Competition providers not giving out the prize

thetoothfairy

Has anyone had an experience of winning a competition but the prize giver just not releasing the prize? This has happened to me recently - I've been chasing to get it sorted but the company appears to be ignoring my emails. The prize was a voucher plus an item. The finally sent me a voucher code but it doesn't work! They've not responded on the other half of the prize at all. 

I'm on the verge of giving up but it's highly frustrating to win something form a bona fide and well established company who simply don't communicate.

nanto3girls

Get in touch with ASA.

https://www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint.html?fbclid=IwAR0jOLDhiOggX2E9bYnLoKZddKU1Ciobv-C7v6tGn1yjF_5CF8K6QEKdRfY

kinger101

Letter before action.

topaz13

It happens a lot! I have to chase around half of prizes, and some I just give up on. For example last year, I won a book that my Granddaughter would love. After a month, I heard nothing, so I contacted the company. They then passed me on to the publisher, because they were the ones that should have sent it. They said they had sent it and that they'd had a lot of problems with post going missing. OK, fair enough, these things happen. So I made sure that they had my correct details and they said they would resend it. A month later - nothing! Obviously they never had any intention of sending it the first time, let alone the second! I have also had several other small prizes that never appeared. It really does take the shine off of winning. 

thetoothfairy

Thanks - I'll send another email next wee and see what that elicits ...

thetoothfairy

topaz13 said:

It happens a lot! I have to chase around half of prizes, and some I just give up on. For example last year, I won a book that my Granddaughter would love. After a month, I heard nothing, so I contacted the company. They then passed me on to the publisher, because they were the ones that should have sent it. They said they had sent it and that they'd had a lot of problems with post going missing. OK, fair enough, these things happen. So I made sure that they had my correct details and they said they would resend it. A month later - nothing! Obviously they never had any intention of sending it the first time, let alone the second! I have also had several other small prizes that never appeared. It really does take the shine off of winning. 

Ah that's frustrating

this is a fairly substantial prize and from a very well known company with what I would consider has an excellent reputation, so it's really strange. 

MePlus4

I had similar last year from a very well known company on Instagram, I chased and chased via DM and then I ended up ringing their customer service line and I received the prize within the week.  

flowercandle

My other half won a prize and was sent an email in which it asked to text to confirm he wanted the prize as somtimes mail went to spam. He did this and got a reply saying to wait 2 weeks, he waited 3 weeks then text to say not arrived no reply, he tried email but that got an auto-not delivered due to spam he text again no reply so ended up contracting the brand of the prize with all the details about not being able to get in touch with the prize giver and they sorted it. He is a really polite person and was always nice when asking for his prize.

It is really not nice. It does take the shine off the prize and makes me think that the brand company has just used the cheapest marketing company to do the job.

But a job it is, and its their job to send the prize out, and if the prize is not sent out to you where is it?

Always be polite and patient, but always continue to email and ask where it is, keep a copy of all correspondence until you get your prize. If you cant get anywhere with the marketing company I would do what my other half did and contact the actual brand (but be wary that some big brands have a 3rd party that runs their social media and may be the same company who is sending out the prize).

Failing all of that I would then follow the advice above and contact the ASA but only use them as a last resort.

I do hope you get your prize as to win something is a wonderful feeling and it should be a lovely experience not a hassle. xx

PIX691

This is happening to me i won a Ai photographs of my pet in December 2025,they are ignoring my emails.what is the point in entering the comps if this is going to happen.i am not happy as i enter these comps every day.whats the point!!