Competitions Discussion Thread Part 6

SpongeBob_2

I remember a thread a while ok warning that we should not paste formatted (coloured, bolded) text into the answer boxes for the magazine comps (take a break etc). I was wondering if it matters if we cut and paste the answers in or should we be typing them each time. Is it possible to tell theyve been pasted?

Thanks

Bob

princessmoneysaver

I C&P all magazine entries & have won twice with them, first time through Puzzler an electronic dictionary/thesaurus & second time with Pick Me Up which was £1,000 HTH

eking

HELP!!!!
I'm hoping that someone might be able to help a newbie comper.
I've been looking a round the forum this week and entering some competitions and thanking people but I don't know that I am being as "smart" as I should be.
I have some time I can "invest" in this but not loads but it is fun. I just wondered if anyone had any tips or different links that are best to use. I see mentions of daily and weekly plays and I don't know if I am finding the right links.
I enjoy forums and enjoy entering things with the chance to win and this seems fun but I am quite lost at the moment so hope some of you can help.
I don't even know if I can book mark my posts and come back to them.

Please help a very confused comper :-(

mustafa_say_ving

Hi eking,

The best place for you to start is by reading Velvetglove's brilliant thread on comping here

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1014121


Good Luck

[Deleted User]

Hi all

I didn't know where to put this!

I won a film prop back in May from a website that is still running and still doing competitions.

It never arrived so I contacted the guy and he said Royal Mail had returned it (no reason why) so he'll resend.

Nothing came so contacted him the next month. Apparently it had been returned twice (again no reason given as to why) and that he doesn't earn much money etc etc that he'll repost it the following month.

You get the gist! It's now August and it still hasn't come. It's now more about the principle than the prize which was cool and I do want.

Is there some kind of body I can complain to?

I don't get why you'd run a competition and not bother to send the prize or give any communication whatsoever.

kipper_2-2

From the COMPING GUIDE

7 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 Sales Promotions [EMAIL="complaints@isp.org.uk"]complaints@isp.org.uk[/EMAIL] lay down the guidelines which comp organisors must follow. MSE Compers have reported that they are very good at investigating dodgy comps & missing prizes with one chap in particular [EMAIL="edwinm@isp.org.uk"]Edwin Mutton[/EMAIL], being an absolute star.

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 Institute of Sales Promotions 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.

dollybabe1983

i thought that royal mail only returned items if you didn't pick them up from post office (if red card left) or contacted them,
but if no red card was left then they can't have sent it at all.

[Deleted User]

Thank you!

I've been very polite and understanding but he's being a bit of a moron so time to take the matter elsewhere, cheers!

[Deleted User]

dollybabe1983 wrote: »

i thought that royal mail only returned items if you didn't pick them up from post office (if red card left) or contacted them,
but if no red card was left then they can't have sent it at all.

Yeah I know he's lying. My posties are very good and know me well so would have told me if something was undelivered. Even if it's returned due to another reason like "address not found" then they tell you.

couponqueen_2

Hope I'm in the right place!
Just wondered if it would be OK to post a short story competition I have organised for the charity I work for? Have not used the competition forum on here before and there is a charge/donation for entry which i think goes against MSE rules?
If anybody can guide me as to wether it would be OK, I'd be very grateful
kind regards
Jane