Money Moral Dilemma: Should I complain about a prize that's worth less than was advertised?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I was lucky enough to win a gas barbecue worth £400, along with some food to go with it, in an online competition. Yet I was sent a lesser model, worth £300, and only about half the food. Should I contact the website to complain, or should I be grateful for what I've got?

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Clive_Woody

Normally the T&Cs says if prize unavailable then a substitute of equal value will be chosen. You could ask why they did not supply the prize as advertised, but not sure how far you are going to get with a complaint.

pate-ci0

In the past I have occasionally won a competition and received a prize which was notably less in value than the one in the comp post. For example, I won a 43" television but received a 40" one and although I did wonder if it was worth complaining, I emailed a polite request to ask for confirmation that I had received the correct prize. In response the company apologised for sending the wrong tv and gave me the option of sending back the 40" and receiving the 43", or keeping the 40" and getting a Canon Powershot camera to make up the difference (I took the camera). Another time I only received 2/3 of the amount of wine I should have been sent and again after a polite email query the remainder of the prize was promptly sent, with apologies. However, I never got a small prize of beer and glasses and despite numerous emails there was no response. I would think that if you have not got all of a large value prize that you should have received it is worth politely querying this, particularly if you have to hand the competition details and terms and conditions which describe the proper prize.

Fiona_T

I don’t think you need to complain, just send them an email to say ‘have I got the correct prize’, ‘am I missing some of prize’.

PinkPig

Morally I think it’s fine to complain when what you’ve been sent is worse than what was promised.  Even though it was free to you, that doesn’t make it a gift.

damsonsamba

I would certainly query the prize. 

DullGreyGuy

MSE_Kelvin said:

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I was lucky enough to win a gas barbecue worth £400, along with some food to go with it, in an online competition. Yet I was sent a lesser model, worth £300, and only about half the food. Should I contact the website to complain, or should I be grateful for what I've got?

I dont think its unreasonable to ask the question... I wouldn't focus on the value of the respective items but if you were offered 24 chickens and got 12 it's not an unreasonable question on why not the full 24. Similarly the different model numbers of BBQ

What I'd do after they answer really depends on a number of factors like if the competition was free or paid for, if the later how much, who is running it etc. I mean if our local tombola for the local orphan charity said the top prize was a fine bottle of whisky and they gave me a bottle of Jamesons then I'd probably accept it. If however I paid £100 with one of those car raffles and was supposed to get a brand new Aston Martin but they give me a Ford Puma instead then I'd be challenging it. 

Agent57

Agree.  A polite email enquiry would be a good starting point.

Too many people don't do what they say they will do nowadays for whatever reason.

Marcon

Why is this a 'dilemma'? You won a specified prize and received something of demonstrably lower value. Why wouldn't you query it?

Julia1960

My personal feeling is that, even if you didn’t pay to enter this competition (which I’m guessing you didn’t as you don’t mention this), the company should have honoured their side of the bargain. However, they clearly didn’t. If I were you I would definitely point out to them, politely but firmly, that this was not the prize they advertised and that you are not happy. I think they are being both unfair and also very cheeky. They shouldn’t be deceiving people in this way. After all, where do you draw the line? For example, if someone enters a competition to win a swimming pool they wouldn’t expect to receive a child’s paddling pool as a substitute!

amandaleeds

I would check the Ts and Cs to see if it states the exact prize or if an alternative of equivalent value (which this isn't would be provided).