Company offering prize and not awarding it after saying i'm a winner.

shadowwebs

Good Evening,

In December, I found a notice from a company that I was following on Social Media of a competition being ran to win Solar Panels, Battery and Heat Pump. The prize terms stated that the winner would be announced on the website on 25th December, along with including the deadline for entries of 21st December.

I sent my application in ahead of the deadline and hadn't heard anything back, however as they had not mentioned any winners on the website, I made contact with their social media team and was advised that I was one of the selected winners.

Since then, they have gone quiet but I understood that these things can take time, I allowed time and then followed up with them again and they advised the timeframe that the installs would be in the 2nd half of February and that the survey team would be in contact.

I have followed up with them again recently as we're now on 9th Feb and not heard anything further, my messages have been read and not heard back.

There are also claims on the business website of certain accreditations which I followed up with the accreditation service and they are not aware of giving accreditation to this business.

My question is simply, what are my rights ? As they have my address / name / contact number, I feel like there is no reason why they wouldn't have made contact by now, and starting to worry whether it's never been genuine.

One search on an AI service advised me of my consumer rights along the lines of that I can take them to court as I have the details in writing which means they need to keep to the terms of providing the prize or the value of the prize as specified on the website (£15,000).

Has anyone been in this position before or can offer advice ?

Thanks,
James

flaneurs_lobster

Well it just shouts "made up scam stuff" but perhaps you can tell us the name/website of the company running the competition/draw?

Woodstok2000

If They're faking their accreditation, would you really want them to install a complex electrical system on your house?

eskbanker

I'm sure there was a previous thread where it became obvious that the company had no intention of actually installing anything and simply found excuse after excuse not to, e.g. property/access unsuitable, etc.

Boohoo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81877540#Comment_81877540

Yes this all seems familiar to me and that OP was going to take legal action but I don't know what happened.

eskbanker

This is the one I was thinking of:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6623585/british-gas-centrica-hive-won-039-t-honour-substantial-prize-win-what-can-i-do

Nearlyold

Have you paid them any money or given them any card or account details? If not just congratulate yourself and forget about them.

Ergates

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81877548#Comment_81877548

That was a competition run at a public event from a well known company though.

This is a competition on social media (fraud capital) by some nameless company.

I'll be moderately surprised if the company in question even exists.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81877579#Comment_81877579

Yes, if even a prominent and well-funded public name is unable or unwilling to fulfil this for one winner, then the prospects of one found on social media doing so for multiple winners does seem somewhat remote!

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6654609/company-offering-prize-and-not-awarding-it-after-saying-i-039-m-a-winner

It sounds like a bit of a scam. You entered a competition on social media.

The prize was to be announced on Christmas Day !

When you followed up, you are advised that you are "one of the winners".

Presume "one of the winners" does not mean "the winner" of the actual first prize system worth £15k. Maybe they'll eventually get round to letting you know that you have "won" a £1k discount off an over-inflated price and, maybe, that might make you (or some people at least) feel good.

Forget the prize that you didn't win.

If you want a solar, battery and heat pump system, obtain multiple quotes and pick a reputable company offering a value soution.

shadowwebs

Thanks everyone, I am being cautious at the moment to post the name of the company.

Are there any checks that I can run myself, or somewhere I can report this to ?

As for the 'one of the winners' part, just to advise that the prize was for multiple winners, all to get the same £15k prize fund, not a shared prize but one each. 3 Family Winners and 1 Community Winner.