interesting - what do people think..

baudsley

All,

I had an email this afternoon:

Congratulations! You have been chosen as the winner of the Hypocare H&R Facebook competition.

However, when i replied with my address details, this email came back:

Thank you for your reply. I’m sorry to say that I am retracting the award as our terms and conditions appear to have not been adhered to.

http://www.horseandrideruk.com/terms_conds.htm

I’m sure you will understand.

so i emailed back and asked what i had doen to break the T+C's, and got this response:

We cannot accept entries from either automated competition entries or companies/individuals who make it their business to enter competitions. The reasons being is that it puts off our readers who want to win equestrian prizes and isn’t fair on people who own horse’s and want the prize and to the companies who donate the prizes expecting horse owners to receive them.

I can see from your twitter handle and Facebook page that this might be the case.


Whilst im not too upset about not getting the prize, i am slightly alarmed that companies use my fb page to check on whether i enter competitions or not - and whether that should affect the chances of winning. who is to say that other people who have won are not doing the same?

i do work at a veterinary college and was going to donate the prize to work !

what does everyone think?

rugmaker

I'm no expert but that looks very poor to me and there is nothing in the T&C to say that individuals who enter other competitions cannot enter. If they want to ensure that it is a reader, they should insist on using a postal entry form in the magazine. This looks like an arbitrary judgment that I would have thought they would struggle to defend if challenged.

esmerellda

I can't see where it says that in the terms ?

'' Entries from professional competition companies will not be accepted. Automated entries will not be accepted.''

seems to be all it says.

You are not a ''professional competition companies'' you are just an individual who enjoys entering competitions. Different thing.

(sorry rugmaker cross posted )

I would make a formal complaint. Especially as you were intending to use the prize to donate to your work. It's not like you were just sticking it up on ebay - although even if you were that would be none of their business (unless it specifically stated in their terms no resale etc)

VictorCharlie

From their T&C's

Only one entry per individual. Entries from professional competition companies will not be accepted. Automated entries will not be accepted.

Only mentions competition companies not individuals who seek out competitions to enter.

I think it's unfair and you could probably argue the point.

tipsychick86

busi·ness

Noun

• A person's regular occupation, profession, or trade.
• An activity that someone is engaged in.

Synonyms
trade - affair - job - work - occupation - concern

The way I see it is that everybody that entered this competition did so because they wanted to win, and as it can't be entered 'accidentally' then it must have been every entrants business to enter (def 2).

In terms of definition 1, winning or entering a competition where the winnings are below £25,000 is not normally taxable, and therefore cannot be a business.

The way I see it, is that you are quite within your rights to argue that you have adhered with the T&C's, and therefore expect to receive your prize.

That's if you think it's worth the hassle :think:

Elsbells21

Definitely complain! I think that it's very poor - they have no idea if you are a comper who also loves horse-riding. Shoddy company - they can request to not have competitions posted here if they are that fussed.

Also - surely if they are going to check, they would do it before they offered you the prize?!!q

Runnerduck

i think thats really unfair, i won an advent comp for a jumper with them 18 months ago and they did not question weather i was a comper then, and to be fair anyone who enters could be classed as a comper.

CatsWithThumbs_2

The only possibly pertinent item in the t&c is that it is open to magazine readers.
Still a very dodgy way of deciding who or who doesn't win.
Just like the Sun "family" holiday ruling, this could be reported to the ASA.

Maybe a company to put in the spam folder methinks.

shimmer101

I am sorry to hear that you are having this problem As others have said I would definitely argue the point..you have as much right to win as anyone else.

Also is this a competition you entered through Facebook AND Twitter? Just wondering how they knew what your tag was?

baudsley

thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

i was shocked by this decision and thought it was just me - so im glad you all feel the same.

name and shame time - the comp was here:

http://www.facebook.com/HorseandRiderMag?fref=ts

there were a few winners on their fb page today - i wonder if they all recieved such a vigorous check!

Benj

esmerellda

Well this one seems to enter every comp going https://www.facebook.com/ben.audsley.39?fref=pb&hc_location=profile_browser Is that not you ?

''
Horse&Rider Magazine

about an hour ago

Winner Friday continues with two more winners!
Ben Audsley and Victoria Steele have each won a 500ml bottle of Hypocare from Horseware. ''


Maybe they changed their minds?