Urgent help needed concerning a win

Vell

So, after 2 year of comping, I finally get what I'd consider a big win. I got the following email regarding a win to a metal festival (which is pretty much my thing):

Hey [me],


I just wanted to confirm in writing that you have been one of the lucky 20 runners up for 6 day passes to Hammerfest 6 as one of our runners up - so congratulations, your in!!
Each ticket carries the ticket value of £90 so that’s a prize worth £540

You can see all the event details on [hammerfest website]

The event is running Friday 14th and Saturday 15th March 2014 – You have won 6 tickets for both days

To claim the tickets – you will need to book online at [hammerfest ticket booking site] and using promo code [removed] which will bypass the payment for the tickets – all that will need to be paid for is the booking fee.

The ticket page will ask you for the names and details of those attending with you. If you don’t know these details at the time of claiming the tickets – then enter your details into all fields and I can amend once you know who is coming along with you. I will need you to claim tickets by 30th November as this is when the promotional code is valid to,.(after which it will be made void, so shift it).

We also have our pre party on Thursday 13th March – so if you would like this added to your prize – then we can add this on at the reduced rate of £20 per person


Accommodation is not included with the prize and we have officially sold out of accommodation on site – however I am holding a small allocation of 10 units for prize winners at a reduced rate. So if you don’t live in the local area and want to stay on site in one of these quality units, I have a selection of 2 and 3 bedrooms available for you on a first come first served basis. Staying onsite means everything is within walking distance for you – so no messing about with cabs or sorting a designated driver! All accommodation on site is self catering so you will have a fridge to chill your drinks before going out and fill up on food – it could even save you some money instead of eating out.

If you would like accommodation onsite – here are the reduced rates

2 bedroom for 4 people - £100 each
2 bedroom for 5 people - £95 each
2 bedroom for 6 people - £90 each
3 bedroom for 7 people - £85 each
3 bedroom for 8 people - £80 each

DEPOSITS Only £25.00 per person and balance not due until Jan 19th 2014

And as an extra for you – if you are booking accommodation onsite with us – we will book the accommodation on site for the full 3 nights as well as giving you passes free of charge for Thursday. If you are booking for 7 or 8 people – then again we will make sure everyone in your party gets event passes too.

You can reach me on [removed] if you have any questions.


Congratulations once again, you really are going to have a metal experience like no other on earth!!

Speak soon

[PR girl who was lovely on the phone] x

TL;DR

To claim the prize of 6 tickets, I have to pay booking fee on them, which is £10 PER TICKET and being like most of the country and not living near the middle of nowhere in Wales, I'm bound to requiring accommodation and aside from taking advantage of their offer, there's none available. The MINIMUM cost of which is £540 - the value of the prize.

So, to claim a £540 value prize, I have to pay out a minimum of £600 to be able to use it and I simply can't afford that...

Aside from simply waiving my win, is there anything I can do about this?

Vell

I should probably add that they've arranged to call me again tomorrow to discuss it further - a hard sale tactic if I do say so myself

Alidolly

What did the original comp say? Tickets only or full package including accommodation / travel? If only tickets then what were you going to do accom wise if you don't live anywhere near the venue? Bit confused as to why u would enter if you knew there was travel / accom required?

If its 6 mates, can u not ask them to contribute for a free ticket and run a minibus?

Vell

Accom didn't seem like a problem at the time of entering, but it's all sold out since then.

Guess I'll just have to let this one slip

softpad

sorry hun I 'win' this every year and in my opinion it is a way to fill the event. A bargain if you are going already but be aware of that tactic x

Alidolly

If it was the main prize you entered for then don't see why they should offer accommodation if not part of the runners up prize simply because u don't live there - sorry to sound harsh but they are under no obligation to do so if not in the T&CS so forfeit or try and find a party of 6 and split the costs.

Freydis

I won tickets for hammerfest last year but couldn't go. Most of the competitions running then had no accommodation included, so i am guessing the same for this year too? I was just going to split the cost of accommodation with friends.

I don't think there is anything you can do really?

And i don't think you had to take the accommodation on site? You could look elsewhere?

Vell

The main prize included accommodation, this didn't. Given the notice period required to book anything and my close friends' inability to book time off work that far in advance, there's no way I can sort out a definite group to cover costs.
It just seems like a bit of an underhanded salesman job than an actual prize.

poor_student138

Could you not just stay in a hotel somewhere else nearby? Some places on Late Rooms have rooms for around £60 a night in total.

Catty212

I 'won' the exact same thing last year. Prize/tickets never materialised and I spoke with the ASA who didn't help. The promotors then offered me tickets for their next event - which again never materialised. I gave up in the end.

Seriously, DON'T send them cash.

Vell

Oh well. I'm not missing out on much anyway. Most of the lineup play in Edinburgh regularly enough