Comping while in employment

tghe-retford

I am aware of people who do comp in their free time whilst holding down a job, re. people who use their office phone numbers to enter ITV competitions, but I am wondering how people get around obstacles they face comping as a result of working during office hours?

I comp when I get home from work after working part time in a hospital on weekdays. Whenever I have had a winning phone call, its been during office hours but thankfully so far they have called during my free time. Its come to the fore as rumblings I have heard suggest that mobile phones will be prevented from our workplace (which means we'll have to leave them off-site, in my case, at home in the same regard that schoolchildren are told not to take phones on-site) to prevent fraud and data protection breaches. That means no phone calls between 8:30am and 6pm. You can still gather emails from home, but I do know some companies call and don't leave a message and they'll be long gone from work when you call them back unless you're lucky and are on annual leave at the time. Many companies have less strict but no personal calls during worktime policies.

Can be awkward with unannounced parcels being single and no-one else around unless you're lucky to have a honest neighbour take it in. Thankfully I have known when all my wins are due to be delivered and have been able to take receipt of them either via a neighbour or myself.

How do compers get around the problems of working during office hours? Comping is a positive aspect of my life and I would not want to give it up because of impracticalities or draconian rules.

Thanks in advance.

elsien

I may be wrong but I work on the basis that if my phone is off or I can't answer they can leave a voice mail.That's how Heart got hold of me. Alternatively if it's something like an ITV competition they also have my email address and postal address - that's 3 ways of getting in touch.
I tend not to enter competitions where you have to be available at certain times but they're few and far between anyway. And if you're not in for parcels the postie or courier leaves a card to rearrange.
I really don't see working office hours as being a problem.

jaibaby

tghe-retford wrote: »

How do compers get around the problems of working during office hours?

Problems? No, you just get on with it.

The difference is how you handle it - some do well, some not so well.

Life always comes first and, unfortunately, that means work too - but don't ever stress yourself over comping, otherwise it will feel you are working two jobs

As for using work numbers to enter ITV comps again and again - wrong, wrong, wrong!

Marg2k8

I work office hours and don't see this as a problem. When asked for a phone number, I leave an old mobile phone number. That phone is left at home when I am at work and if anyone should try to call me to tell me I have won a prize then they can always leave a voicemail. I would never give out my work phone number.

If the postman or courier tries to deliver and I am out, a card gets left and I collect from the sorting office or courier depot.

CheCazzo

I can't help wondering if you're overthinking all this OP. As others have said you just get on with it according to your circumstances. Is there such a thing as a comp where they say they'll make ONE attempt to get hold of you otherwise you've had it? I'm pretty sure not - and I'm also fairly sure they'd be expecting people to be unavailable during office hours really - unless it's a comp for newborn nappies and even then there's no guarantee! Don't let it rule your life otherwise the stress will make it less than the fun it's meant to be.

wingobins

I work part time in school so I just have to hope that I don't get a WTC while at work as I don't have my phone, only occasional lunch times. I would hope that most companies would call back anyway at some point or leave a message on an answer phone. It would be nice if companies could text too to say "we tried to call you about a win, please reply"

sax11

my phone is on during work hours anyway - thats allowed

as for prizes i now get them delivered to work as i don't trust my neighbours

milagro

Hi - People from all walks of life comp! I think it is misconception that people in full time employment are in the minority and that mainly unemployed/retired people or housewives comp - It is a hobby like any other.








I have 2 jobs - one where I work from home and the other is 35 hours a week on various shifts between 6am and 11pm (no phones allowed apart from on a random 20 minute break). I have never really worried about someone calling when I can't answer the phone immediately. I don't think it's an issue and as for ITV there was a post a while back where someone gave a number which was no longer connected (from recollection - apologies if that is not the exact scenario) and they went to great lengths to contact them by email and they managed to claim the prize some period of time afterwards after finding the email in their junk folder. Your neighbours will not know that you are not expecting a delivery so I should think would be extremely unlikely to keep it for themselves and companies that leave a parcel with a neighbour should put a note through your door to say that they have done so and with whom they have left it. Keep enjoying your hobby! I don't think you are going to lose out because you have job.

merdoom

I'm currently on maternity leave and I find it harder to comp as I'm way more distracted, my phone is always off or on silent and i'm so tired I forget to do simple things!

When I was working I found I got more done (and was more successful) by being more organised with my more limited comping hours, a solid hour plugging away rather than bits here and there.

Regarding not taking calls/emails at work, almost every job I have ever had has imposed a 'no mobiles' rule, and I've comped since around 2004, In that time i'm pretty sure I haven't missed any prizes but then, what you don't know can't bother you!!

mjm3346

I wouldn't worry about it only 3 of my wins have been telephone notifications and there are loads where a number does not have to be provided in the first place*.
If it's a time critical competition ITV move on after 3 tries over 3 hours, some radio stations move on quickly as do some where there is a short time before comp ending and an event (concert/film premier etc) taking place but it will often be stated in the T&Cs that's what they will do.

*which I prefer anyway, has to be a safe site and good prize before they even get my comping number

Autumnella

This wouldn't even occur to me. I would just assume they'd leave a message or call back later.