Advice please - still not received iPad from win on 7 August!

createbeauty

This is a little long-winded but I am fed up of waiting for this iPad!

I originally won the iPad 2 on 7 August from Miss Gym.
http://www.missgym.com/win-ipad/
(I can't get this link to work for me now... dodgy...)
But here is the video where I am announced the winner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v_yv_TxoOc&feature=plcp

She was attending the Olympics and said the iPad would be ordered when she got back.
After several correspondences on facebook (I have the whole history) her husband messaged me saying he was ordering the iPad through his business and that the orders go out at the end of the month so I would receive the iPad on 2nd or 3rd of October before noon. The 3rd of October came and went and I sent another message asking for an update. I received a response on the 4th of October saying this:

Miss Gym 4 October 13:27 Hiya Caroline, this is Chris. Apologies for the delay in coming back to you. hope youre well. ill have this delivered this coming week for you. i'll send you the delivery details once i have them (Mon or Tue) thanks for your patience and have a great weekend Chris

I still have not received any further update after this... Last night I sent a further message asking for any information. This is the third or fourth time I have been told I would receive delivery details but I never receive any messages unless I message them first asking for an update.

Can anyone offer me some advice? I have been extremely nice about this but I am getting so fed up now.... :A

ozbird1

I remember that competition, it was all over my news feed most days ...... what a shame they haven't been as diligent in organising the prize. I would prob give them another week then if nothing happens report the comp.

createbeauty

ozbird1 wrote: »

I remember that competition, it was all over my news feed most days ...... what a shame they haven't been as diligent in organising the prize. I would prob give them another week then if nothing happens report the comp.

Thank you for your reply. How would I go about reporting a comp, please?

Barnabysue

I would message them once more and say that if the iPad does materialise by the end of next week you will have no choice other than to contact the IPM. Normally just the mention of them gets things moving.

The IPM oversee fairness in things like this and they have a lot of clout.

ozbird1

I found this on line - hope it helps

http://www.theprizefinder.com/blog/2012/03/09/comping-questions-when-things-go-wrong

lilias

And Velvet Glove covers it in the Comping Guide


"7 What happens if my prize doesn’t turn up?
This is going to be individual to each comp. Usually it will state in the T & C for each comp how long it should take for the prizes to be dispatched to winners. As a general rule though or in the absence of any particular details in the T & C, allow 28 days, (allow more if we are experiencing postal strikes or extreme weather conditions). If the prize hasn't arrived by then, get in touch with the company offering the prize. Try to contact the person whose details you have & ask politely if there is a problem with delivery. A telephone call is the best way, but failing that try emailing them. If they don't reply, look on the original website for contact details & contact them, again being as polite as you can.

If you still get no response from them, there are a few different things you can try.

The Institute of Promotional Marketing [EMAIL="complaints@theipm.org.uk"]complaints@theipm.org.uk[/EMAIL] lay down the guidelines which comp organisors must follow. MSE Compers have reported that they are very good at investigating dodgy comps & missing prizes with one chap in particular [EMAIL="edwinm@theipm.org.uk"]Edwin Mutton[/EMAIL], being an absolute star. Please note, the IPM was formerly known as the Institute of Sales Promotion (name change in May 2010) however, the contact info does not appear to have changed.

The Advertising Standards Authority have an online complaints form.

I had an issue with a prize not turning up & after chasing politely for 5 months, I mentioned that I had been advised to talk to the Institute of Sales Promotions about the matter. Funnily enough that resulted in a letter of apology within a few days, along with a box of ‘Apology Goodies’ & my prize turned up 2 weeks later. Just remember to keep your cool & remain polite. "

createbeauty

Thank you both very much. I have sent an e-mail to [EMAIL="complaints@theipm.org.uk"]complaints@theipm.org.uk[/EMAIL] detailing everything and am looking forward to their response. As you can imagine, I would really like to get this sorted.

createbeauty

AVOID MISS GYM LIKE THE PLAGUE!

The IPM and ASA are investigating the competition that I won on the 7th of August with Miss Gym.

I have done my own investigating and am fuming! Here is the e-mail I sent to the IPM:

Hello Edwin,

I have not received any further communication from the promoter but I have been looking into Miriam Laing and her husband Chris Laing.
I have so far found some disturbing information.

Searching on google for Miriam Laing I have come across this:
http://company-director-check.co.uk/director/915576494

That site lists a couple of company names:
Company Name Company Status
MLSALES LTD Active
CHRISEO LIMITED Active

Whois gives me this:
Registered Owner: MLSales Ltd
Email: [EMAIL="mim@freshls.com"]mim@freshls.com[/EMAIL] (owns 2 other domains)
Registrar: Enom, Inc.

The other 2 domains owned are:
Domain Title Rank
asktheseo.com asktheseo.com | Got a Burning SEO, Web or Online Marketing Question? Then Ask The SEO 19364531
briancox.org briancox.org -- --
solarpanelinsurance.org solarpanelinsurance.org --

Her husband Chris seems to be the director of ChriSEO:
http://www.creditgate.com/company_information/chriseo+limited.aspx
And she is registered as Director too.

Now the disturbing part....

http://company-director-check.co.uk/director/915556177
Company Name Company Status
MUST BE NUTS LIMITED Dissolved

And this has somehow led me to a conversation on these forums: http://www.avforums.com/forums/general-chat/1588090-website-legit-2.html

And it's the conversation on these forums that has me thinking this prize was never coming in the first place as it seems that Chris is the one running this scam website: http://www.paymonthlystore.com/page/order-process/
Paymonthlystore is a registered business as its part of Online Furniture Sales Ltd. And we find this further information:

MUST BE NUTS LIMITED
Next Return Due: 08/12/2011 OVERDUE

CHRISEO LIMITED
Next Return Due: 16/12/2011 OVERDUE

ONLINE FURNITURE SALES LIMITED
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)

BUZZ SEO LIMITED
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
COMPANY DISSOLVED

I don't know what you will make of that information but I am very disheartened about working so hard to win only to have to find out these two people seem to be scammers. Do you think I will ever see my prize of an iPad 2?

Kind regards,
Caroline

Ladychelington

i just find your situation really awful and I hope you get the outcome you deserve! I am in a similar situation with 2 prizes at the moment (one from a blog and one an online magazine) and just feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall.

i wish something could be done with these fraudsters. although if the outcome is just banning them from doing another competition it seems a bit rubbish. They shouldbe fined or something!

anywhoo, good luck and I hope it all works out in the end.

(highly suspect that the missgym website no longer works though)..

robbies_gal

i entered that one and remember you winning let us know what happens

tranmereforever

Hiya Createbeauty,

Have sent you a PM as looks like she is back on Facebook but has deleted msgs from you saying you did not receive the Ipad, did you get it in the end?