Help!!

Romsnowden

Hi all,

I won £500 of carpets the other day. I was told I’d be contacted this week to arrange the prize. However, I’ve just had a message from the prize provider telling me that they do not cover my area. I said would it be possible for me to take measurements and I will get them fitted myself, to which they replied saying they don’t offer that service.

What can I do in this case? There was nothing on the competition post to say that they only cover certain areas etc, and I feel very let down.

Any help is appreciated!! :mad:

mjm3346

National Chain or a local company?

[Deleted User]

I'd be upset too. I could contacted a guy once I think from an advertising commission re an undelivered prize. He sorted it, I found his details in the competition board Q&A thread

Romsnowden

It is a company called ‘Pay As You Go Carpets’.

[Deleted User]

Found it....

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 complaints@theipm.org.uk lay down the guidelines which comp organisors must follow. MSE Compers have reported that they are very good at investigating dodgy comps & missing prizes. (The IPM was formerly known as the Institute of Sales Promotion, the name changed in May 2010.)

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 IPM 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.

Romsnowden

Thanks for that info! I have emailed the IPM and notified the prize provider that I have done this. Any other advice?
Thank you again!

mjm3346

The IPM is very much business focused now and has been for several years.

The ASA* deal with complaints from the public but although they have more power than the IPM they also have none to force an advertiser to provide a prize and often will require that the "advertisement is not run again in it's current form" if they find a company has breached the regulations

https://www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint.html?


*They are also responsible for the CAP code which includes the guidelines for competitions

The UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP Code) is the rule book for non-broadcast advertisements, sales promotions and direct marketing communications.

https://www.asa.org.uk/type/non_broadcast/code_section/08.html

mjm3346

There is nothing on the PAYGC website to indicate they only cover a limited area and it actually looks like they are trying to appear as if they are "nationwide"
There is also nothing on any of their FB posts about the competition prize only being available in certain regions/postcodes or that they only cover a limited area.

Daphne01

I'd try to negotiate with the company first before going to the ASA

Romsnowden

Hi guys,

Quick update for you all that were so kind as to offer me advice - I told them that I was going to contact the IPM/ASA and I got a phone call from a member of staff there to say there’s been confusion with the sales team on the Facebook page, and that they are obliged to provide me with the prize in question! It’s looking positive!

Thank you all, you’re amazing!