Non existent raffle prize

[Layyourshitonme]

I won 4 hospitality tickets to a QPR football match ( meal, parking free drinks etc] in September. They had been donated by a local letting agency and we were told to pick a Saturday match that we wanted as long as it wasn’t a premium category game and give at least ten days notice and they would arrange it all.

We settled on the game this Saturday 9/11 and told the guy arranging the tickets at the beginning of October. Yesterday we hadn’t heard anything so emailed him again. He said he was just about to get in touch with us (yeah right) and was sorry but his contact had let him down. I’m so cross and disappointed as we were using the tickets as a birthday present for someone so we are massively embarrassed.

I know it was a charity auction so I don’t know if I can complain. I certainly think it’s dreadful that this company can donate prizes to charity that they don’t honour.

Has anyone else had this happen. What would you do?

If you bought the raffle ticket from a charity then I would think that it’s the charity who are responsible
However, you need to think about whether you want to pursue them for it or not

Speak to the owner or manager of the letting agency (if this person isnt the manager) as they may not be aware of it and perhaps could resolve or at least find some other prize for you.

See if you can ask who the contact at the football club was, or if not speak to the marketing person and the football club and see if they can help

I had something similar happen years ago, very long story so I won't bore you with it. Basically one of the charity organisers, a hospital consultant no less, thought he might like my prize for himself. He ended up putting his hand in his pocket to buy me something of equivalent value.

That's just appalling... Even if for charity surely there are rules for misrepresentation and false advertising?

That's terrible. I'd contact he Charity too. Is it a big charity. How much was the value of the prize and how much did you pay. At the very least the Letting Agent should refund how much you paid.

Very shady indeed.

Of course, expensive "donations" to charity attract a good chunk of tax relief. So a nice little scam for people who like to play at being "entrepreneurs" is to "donate" £1000 worth of tickets to a charity - pocket the tax relief, and then use the tickets themselves with some sort of excuse to the "winner".

I think I'd contact the charity to let them know but would let them know I didn't expect a refund (on the presumption I'd have bought the raffle ticket to donate to the charity rather than in expectation of a prize).

Well even if it was for charity the6 can’t advertise prizes that simply don’t exist in order to take people’s money

I’d contact the charity to let them know and I’d be waiting what I paid for the raffle tickets back from the letting agent

Well even if it was for charity the6 can’t advertise prizes that simply don’t exist in order to take people’s money

It's entirely possible the charity has no idea. The scam relies on the duped punter staying sctum out of a sense of not wanting to appear to be CFs.

Another charity-prize scam is to offer one of these glamour shoots "for free". Which it is. The photos on the other hand ... well you have to pay (top whack) for those. Again, it hinges on the winner being too embarrassed to appear ungrateful.

I really am a cynical old ratbag at times

I'd definitely be complaining to the letting agency because they no doubt got some free advertising for being a prize donor. Give them a week to refund you whatever you're out of pocket (at a minimum, some extra for embarrassment and inconvenience would be nice). If they don't cough up, give them some negative publicity on Twitter, FB or elsewhere. Maybe warn them just before you post to give them a last chance to make amends.

I am inclined to think that what happened is something along the lines of what Cardy describes. I would contact the charity and the manager of the letting agency.

I'd be letting the football club know about it as well. Even though they aren't directly involved, they won't be happy about bad publicity like that, especially when the raffle was raising money for a charity.

I would let the charity know, they won't be happy i assume.
Alsoe would go public about the prize donor.
Charity or not, they can't just scam you.

I would definitely let the Charity know and see what they say. I would also be complaining to the head office of the letting agency . What a crock of shit to let you think you had won something nice and then not tell you they were letting you down.

Complain to the charity, you bought the ticket from them and charity or not they have to abide by licensing laws for raffles like this. They sold the ticket so it is their responsibility, and even if you don't expect them to pay for your prize (I would!) then they should know not to trust this agency again, and will be able to make the complaint on your behalf.

This reminds me of ‘Father Ted’ episode with the car as the raffle prize.

"that's a shame - guess I will have to let the: the MIrror, the Sun, The Daily Mail, local newspaper, twitter, facebook on their website, the charity concerned, HMRC (because of tax claims for charity), & your companies head office, (and anyone else someone on mn can think of!) Oh and mumsnet

Contact the charity first to explain what has happened. They advertised the competition/raffle so should be given a chance to fulfil the prize. They are probably unaware that the letting agent has let you down so badly. As mentioned already charities cannnot simply advertise raffle prizes that don't exist in order to take peoples money.

I also think if you don't complain the letting agent is getting free tax relief/advertising for their non existent charity donation. They may well be relying on the fact that you won't complain.
If you don't receive your prize or a satisfactory alternative complain to ASA
www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint.html?

As well as the charity you might be able to complain to whoever licenced the raffle. You'd think there would be rules about advertising prizes that don't exist.

A canny charity would call up the Letting agents and ask if they can get a photo with the prize winners for a website/circular, and see what happened ....

Even if they offered to refund your ticket, there's no saying how many people bought tickets in the hope of winning that prize

I'd definitely contact the charity. They advertised a prize, gained money from selling tickets to win that prize so they need to honour that prize. It shouldn't be up to you to chase the person who donated the prize. It should be up to the charity on your behalf as they are the ones who took your money.