything was organised by one central person, I never had to make hotel reservations myself or organise flights, just give them the date I wanted to go and who I want to take and it was all sorted.

You state you have been badgering her with emails... can you call her? I find that speaking to some one direct often gets a result better than emails. Make specific requests to arrange her to call you back, make sure you get names etc. Stress about you need to book holidays etc.

Smurphxx

I have searched the EVA AIR website and it shows plenty of availabilty, so when i explained this to the woman she said our competition winners have a separate class of seats which doesnt show up on their website. Strange i know... But basically i know they just want me to travel in off peak times when there are empty seats on the plane.
I think i will phone her later this week if i still get no results, i just wanted to know what my rights are given that it is a competition before i start arguing on the phone!

I have been very polite on my e-mails, whilst also being demanding so i havnt been rude or anything.

I didnt win this from a comp post... i just thought this was a good place to get advice from. I never enter competitions this is my first one so i don't know too well how it works. Thanks

toniq

There is an organistaion called the Ipm who can investigate if u don't get a resolution [EMAIL="complaints@theipm.org.uk"]complaints@theipm.org.uk[/EMAIL]

Usually most comps have a disclaimer in the terms and conditions, I'm pretty certain magic ones do.
So your rights will depend on that disclaimer.

You are entitled to your win, they shouldn't be messing you around and making you feel less worthy because of you comp winner status, that's ridiculous.

Definitely get back to magic and explain your dilemma, they i'm certain will be upset to hear of your troubles, and hopefully try to sort this out xxx

Smurphxx

I just rang the lady and she has confirmed my flights

Thanks for all your help guys.