Need advice re a competition

beffffff

Hi everyone. Not been here for a while but amongst all the advent madness I might need advice.

I entered a competition on a Facebook page on Sat 5 Dec which involved liking, sharing and purchasing a 2016 entry. I did this because there were 5 prizes and I knew odds would be good (although obviously not a certainty).

There has been no draw but winners for later dates have been picked. I went on to question it but someone else already had.

They are saying due to a Facebook error no one met the criteria. I have just sent them evidence that I did (screenshots of my share, the liked post and my receipt, all dated Saturday, the day of the competition) and said others will be able to do the same. They have just said in a private message that it's not possible for others to prove they have entered because of the Facebook error. This screams lie to me - if I can see the post, my like on it, and my share on my newsfeed, all dated Saturday the 5th, and screen dump the lot along with the receipt of my purchase, also the 5th, then surely anyone else who met the criteria can do the same?

They are apparently sending an e-mail round later to explain the situation. If I'm not happy with it who do I contact? There is a competitions commission type thing but I think also one for purchase promotions, which I think this is.

I would not have bought the entry so far in advance if I’d not thought the odds of this competition were so good that it was worth a punt. I don't mind not winning from a random draw, but I do mind being told no one met the criteria and no one can prove they did either.

Thanks in advance

mjm3346

Did you pay to enter, or was entry free with a normal price purchase?

If the latter then the purchase does not really make much difference unlike actually paying to enter which is a load of extra regulations.

ASA can look at it and advise them on their future conduct

https://www.asa.org.uk/Consumers.aspx

You might be able to push for a refund of your purchase if nothing else.

beffffff

Thanks

Entry was free with normal price purchase. Something I planned to buy in Spring 2016 but bought now just in case the odds fell in my favour. Looking at the entries I had a 5 in 17 chance of winning - don't mind not winning if it's a fair game, mind that they say no one entered correctly and no-one can prove otherwise


PS might push for refund and buy when I would have, but the moneys gone now, if I couldn't afford it at all I wouldn't have bought it, but I would defo not have bought yet all things being normal.