Entries via Postcards/Envelopes

cinders59

The ITV for the cash and the Grand Prix comp that was cancelled due to the virus.
I queried the refund especially regarding Postcard entries and got this reply:

I would like to thank you for contacting ITV interactive

 Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic ITV have had to cancel the Horse Racing competition to win £35,000 and a trip to Arc de Triomphe.

 As a result, we will be refunding users that entered the competition, those that entered via SMS, Fonix, Online and Phone.

 The refund isn't applicable to entries made by post as ITV doesn't take payment for these and no direct transaction has taken place.

 In this instance we'd be unable to agree to your request for reimbursement on the postage or to transfer your original entry to another competition.

 I'm sorry we're unable to provide you with a more favourable response on this occasion.

So even though they are supposed to process all entries with phone numbers to contact people, they obviously dont via posta entries.

chazthesinger

So all postal votes in this instance are lost without recompense? 

carriejj

I entered by post too but I think this answer is fair enough. It was effectively a FREE entry from ITV. The contract was between myself, the entrant, and Royal Mail, who I paid to deliver the entry. If the entry is delivered which it will have been then Royal Mail have effectively fulfilled their obligation and as ITV didn't charge me anything to enter (I chose this method, I could have entered by phone and paid £2 but chose not to) then I don't expect anything back from them. That's life, and indeed, that's comping. You win some, you lose some. 

mjm3346

"So even though they are supposed to process all entries with phone numbers to contact people, they obviously dont via posta entries."

They don't need to contact people who made a free entry simply because there is nothing to refund - the free entry requirement is met if the method of entry such as post/telephone etc is charged at the "normal rate"  such as ordinary first-class or second-class post and no additional fee is incurred for entering the competition

They don't even need to process the postal entries for this and they can be discarded if they haven't been already.

smitchy73

I put comments in the other post on the 'Game Over'.  I wasn't complaining about getting a refund, what I did mind is that the T's and C's had a specific rule that if the race couldn't run, the promoter wouldn't be held responsible and no alternative offered, if this is the case why didn't they just give the cash away?  I don't know how they convert a postal entry to the database for running the draw, but if the postal entries are on there, there must be something that differentiates between paid and 'free' entries.

I've asked why the cash prize wasn't just awarded, and that I didn't think anyone would've been too bothered about the Race part, or indeed if the free entries could've been 'transferred' to another draw.  Just two simple thoughts I had to make it a bit fairer to those that have missed out through no fault of their own, and I reckon ITV did it as it was probably easier to cancel than explain that the race part of the prize couldn't be awarded and face further complaint from the winner(if they would have complained!)

cinders59

I had a further reply

The postal entry method is a free entry method. 

 My colleague was clarifying that ITV doesn't take payment for these entries, there is no entry fee to enter via post and therefore no refund can be processed, as ITV has taken no money for these entries. 

 If you have brought a stamp, that money does not go to ITV.

 Postal entries are a valid form of entry and are entered into the competition the same way as SMS, online or phone call entries. 

 Each entry is assigned a unique ID and all of the ID's are uploaded to the winner selector tool that randomly generates a winner. 

 The postal envelopes are not opened unless the ID assigned to the envelope is chosen as the winner. 

 Only then would we open the envelope to retrieve the winner's contact details and then contact the winner. 

 

I hope this has provided some clarity. 

I too was not complaining about the refund for stamps, just wanted to make sure that all entries are entered into competitions. just wanted to know how these were counted 

mjm3346

Posted on the forum several times over the years

"The Winner Selector works by taking in all entries to a competition from each entry route, and assigning a unique random number to every entry. This is done independently of the original entry method, and assures that each entry has the same chance of being selected, irrespective of the method of entry."

including how the firm who handle "Derby" entries used (still may) works

"We regularly capture data in any volumes from a variety of media including:... competition entries...
data capture is split across two locations, each providing connectivity and contingency for the other in the event of a major system failure....
We have the capability to process data via the traditional method of keyboard input; by scanning; through the use of automated data capture and data recognition systems"